Singapore Government Press Release

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"RELIGION’S AGENDA FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY" KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MR ABDULLAH TARMUGI MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DELIVERED AT WORLD RELIGON DAY’S 4^TH OBSERVANCE IN SINGAPORE 18 JAN 98, 4.00 PM AUDITORIUM, ISLAMIC CENTRE

President, Inter-Religious Organisation Singapore

Rabbi Mordechai Abergel

Members of Parliament

Your Excellencies, Heads and Representatives

of Diplomatic Missions in Singapore

Your Eminences, Leaders of various faiths

Distinguished guests

Ladies & gentlemen

This is indeed a blessed occasion where we see people, not only of different faiths, but of different races coming together and interacting in peace and goodwill as you do today. Far from seeing our differences as impediments, we see them, rather, as causes for us to meet and celebrate; to know and understand each other. Is not diversity the essence of life and creation for us to cherish and appreciate?

The commemoration of World Religion Day in Singapore was started by the Bahai’i community four years ago. But the Inter-Religious Organisation or IRO has agreed to be responsible for organising this annual observance from this year onwards. This 4^th observance of World Religion Day in Singapore is therefore significant in that it is the first time the IRO is hosting it.

This year’s theme "Religion’s Agenda for the 21^st Century" is an appropriate and important one, being as we are, only 24 months away from the new millennium. No one can foretell what the future will be. But each religion will have to look into itself and ask how it could continue to fulfil the believer’s spiritual needs and provide him with spiritual guidance and direction to order his life in a rapidly changing, increasingly technological and multi-polar global environment? How will it cope with changing values and lifestyles dictated by an unstoppable free flow of information and influences that will characterise the new world?

But apart from these questions which each religion will have to resolve separately, there are also other issues which we can, perhaps, address together. For instance how do we, given our different faiths, contribute to community bonding and community development?

At the 3^rd observance of WRD last year I touched on the importance of tolerance and respect for religious harmony. These are basic and crucial elements without which we cannot even begin to talk about religious co-existing side by side as they do here. This message bears repeating lest we fall into complacency and take our existing religious harmony for granted. Tolerance and respect among the various religions need to be consciously nurtured and enhanced. I say consciously because religious harmony has to be worked at; it is not automatic nor something that exists naturally.

This conscious effort, on the part of religious leaders, followers and the government has enabled us to avert religious strife and disharmony in the country. We should continue to work together to ensure our religious harmony. But perhaps, it is time for us to consider going one step further. Instead of merely co-existing can we not look into how religions can contribute towards the bonding of our community into a more cohesive and caring one?

The recent National Condolence Ceremony for those lost in the crash of Silkair Flight 185 has demonstrated how the nation has been brought together by the event. The brief but dignified ceremony has shown how prayer and empathy have brought the community together in a poignant sharing of the grief and pain, that must have been suffered by the next of kin of those departed.

In events and calamities such as this, the IRO has an important role to play. It represents and harnesses the strengths of each of our religions for the benefit of the whole community. There are, perhaps, other ways where the various religions, working in concert, rise above their respective flocks, congregations and followers to unite and serve the whole community.

If there is indeed an agenda that is being contemplated for the next century, can I suggest that the IRO consider community bonding as an effort which the organisation can begin to address.

It will not be an easy task. In every religious group there is bound to be bigots and chauvinists who would rather be exclusive rather than inclusive in their relationship with those who prefers other faiths. Religious leaders and elders therefore have a crucial role to play in ensuring that bigots and chauvinists do not set the agenda for their respective groupings.

Followers look towards you, the religious leaders and elders, for guidance and direction. Through your sermons, classes and ceremonies you can help to instill a sense of community; of a common destiny among our citizens, a love for thy neighbour and helping those who need assistance regardless of which house of worship they go to.

Through my work in the Ministry of Community Development I have witnessed the ability of religion to galvanise the community into action. A vast proportion of voluntary welfare organisations who serve the aged, the disabled, the poor and those with problems have religious affiliations. But just as religion can be effective in bringing people together to do good, it can also rally people together to do mischief and to destroy, as has been experienced in many countries even today. Religious leaders must therefore be vigilant and not allow the pulpit (I use this term generically) to be used to divide and cause damage.

This afternoon has been enlightening. Listening to the speakers from the various religions, I could not help but notice that there are many things we share in common: our concepts and perception of what is good and bad; what is morality, truth and meaning of service to our fellowmen. I think we have sufficient common areas to work on.

Let me conclude by congratulating the IRO for organising this meaningful gathering. I hope the event has been beneficial to all of you just as it has been enriching for me. My best wishes and a good evening to all of you. Thank you.