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"Religious Harmony Declaration calls for greater social cohesion among Singaporeans"

("Channel NewsAsia," June 10, 2003)

The Government has unveiled the Declaration on Religious Harmony which calls on Singaporeans to safeguard the country's religious harmony for peace, progress and prosperity.

It was the Jemaah Islamiyah arrests that prompted Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to moot the idea of a code on Religious Harmony.

But after several months of discussion among religious leaders, the code evolved to a pledge, and finally a declaration.

The declaration, which aims to ensure religion is not abused to create conflict or threaten Singapore's harmony, recognises that the State is secular, and urges Singaporeans to promote social cohesion.

It also calls for respect of each other's freedom of religion, while growing the common space between races and religions, and fostering inter-religious communications.

Bishop John Chew, National Council of Churches, said: "The declaration definitely was good and helps each other to be more aware and more sensitive - so though we never had it before. But the fact that all the religious organisations could come together to work it out, sit down, hammer it out - it's really the process that would stand us in good stead."

E Sukumar, Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board, said: "We'll have to work doubly hard to get this across to the community, at places of worship, organisations, community and social bodies, and of course schools - through which dissemination activities will have to be stepped up."

Come Racial Harmony Week next month - the declaration will be read and incorporated into activities at the different places of worship islandwide.

It will also serve as a reminder for Singaporeans to foster deeper ties and understanding with other communities too.

Describing it as an "important document", the Prime Minister said the declaration will describe how Singaporeans practise their respective religions to promote inter-community confidence.

But does it not lack teeth?

Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State, Community Development and Sports, who spearheaded the declaration says teeth are not necessary.

He said: "It's just like spitting - nearly everybody believes spitting is bad and we want to do is to encourage people to go for positive behaviour as well as remind them not to go into negative behaviour. This is essentially what this declaration is all about. Let's keep this particular good behaviour, good spirits and so there's no need to use the teeth."

After all, he pointed out there are already teeth in the Internal Security and Religious Harmony Acts.