SINGAPORE — Amid increasing religiosity among Singaporeans as a whole, a developing trend is being watched with concern by the Government: A sentiment among some younger Muslims that sending greetings to friends on other religious festivals or reciting the National Pledge and serving National Service are at odds with their faith.

Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam warned of this trend in his opening address yesterday at a two-day symposium organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

As religiosity sweeps the world, the Muslim population here is also growing “somewhat more distant” from the rest of the community, partly due to influences from the Middle East. Some people also feel that the democratic elected governance system here is “incompatible with Islam” and Singapore should be part of a caliphate, he added.

“These are worrying trends, and if these sentiments become widespread, the Muslim community that grows apart from the mainstream is not good for the Muslim community and not good for Singapore, with serious long-term implications,” said Mr Shanmugam.

While he said that the Government is watching the development closely and will take steps to address the issue, the minister commended the Muslim population’s stance so far.

“You are a successful model to the modern world for your moderate, respectful worldview and practices. The community must continue to preserve and protect its way of life, despite challenges within and without,” he added.

There is a “fine line” between gaining a better understanding of religion and celebrating the country’s diversity by identifying as Singaporeans first; Chinese, Malay or Indian second, versus believing that “our religion requires us to be separate”, said Mr Shanmugam. The latter belief is indifferent at best, and more often intolerant towards other faiths, he added.

Taking this approach will spell trouble for Singapore, and “the exceptional multiracial, multi-ethnic society that we have here will be destroyed”, said Mr Shanmugam.

He cited the words of the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who had spoken about the Singaporean Chinese, Singaporean Malay and Singaporean Indian as opposed to the Chinese Singaporean, Malay Singaporean and Indian Singaporean.

Mr Shanmugam also said that foreign preachers are, at times, not allowed to enter Singapore to preach.

“Why? We will not allow anyone, of any religion who preaches that people of other faiths should be shunned or that people of other faiths should be ignored,” he said.

This is not limited to what he preaches in Singapore, but also outside the country as his teachings would be available online and it would be wrong to allow him to build up a following in Singapore, added Mr Shanmugam.

While the Government will not interfere in doctrinal matters within each religion, it has to step in to protect Singapore’s racial and religious harmony, he said.

“We cannot allow someone to preach values which are contrary to our multicultural, multi-ethnic harmony,” said Mr Shanmugam. “We take a firm, clear stand on that and make no apologies.”

Responding to the minister’s speech, Mr Malminderjit Singh, secretary of the Sikh Advisory Board, said inter-religious dialogues would help foster and build bonds and better understanding among different communities while a national narrative would be powerful in a secular country like Singapore.

“Every religion is different, but if we have common shared values on who we are as Singaporeans, what we want to preserve as our Singaporean identity, I believe that can be a huge deterrent (against divisions) and bond different segments of society,” added Mr Singh, who is also President of the Young Sikh Association.

Mr Alla’udin Mohamed, vice-chairman of Geylang Serai Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles, said he understands why Mr Shanmugam came out “very strongly and directly” on the possible threat of the Muslim population growing apart from the mainstream.

“He wants the whole community to understand that this is a very grave situation that we are facing. He’s trying to (put across) a strong (message) to Singaporeans that it can happen ... so we have to be very vigilant,” he added. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY TOH EE MING