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Aug 3, 2009 SM: Guard against religious enclaves Rising religiosity may lead people to mix only with others of same faith By Clarissa Oon SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong sees a potential danger arising from Singaporeans becoming more religious. It can lead to people of the same faith mixing only with each other, which over time could result in 'compartmentalisation of our society by religion', he said. Should this happen, there is a great possibility of religious misunderstanding and conflict, he said at a National Day dinner in Marine Parade yesterday, in a speech on the challenges facing the Singapore of tomorrow. Mr Goh's signalling of the need for social cohesion and inter-religious harmony is the second in two days by a top government leader. Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng did so on Saturday, citing conflicts outside Singapore such as last month's violent clashes between Uighur Muslims and Han Chinese in China's Xinjiang province. Their messages reinforce a concern flagged in the past month by a few other members of the Cabinet. Yesterday, Mr Goh spelt out the fundamentals that must stay un-changed for Singapore to guard against fomenting tensions. It has a secular government which represents Singaporeans of 'all beliefs, including those without a religion'. 'Hence, as a principle, public institutions or private organisations which receive public funding are not permitted to impose or advocate any religious belief or practice. 'This must remain the foundation of our inter-religious harmony,' he stressed. For that reason too, there are policies ensuring public housing estates and schools remain common secular spaces, 'where nobody is made to feel uncomfortable whatever his colour or beliefs'. Mr Goh pointed out that the Government sees religion as a positive force in society, giving 'spiritual guidance to help us cope with a fast-changing world'. However, rising religiosity may lead people, unwittingly, to form religious enclaves, unless a conscious effort is made to continue socialising with people of other faiths, he said. If such religiosity 'encroaches on our common secular space, or worse, the practice of other religions, (it) must result in a push-back by others'. The theme of growing religious fervour made up a substantial part of Mr Goh's speech, which made the key point that in Singapore's successes 'are embedded the seeds of new challenges'. The economy, for one, has grown 125 times from $2 billion half a century ago to $250 billion today. This dramatic growth has given rise to new socio-economic challenges. Mr Goh identified 10, to be borne largely by the next generation. They range from maintaining high economic growth to social issues such as minimising urban congestion. He also cited other problems, such as raising the birth rate and providing affordable care and jobs for the future elderly in Singapore. However, Mr Goh is confident that the next generation can tackle the new challenges. They have four factors in their favour: Ample financial resources, a growing talent pool, strong political leadership and a cohesive society enjoying racial and religious harmony for four decades. But Mr Goh warned against taking it for granted, saying 'ours is a society with inherent cracks'. Grassroots leaders interviewed shared his concern. However, Residents' Committee member Edward Chua, 49, cautioned against overstating it because 'religious people can be trusted to exercise their faith responsibly and for the good of society'. On the other hand, Mr R. Kalaichelvan, treasurer of the Marine Parade Community Complex, felt 'we must send a clear message to everyone that we have a secular society, and religion can only be practised in the private space'. The exception would be if there are opportunities where religious groups can work together, then they should be brought into the common space, said the 51-year-old. clare@sph.com.sg Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement & Condition of Access ------------ Aug 3, 2009 10 challenges for the next generation: SM Success creates its own problems, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday when he spelt out the 10 challenges facing the next generation. He highlighted them by posing questions to Cabinet ministers, families and the young. 1 High growth: Amid global competition, can you maintain Singapore's high economic growth and keep on improving our standard of living? In 1959, thousands of Singaporeans lived in slums and squalor. Today, more than 90 per cent own their homes. 2 Life will get better: How do you, as leaders, convince Singaporeans of that when they are already living in good-quality public and private housing? 3 Transport: How does the Transport Minister satisfy the demands for comfort, convenience, congestion-free travel and punctuality of services and expectation of affordable fares, ERP and parking charges? 4 Health care: Can the Health Minister stamp out diseases linked to an affluent lifestyle, such as diabetes and cancer? And keep health-care costs down and affordable? If we live till 90, we would probably have to work till 75 to have enough savings for a cosy retirement of 15 years. 5 Worker training: Can the Manpower Minister and the labour chief design a new training programme, Workfare (a wage supplement for working low-income Singaporeans) and a Jobs Credit wage subsidy scheme for grandparents and maybe even great-grandparents? 6 More babies: What will get our young to marry and have children? Any creative ideas on procreation, Mr Goh asks parents and the young. 7 Ageing: Today, 9 per cent of our population are over 65 years of age. By 2030, it will more than double to 20 per cent. How do we support so many senior citizens, he asks the chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Ageing. How will we look after our parents and grandparents? Will you build more community hospitals, nursing and old folk's homes, and keep them affordable? 8 Scarce land: In the last 50 years, land area has been expanded by more than 20 per cent, through reclamation. How much more land can Singapore reclaim over the next 50 years, he asks the Minister for National Development. As the population and the economy grow, how will Singapore deal with the potential over-crowding problem? 9 Education: Bright students will be sought after internationally, chipping away at Singapore's talent pyramid at the top. Mr Goh considers this one of the most serious threats to Singapore's long-term survival and says it has to be solved now. His questions for the Prime Minister, Education Minister, schools and families: How do we bond students going abroad to Singapore, physically if possible, and if not, at least emotionally? How do we ensure most will return home and contribute to Singapore? How do we ensure there will always be a core of honest, able and dedicated Singaporeans to look after the country and their fellow men? 10 Religious harmony: For four decades, Singapore has enjoyed racial and religious harmony. How do the people of Singapore ensure that Singaporeans of different faiths will continue to mix with one another and respect one another's faith? Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement & Condition of Access |