Speech by President Halimah Yacob at Launch of Faithfully ASEAN and Opening of CSCS Dialogue

Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening. I am delighted to join you today at the launch of Faithfully ASEAN. To our friends from overseas – a very warm welcome to Singapore!  Today’s event is a meaningful one, as it is the first ground up initiative bringing together ASEAN interfaith practitioners and activists. 

All of us share a common desire for peace and harmony. This is a goal that we need to work towards together, bearing in mind that there are forces which tear at the fabric of our societies. For example, while ISIS is diminished, its dangerous ideology continues to influence others around the world. We need to guard against their divisive narratives, which seed prejudice within our societies. It is important to build strong bonds across different communities, so that we can stand together in solidarity in times of crises. At the same time, diversity can be a source of strength if harnessed appropriately.   It is through diversity that we generate ideas and practices which are more resilient to external changes.  Our beliefs can also be a force for good to unite us.

As leaders in your respective organisations and communities, I encourage you to work together, share your experiences, and extend help to those in need. Through finding common ground, we can deepen mutual trust and understanding so that we can navigate through an increasingly complex world together. Our societies will only be more resilient when we learn from one another, build on our strengths, and work towards our common goal - a united and cohesive society and ASEAN. 

Singapore is committed to continue working on this together with all our ASEAN friends.  Indeed, the issue of interfaith harmony is even more pertinent in Singapore than in many other societies.  A 2014 study by the Pew Research Centre concludes that Singapore is the most religiously diverse country in the world. It is especially important that we in Singapore recognise the need to be sensitive and respectful to cultural and religious customs of others. The core principles of meritocracy, secularism and multiracialism are key to our nation’s harmony. Through legislation and policies, the Government has ensured a fair and even-handed approach to all communities. Of course, it does sometimes require different communities to practise give and take. Social cohesion is not the work of the Government alone. Each of us also has to work closely together with other community and religious groups to broaden our common space.

This is where community platforms like Singapore’s Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs) can play and does play an integral part. As local networks of community and religious leader, who meet regularly to discuss issues affecting society, organise cohesion building programmes, and give back to the community, the IRCCs bring different communities together to celebrate Singapore’s multicultural heritage and neighbourly spirit.  Through their activities, the IRCCs also promote common memories and values that unite Singapore as one people. All of us growing up in Singapore have pleasant memories of the different festivals that the different communities celebrate and events we share and participate together. They form the important individual as well as collective memories we have growing up in Singapore.

Dialogues on sensitive issues, such as on race and religion, play an important role in building up mutual respect and trust across communities. Such discussions need to be held in safe spaces, so that the community can find answers to difficult questions. We can only find answers to difficult questions if we have trust, confidence and respect. If we do not have the trust, confidence and respect, it is impossible to find solutions to difficult questions. This is why the Common Senses for Common Spaces (CSCS) Interfaith Dialogue is a key component of today’s programme. The CSCS series is a ground-up initiative that addresses interfaith and inter-cultural issues without focusing on theology or ideology. Through the candid sharing of both laymen and religious leaders, participants can gain a better understanding of how different faiths are practised in Singapore.

Since its launch earlier this year, CSCS has attracted participants from a wide range of fields and backgrounds, including engineers, academics, and community leaders. Religious and non-religious leaders should work together to promote mutual understanding. I would like to commend the CSCS organisers for their good work, and encourage them to continue such initiatives.

Constructive dialogue is fundamental to forging mutual understanding, respect and trust. These are the building blocks of any cohesive society, as well as a united ASEAN. Next year, Singapore will be hosting our first international conference on social cohesion and interfaith harmony. Today’s dialogue dovetails nicely with next year’s international conference. We hope that next year’s international conference will be a platform for us to share our experiences, develop ideas, and make a collective commitment towards greater cohesion in our societies. All of us have duties and responsibilities as part of a larger, global world and we should work towards creating cohesion beyond our own country. I invite you to join in this event and meet other like-minded participants.

In closing, let me thank Temasek Foundation Connects, RSIS, WISE SG, MCCY and all other partners of Faithfully ASEAN, for taking the initiative to spearhead this programme. I am glad that this dialogue provides a platform for different ethnic and religious groups across nationalities to interact, learn from one another, and find ways to promote peace and harmony together.  It is only when each and every one of us understands the value of peace and harmony and what it means for ourselves, families and society, that we will be motivated to ensure that it spreads across the society and the world as well.

I wish all the participants a meaningful engagement over the next few days. Let us continue to build a resilient ASEAN – one that will stand strong against any challenges that may come our way. Thank you, and have a great evening!