SINGAPORE — The possible spread of Islamophobia here is a “serious risk”, and Singaporeans will have to guard against such intolerance towards Muslims since it can tear society apart, said Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam yesterday.

How the non-Muslim population here treats its Muslim brothers and sisters will decide what type of society Singapore is, he said yesterday in his opening address at a two-day symposium on how religion can expand common spaces, organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

“And if we behave with suspicion and negativity, then our Muslim population will feel isolated. The harmonious society that we have built, will be at risk,” said Mr Shanmugam, who is also the Law Minister.

It is vital for non-Muslim communities here to examine their attitudes and viewpoints towards their Muslim counterparts. “How supportive they really are, or are they only being superficially, politically, correct?” he asked.

Mr Shanmugam also questioned if the non-Muslims accept that the vast majority of the country’s Muslim population is “tolerant and positive and in every way, Singaporean”.

“It is important that we ensure that Muslims in Singapore enjoy good opportunities, that there is no discrimination in schools, in jobs, in society as a whole.

“Islamophobia will tear our society apart and we have to guard against it. And it is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Pointing to Singapore’s uniqueness, Mr Shanmugam said that while the Chinese make up 74 per cent of the country’s population, Mandarin is not the working language here.

Likewise, the Chinese do not get the sort of privileges which the majority of the population would expect in many societies, he added.

Yet, despite Singapore crafting a unique set of policies that emphasises multiracialism, tolerance and equality, the daily and incessant news coverage of terrorist attacks elsewhere in the world can create a general sense of suspicion of Muslims and Islam on the whole, said Mr Shanmugam.

“Any homegrown radicalisation will seriously exacerbate that.”

Noting that there have been more reports of intolerance towards Muslims by non-Muslims in many major cities, Mr Shanmugam said Singapore is not immune to them, and cited a few instances to make his point.

In September, a Malay woman was approached by a man of another race who uttered the words “suicide bomber” to her. In November, about a week after the terrorist attacks in Paris, the words “Islam murderers” were found scribbled at a bus-stop in Bukit Panjang and on a toilet seat in Jurong Point shopping mall.

“As yet, such acts are few and far between in Singapore. But it is difficult to assess how the mental landscape within people is changing. If the mental landscape amongst a significant part of the population changes, then we will have serious trouble. And the mental landscape can change quite quickly,” Mr Shanmugam said.

Mr Alla’udin Mohamed, vice-chairman of Geylang Serai Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles, agreed that there is a need for non-Muslims and Muslims to come together to defend Singapore against terrorism.

He added: “We (Muslim population) must engage the young, and invest in them more, to give them more attention and time — to inculcate the right values and virtues from young, to produce good Muslims and great citizens.”

Venerable Seck Kwang Phing, president of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, called for more to be done to promote greater understanding among the various religions.

“All the religious organisations can try to organise more talks, to try to minimise misunderstandings, and invite those from other religions and races to come and join us (for the talks),” he added. SIAU MING EN, WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY TOH EE MING