SINGAPORE — New Zealand has set a good example for how a community should react in the wake of a terror attack, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said on Thursday (Mar 21), as he reiterated the importance of protecting minority rights and freedom of religion in Singapore.

Mr Shanmugam was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual Panguni Uthiram Festival on Thursday (Mar 21), during which devotees walk in procession to the Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar Temple in Yishun.

About 6,000 devotees and 2,000 kavadi (decorated steel and wood structures) and milk pot bearers are expected to participate in the festival this year.

“The fact that a religious festival (where) minority groups are protected, (there is) freedom of religion and hate speech is prohibited — I think we should try and maintain this,” Mr Shanmugam said.

He highlighted recent terror attacks, in Christchurch, New Zealand and Utrecht, Netherlands, saying that these incidents have triggered calls from extremist groups for revenge attacks.

“Worldwide, this is going to continue, we just have to try to be an oasis of peace,” he said.

“Actually if you look at New Zealand, the way the population has reacted, the way the Prime Minister (and) the Government has reacted, bringing the Muslim community together… New Zealand is special country.”

Less than a week ago, 50 people were killed in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch on March 15. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also announced on Thursday that the country has banned military-style semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles.

On Monday, a man shot at least three people dead on a tram in Utrecht.

Mr Shanmugam added: “I hope (if) that something like that (happens), our community can also respond, together, in the spirit of togetherness and inclusiveness, but we will strive to try and avoid it in the first place.”