‘Singaporeans must speak out against Islamophobia’
Visitors pose for a photo with dancers from Kampong Chai Chee Community Arts and Cukture club at the Istana Open House. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Two Malay/Muslim political leaders called on Singaporeans on Sunday (June 25) to speak out against words or behaviour that may spark religious tensions here, and to correct misconceptions regarding race and religion.
This would be part of the solution to Islamophobia arising from people’s misunderstanding of the religion, and leaders of all religious faiths must especially work hard to prevent such problems from taking root in Singapore, the two ministers said.
“In corridors, at dinner tables, at gatherings, you never know what’s being said,” Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said to the media after Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers at Al-Mukminin mosque.
“Whenever you come across something that’s wrong, somebody there must pick up and say: ‘That’s not the right thing to say.’”
At another prayer session in Simei, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman also said that doubts about Islam must be cleared up.
“We can’t allow these doubts to seep into the minds of our people ... (and if) we don’t correct (them), we’re equally wrong. We must step forward,” said Dr Maliki.
The risk of Islamophobia has been present since the Sept 11 attacks, and efforts to “open up” Islamic practices to Singaporeans of other faiths are bearing fruit, noted Dr Yaacob.
People have posted messages on social media expressing curiosity about the faith and are understanding Islam better, for example.
“(I believe) the Muslim community ... has developed the skill set to explain Islam to a non-Muslim community,” said Dr Yaacob, who also cited efforts by the Harmony Centre, set up by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore to encourage interfaith dialogue.
While Singaporeans must “acknowledge” that radicalism is “seeping into our society”, it can be stopped if Singaporeans “put aside our differences” and “put together our similarities”, said Dr Maliki.
“The more differences are highlighted, the harder it’ll be for society to move forward. The more similarities are highlighted, the more we know about all of us,” he added.
The Muslim community must reach out to the rest of society, both men stressed. “We must not allow exclusivity to seep in. We must expand our common space,” he said.
It helps that the “vast majority” of Singaporeans recognise that inter-religious ties built over the last 52 years are precious and “we don’t want to destroy that”, noted Dr Yaacob.
“So we must continue to open up our religion so that others understand that we, like other faith communities in Singapore, just want to practise our faith in the context of Singapore and contribute to the greater good.”
The importance of multiracialism was also highlighted by other Members of Parliament present at the prayer session in Simei, held in a void deck and organised by the Simei Muslim Neighbourhood Committee (JKIS) and East Coast GRC grassroots organisations.
East Coast GRC MP Jessica Tan said: “Every year, both our Muslim and non-Muslim (residents) expect to see this ... We respect each other’s religion and there’s always this understanding.”
The void deck prayer services at Block 116, Simei Street 1 have been a regular occurrence during Ramadan and Hari Raya since 1988.
During Ramadan, nightly prayer services are held. On Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Haji, morning prayer sessions take place.
JKIS secretary Zulkifle Othman told reporters that the committee engages residents of the block for feedback about the noise levels: “I can say that they’re very ... cooperative.”
Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, who is also an MP for East Coast GRC, added: “Let’s make sure that the multiracial society of Singapore will grow from strength to strength.”
