<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Govt guidance vital for racial and religious harmony
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I AM a Buddhist and I feel very proud to be a Singaporean reading the Prime Minister's timely call for religious harmony in his National Day Rally speech.
Now that the Government has given that assurance, what are its measures to promote the four rules for religious harmony.
Specifically, what measures will there be to:
- provide recourse for those who continue to suffer from aggressive proselytising, intolerance and exclusion;
- heal the wounds of individuals and families affected by religious fervour, such as bedside conversions and children staying away from their parents' funerals;
- not make religious activities in mission schools compulsory;
- bolster office workers' confidence in receiving equal treatment from managers of different faiths; and
- encourage Singaporeans to talk about race and religion honestly and tactfully so that we can improve our trust and reduce prejudices?
As the PM noted, Singaporeans have shied away from talking about race and religion, yet there is a need to from time to time. But we do not know how to talk and we must now learn.
The mentality that race and religion is sensitive is very prevalent. We want religious and racial harmony, but we are afraid of saying the wrong thing or crossing the line.
Hence we need guidance and measures from the government, complemented by those by religious leaders.
Yap Ching Wi (Ms)
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I AM a Buddhist and I feel very proud to be a Singaporean reading the Prime Minister's timely call for religious harmony in his National Day Rally speech.
Now that the Government has given that assurance, what are its measures to promote the four rules for religious harmony.
Specifically, what measures will there be to:
- provide recourse for those who continue to suffer from aggressive proselytising, intolerance and exclusion;
- heal the wounds of individuals and families affected by religious fervour, such as bedside conversions and children staying away from their parents' funerals;
- not make religious activities in mission schools compulsory;
- bolster office workers' confidence in receiving equal treatment from managers of different faiths; and
- encourage Singaporeans to talk about race and religion honestly and tactfully so that we can improve our trust and reduce prejudices?
As the PM noted, Singaporeans have shied away from talking about race and religion, yet there is a need to from time to time. But we do not know how to talk and we must now learn.
The mentality that race and religion is sensitive is very prevalent. We want religious and racial harmony, but we are afraid of saying the wrong thing or crossing the line.
Hence we need guidance and measures from the government, complemented by those by religious leaders.
Yap Ching Wi (Ms)
