There is a certain universality in all religions. Islam is no exception. Its basic tenet is the "Brotherhood of Mankind". As members of the faith, all are reminded each day of your moral and religious obligations. More importantly you are exhorted to do good and shun evil. These messages in their simple form have meaning for all Singaporeans, whatever our respective faith. Thus Muslim Singaporeans make an important contribution to the enrichment of our society.

I am deeply honoured by this invitation. Your warm words of welcome and congratulations make me feel very much at home. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank the Muslim Community leaders and the Muslim Community for this expression of support.

Having moved freely among Muslim Singaporeans of all ethnic origins, over many years, I have experienced their friendship and even joined in their "kenduris". I therefore feel privileged to be here and to share with you the spirit of today’s function.

Looking back over the years, I have seen the major transformations that have taken place among you, as it has been for other Singaporeans. Whether in economic circumstances or in your social life, much of it has been for the better. The Muslim Community has indeed made much advances. There is a greater sense of self-confidence and self-esteem among the Muslim Singaporeans. I am most happy to note that.

Over these past 34 years, the Muslim Community’s progress has by no means been small. Many among you have joined the mainstream of Singaporeans in the advancements that have been made in education, in the work place and in the standard of living.

However, like other Singapore communities, you, too, have not been spared social and societal problems. Changing circumstances worldwide are introducing changes to our lifestyles, social habits and values. Many of these are foreign to our culture and traditions. Being in a globalised world, with fast communications, their impact is perhaps unavoidable. We are faced with the simple choice of taking what is good and striving to reduce the impact of that which is adverse to our way of life and our society.

I am confident that, like all others in Singapore, Muslim Singaporeans have the ability to cope with these changes and overcome their negative consequences. I say this because of the way you have hitherto coped with such changes in the past. Despite advancement in education, improvement in economic status, and the availability of better living standards, your adherence to your Faith has remained strong. Your traditions have remained largely unaltered. Those who have so risen have continued to adhere to the basic tenets of Islam, its customs and the observance of traditional practices. On traditional occasions you are proud to appear in your places of worship, and in your traditional garb. However well-educated or however elevated your economic status, it has made no difference. These are the elements that gave you the inner ballast to face the "Ups and Downs" of life in the past. It can do the same in the future.

While adhering to your faith, your contributions towards the preservation of our multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-lingual society, is acknowledged by all. You have done this through living in harmony with your neighbours, fellow workers in your work places and in your interaction with our society at large. All these are evidence that you too take racial and religious harmony seriously.

Equally important is the continued task of uplifting your community that awaits you. There are now ample opportunities and scope for this, for all Singaporeans. I believe Muslim Singaporeans can succeed in doing so. Like others, you will need to reinforce your determination and will to succeed, through education and hard work.

As our first President, the late President Yusof Ishak said and I quote: "No man need feel that to belong to a particular religion puts him at a disadvantage or gives him an advantage. This is how things are in Singapore and this is how things must always be in our country. Only in this way can a multi-racial society like Singapore live in peace and prosperity." These are words for all times and for all of us to follow. We do otherwise, only at our own peril. I am confident that Muslim Singaporeans will continue to respond to this call with equal conviction as they have done these past 34 years.

It is in this context that I want to congratulate the Muslim community and MUIS in particular, for their untiring efforts through outreach and other programmes towards uplifting the Community. Also your efforts to make others, particularly the young, aware about Muslims, their religion, their beliefs, customs and practices. Through these efforts you will create awareness and appreciation among others about Muslims and how Islam is practised in the context of our multi-religious and multi-racial Singapore, and thereby help to enhance racial harmony among all Singaporeans.

In all humility, as your President, I make this pledge to work with you, as with all Singaporeans, to build our society, with freedom to practise each other’s Faith and in harmony attain a better standard of living and prosperity for all of us.

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