<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published April 25, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Ministers caution against forcing views on others
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TWO Cabinet ministers have cautioned against forcing down views too aggressively on others, reminding Singaporeans of the importance of social harmony even as the ongoing tussle between factions of Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) leadership continues.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean expressed his views that when groups push their arguments too hard, 'there will always be others who push back'.
'And so if we want to avoid that kind of situation, I think we should cooperate in Singapore in a way which is respectful and tolerant of other people's views,' said Mr Teo, who is also the Defence Minister. 'I think the majority of Singaporeans are prepared to accept the views of others, but they don't want to have views pushed on them.
'So I would say that when that happens, there will obviously be a push back. And that's not the kind of Singapore that we want to see. We want to see a Singapore where we can live together and learn how to live together, even when we have differences.'
Mr Teo was speaking to reporters yesterday, after chairing a media briefing on the outcome of the Economic Development Board's international advisory council meeting. Separately, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua responded to media query on disputes at Aware as well. She said that the disagreements within Aware should be resolved internally by members themselves and the dispute 'should not upset the balance and tenor of our open, tolerant and secular society'.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>'Neither should Aware members allow these disagreements to become a vehicle for views on contentious, divisive issues to be pushed aggressively,' she added. 'This would polarise our society and have a very adverse effect on our social fabric.'
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Ministers caution against forcing views on others
<TABLE class=storyLinks cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD align=right width=20>
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</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>TWO Cabinet ministers have cautioned against forcing down views too aggressively on others, reminding Singaporeans of the importance of social harmony even as the ongoing tussle between factions of Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) leadership continues.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean expressed his views that when groups push their arguments too hard, 'there will always be others who push back'.
'And so if we want to avoid that kind of situation, I think we should cooperate in Singapore in a way which is respectful and tolerant of other people's views,' said Mr Teo, who is also the Defence Minister. 'I think the majority of Singaporeans are prepared to accept the views of others, but they don't want to have views pushed on them.
'So I would say that when that happens, there will obviously be a push back. And that's not the kind of Singapore that we want to see. We want to see a Singapore where we can live together and learn how to live together, even when we have differences.'
Mr Teo was speaking to reporters yesterday, after chairing a media briefing on the outcome of the Economic Development Board's international advisory council meeting. Separately, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua responded to media query on disputes at Aware as well. She said that the disagreements within Aware should be resolved internally by members themselves and the dispute 'should not upset the balance and tenor of our open, tolerant and secular society'.
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