NEW YORK — The equality enjoyed by Singapore’s races and faiths today was not achieved through policies, edicts or government action alone, but reinforced through the daily lives of Singaporeans and religious leaders, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Sept 23).

This has allowed Singapore, over half a century, to uphold the fundamental principle set out by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew when Singapore separated from Malaysia — that “everybody will have his place: equal; language, culture, religion”, said PM Lee.

“I hope future generations of Singaporeans will cherish this harmony, realise how precious it is, and strengthen it further. We must never allow religion to be weaponised or used as a front for other conflicts,” said Mr Lee at an annual awards dinner held by the United States-based Appeal of Conscience Foundation.

Mr Lee was giving an acceptance speech for the World Statesman Award he received from the interfaith organisation at the Pierre Hotel in New York.

The award is given to leaders who support peace and freedom by promoting tolerance, human dignity and human rights by championing these causes in their homeland and working with other world leaders to build a better future for all, the Foundation said previously.

Speaking to dignitaries at the dinner, Mr Lee said Singapore’s experience was not because its people are “uniquely virtuous”. 

“We created structures — constitutional, political, social — that discouraged intolerance, curbed chauvinism, and nudged social behaviour in positive ways, long before nudging became intellectually fashionable,” said Mr Lee.

For example, the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act allows the Government to act against religious leaders or groups who create enmity, hatred or hostility between religious groups or use religion to promote a political cause.

In politics, Mr Lee cited the Group Representation Constituency system, which encourages multiracial politics instead of politics based around race and religion, and guarantees minority representation in Parliament. The move to create a reserved presidential election for minority candidates also ensures this for its head of state.

“We have made multiracialism not just a political aspiration, but a structural feature of our political system,” said Mr Lee, adding that social policies, such as the ethnic quota used in Housing Board estates, also prevents racial enclaves and ghettos.

Within such a constitutional, legal and policy framework, Singaporeans have learnt to live peacefully together, he said. 

Its religious leaders also understand this: Mosques tone down their loudspeakers when carrying their prayer call, while Christians exercise restraint when proselytising to people of other faiths, said Mr Lee.

“So our accommodation of many faiths is not just through policies or edicts, but in our daily lives.”

SINGAPORE’S CHALLENGES

As circumstances change, however, Singapore also faces challenges to religious equality. One worldwide trend is the growing religiosity among all faiths, even though the non-religious form a growing minority, said Mr Lee.

“In itself this is not a bad thing. Religion is a deeply personal conviction — it guides one’s conscience and gives one a profound sense of the meaning and purpose of life. But as convinced as one might be of one’s own faith, we cannot get carried away, and show disrespect to other people’s faiths or gods,” he said.

While globalisation enriches society and allows Singapore to learn from others, it can also import disputes and troubles from other lands that will undermine its social cohesion, Mr Lee added. 

“We do our best to insulate ourselves from other people’s problems, knowing full well that complete disengagement is impossible. Thus we ban or expel foreign preachers who bring their foreign quarrels to Singapore, or seek to persuade Singaporeans to practise their religions in ways that are not appropriate for our society.” 

But with the rise of social media, provocative views can also circulate and gain currency. “It has become dangerously easy for people both to cause offence and to take umbrage,” said Mr Lee.

The new Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) empowers the Government to correct misinformation, and take action against those who deliberately spread untruths or the online platforms that allow them to do so, he said.

“We must not allow those who spread toxic views and poison on the Internet to get away with what may literally be murder. Policing the Internet is a Sisyphean task, but we must keep our laws updated, and devise fresh and effective countermeasures,” he said.

Later, Mr Lee described how Singapore came close to becoming Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, when it uncovered a jihadist plot to attack multiple targets in Singapore, including the US Embassy in Singapore and visiting US forces.

“It would not only have caused death and destruction, but could have torn apart our social fabric. Non-Muslims in Singapore would have looked at their Muslim compatriots with suspicion and anger, while Muslim Singaporeans would have feared for their safety from non-Muslims.”

After Singapore “neutralised” the jihadist group, it then strove to reinforce trust and confidence between religions. 

Here, religious leaders who understood the problem stepped up “strenuous efforts” to keep Singaporeans united — Muslim leaders condemned the terrorists and stood in solidarity with non-Muslims, while non-Muslims leaders expressed understanding and confidence in their Muslim brethren, he said.

He said later: “Government actions alone cannot bring about religious harmony. Responsible voices need to speak up, set the example, and spread the message of tolerance and respect.”

Meanwhile, the danger of terrorism committed in the name of religion still exists. Mr Lee said: “If such an attack ever happens, Singaporeans must hold together as a nation.”

He quoted Rabbi Arthur Schneier, founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation: “A crime committed in the name of religion is the greatest crime against religion.”

AWARD CITATION

At the dinner, US politician Dr Henry Kissinger, who had nominated Mr Lee, read the citation for the award. 

Dr Kissinger, 96, said: “When Singapore prime ministers arrive in Washington, they are always received by the President, not just as a courtesy, but to have an understanding about that part of the world.

“Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his son have taught us what it is like to live in a very small city, in a place surrounded by many big countries… I have had the good fortune of knowing the Lee family for most of my public life, and I have always believed in their contribution to peace and stability in Asia,” said the elderly statesman.

The former US Secretary of State is a close friend of Mr Lee Kuan Yew as well as a longtime friend of Singapore, said Mr Lee.

“So this means a great deal to me personally, and I think it would have meant a great deal to my father too,” he said.

The World Statesman Award had previously been awarded to French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Youtube chief executive Susan Wojcicki, Deutsche Telekom chief Timotheus Hottges and real estate mogul and philanthropist Stephen M Ross also received the Appeal of Conscience Award at the event.