Respect across all races, religions vital for Singapore: Heng

SINGAPORE — Noting that Singapore has thrived due to her openness to international trade flow, knowledge and culture, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat stressed yesterday that it is important for the Republic to continue to embrace diversity.

Speaking at an event at Elias Park Primary School marking the 50th anniversary of the 1964 racial riots, he said this means going beyond understanding the main races here, to “respecting all people, regardless of race, language or religion, who live and work in Singapore”.

“Good relationships can only be built if we better understand those around us,” he said, noting that he was heartened by the results of a recent study on racial and religious harmony.

Conducted by OnePeople.sg and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), the survey showed that two in three people here feel there is religious harmony and the majority are satisfied with the rights religious groups have.

But the survey also found that there was a growing perception of prejudices across nationalities compared with five years ago, while comfort levels across race and religion appeared to have remained largely unchanged.

While schools and community groups have done a good job in educating subsequent generations about the importance of racial and religious harmony, Mr Heng said there are areas that need to be worked on, such as building interest in intercultural understanding and interaction.

He added: “We have to continue to build strong bonds in our community — bonds of trust, friendship and understanding — to meet the challenges of the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous global environment we face today.”

Calling on Singaporeans to encourage others to be advocates of racial harmony, Mr Heng said OnePeople.sg has also changed how it aims to promote values of respect and understanding.

Unlike in previous years, Primary 4 students will be making orange ribbons — a symbol of racial harmony — and giving them to individuals from another culture in return for a nugget about cultures and practices in their communities.

At Elias Park Primary School yesterday, 32 Primary 4 students acted as student guides to 60 kindergarten children from PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Pasir Ris Block 517 and PCF Pasir Ris Block 738.

One of the students, Foong Wei Qi, said she shared with the children about Chinese New Year traditions such as the reunion dinner, lion dance and visits to relatives’ homes.