Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the Faithfully ASEAN 2020 Opening Ceremony

Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Chairman of Humanity Matters
Mr Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Foundation International and Temasek Foundation Connects
Excellencies
Friends from ASEAN
Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good evening to everyone here, as well as to all those who are joining us online from across the various ASEAN countries.

I am happy to be here today in the company of friends from both near and far. We are living in a time of safe distancing and travel restrictions due to COVID-19. But today, we have friends from Bali in Indonesia, Chiang Rai in Thailand, and as far as Isabela in the Philippines, dialing in to the livestream of this event. We may be separated by distance due to the pandemic, but we remain united in spirit.

Sir Winston Churchill once famously said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. This saying aptly describes the context we are in today. Today’s event is a useful platform to turn a difficult situation into one that allows us to deepen the ties and collaboration among ASEAN partners. With a common goal to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, our countries and faith communities have reached out to one another to extend solidarity and support to those affected by the pandemic’s damaging effects.

Today’s conference brings us together to discuss how religions and interfaith collaboration may tackle not only well-known challenges such as climate change, but also new threats such as this pandemic. We have seen how devastating threats such as the recent typhoons that swept across Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines can be on lives, livelihoods and belongings in the region. However, these threats are not insurmountable, as long as we commit to fight them together. As religious leaders, you can guide your faith communities to live in harmony with our environment, so that we can pass on a sustainable legacy to generations after us. Our religious leaders also play a crucial role in helping your communities navigate through the uncertainties of this pandemic and cope with its impact on our economies and social life. Collaborations between faith communities, and with governments and corporations, will also be key, as we cannot move forward together if there is no mutual trust.

I am confident that we in ASEAN can work together to tackle the challenges ahead, as we have done so through the years with our shared values and drawing strength from our diversity.

Before I end, I would like to thank the organisers of the Faithfully ASEAN programme for making it possible for us to come together during these unprecedented times, to share our commitment to develop ASEAN together. In the two years since its inauguration, this regional interfaith programme has helped us work together in our goal to strengthen religious harmony and build cohesive societies.

I wish participants and partners a fruitful engagement over the next three days of the programme, and a successful Faithfully ASEAN conference.

Thank you.