To: lee_hsien_loong@pmo.gov.sg
From: De Souza Jose Socrates
cc: sylvia@wp.sg, voices@mediacorp.com.sg, myp@sph.com.sg, viswa@strategicmoves.com.sg, dcm@singapore.mfa.gov.il

Dear Mr Lee,

I refer to the subject.

I was horrified when I flipped the pages of the Straits Times on 10 Sept 09 to read that one of my fellow Jewish brother was assualted by a muslim at the National Library considering that the attack was unprovoked.

Though a stiff sentence was imposed on the man, we should nevertheless still ask ourselves if it is sufficient and why this happened in the first place when S’pore prides itself to be one of the safest country in the world to live in? Is it because national education and it’s efforts are failing us like it did on attracting and encouraging people to serve society? I have also been a target of scorn by similar group save that I was short of getting assualted. I also feel unsafe and fear as I live among large groups of these people in my neighbourhood.

In view of the seriousness of the nature of this matter, I hope you can affirm Mr Viswa’s 18 Aug 09 parliamentary speech, especially to Jews that we can feel safe practising our religion here as we strive to live in peace and harmony with our fellow S’poreans, Thank you.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia is starting a food fight with other countries to win bragging rights for producing some of Southeast Asia’s most beloved recipes, including chili crabs and coconut cream rice, a news report said Thursday. “We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food,” The Star newspaper quoted Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen as saying while launching a campaign to promote the country’s cuisine.

Source: AP

Well, one thing that the no other country can lay claim to is Singapore’s unique approach to managing ethnicity.  Today, as we celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we should remember that Singaporean Malays, whilst being accorded special privileges in Article 152, are still missing out in society.  As commented by Ismail Kassim in Theonlinecitizen:  When Singapore was in Malaysia, Lee demanded full equality for everyone irrespective of race and religion. He was not prepared to wait.  Now, he argues that it will take decades and even centuries before the minorities especially the Malays could hope for equal treatment in all sectors of life.

Mr Lee also paid tribute to Muis’ work in looking after the religious needs of Muslim Singaporeans since 1968 and its leadership role on difficult issues such as organ donation and terrorism. He noted that the statutory board had challenging beginnings. It faced sceptical segments of the community who wondered if Muis could give religious guidance and deliver results. ‘Muis has worked hard over the years to win over the trust and confidence of the Muslim community,’ said Mr Lee, in outlining its achievements.

Source:  ST

Mr Lee also paid tribute to Muis’ work in looking after the religious needs of Muslim Singaporeans since 1968 and its leadership role on difficult issues such as organ donation and terrorism.  I don’t really follow what the muslim community has been doing for the last 40 years but I suppose they have played their part in Singapore’s nation-building.

It is interesting though that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) is a Statutory Board.  It is really as good as being a government department, the CEO being the Minister of muslim affairs.  So are we celebrating 40 years of PAP governance of of the muslim peoples?  If we really believe in our muslim community and trust their loyalty to the state, then we should let Muis be truly independent.  Let the muslims plan and run their own community, and let’s celebrate what they have done for themselves.  Enough of all this PAP shadowplay and wayang anniversaries.

DPM Teo:  ‘It is important in Singapore that all groups make sure that when they have a point of view to put across, that they do so in a way which is tolerant of other groups… Know that other people have other points of view, that if you push your argument too hard, there will always be others who push back. So if we want to avoid that situation, we should operate in Singapore in a way that is respectful and tolerant of others’ views.’ 

While most Singaporeans are prepared to accept the views of others, they do not want to have other views pushed upon them, he said.  ‘We want to see a Singapore where we can live together and learn how to live together even when we have differences,’ he noted. He did not think the dispute was one of religion, he added.

Source:  The Straits Times

 

I wonder on which planet was our DPM Teo holidaying on.  How can the dispute be not one of religion when the key motivation by the new EXCO (and their spiritual links, by the way) was traced to the Church of our Saviour?  Brushing it away with such statements will not help.  

In truth, direct government intervention may be unhealthy (nanny state comes to mind).   Should the government tackle the matter head-on to ensure that liberals aren’t unduly put on the defensive (which may later cause a black-lash) and that other churches (or conservative religions of other faiths) do not join in the fracas in an counter-productive manner?  Or can we count on the community resolve this on its own?  Looking at the developments within AWARE, the latter does not seem forthcoming, at least not yet.

Another thing.  ‘Know that other people have other points of view, that if you push your argument too hard, there will always be others who push back.’  I guess one way to prevent others from pushing back would be to sue their pants off.

We help ourselves. Don’t expect others to help

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Tell Singapore government: Ask them a question or give a suggestion

We informed people about the “Tell Singapore Government” subsite and have received some interesting reaction at some forums.
See: 3in1 Kopitiam, Sam’s Alfresco Coffee, Singapore Kopitiam, SgForums
Our responses to some of the comments are listed below. If we are not answering some other specific questions, that is because we do not know how.
 

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