Let us together express our gratitude to Allah as we have successfully performed our fasting. The culmination of our gratitude is the joy in celebrating 1 Syawal.

Aidilfitri symbolises our triumph in overcoming various odds during the month of Ramadan. It brings us closer to Allah, disciplines us and makes us do good deeds.

We can learn a lot from fasting. It teaches us to be more disciplined and spurs us to work hard to achieve our noble objectives.

Last year the Muslim community celebrated Hari Raya in a rather gloomy economic atmosphere condition. This year we celebrate it in an atmosphere where the Singapore economy is recovering fast. Last year, we celebrated Hari Raya with cost-saving measures, now we need to continue to plan our priorities more wisely.

The Knowledge-based Economy or the KBE movement launched by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong recently illustrates the aspirations and efforts of the Muslim community to achieve higher in the economic and educational fields. Now is the time to implement what we have drawn up.

The KBE movement is closely linked to attitudes and the willingness to shape the future. The opportunities for us to make a quantum leap are now wide open. Let us seize them together. Parents should continue to reinforce the qualities of successful Muslim families. Our children should be nurtured with high motivational values. Our workers should continue to upgrade skills. All of us have a role and responsibility to make our vision of creating an excellent Muslim community a reality.

Times and the environment have changed rapidly. They demand a change in planning, strategy and follow-up actions. Let us instil the triumphant spirit of having gone through the month of Ramadan and the joy of Aidilfitri as an endeavour to continue improving our lives in the future.

I wish all Muslims in Singapore Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Let us ask for and grant forgiveness among ourselves. In the spirit of the holy month of Syawal, let us strengthen our cohesion and fraternity.

Thank you.

––––––––––––-