Don't let religion divide

By Clarissa Oon

Mr Goh's signalling of the need for social cohesion and inter-religious harmony is the second in two days by a top Government leader. -- ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG

SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong sees a potential danger arising from Singaporeans becoming more religious.

It can lead to people of the same faith mixing only with each other, which over time could result in 'compartmentalisaion of our society by religion', he said.

Should this happen, he sees a great possibility of religious misunderstanding and conflict, he told Marine Parade grassroots leaders and residents at a National Day dinner yesterday on the challenges facing the Singapore of tomorrow.

Mr Goh's signalling of the need for social cohesion and inter-religious harmony is the second in two days by a top Government leader.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Saturday reminded Singaporeans to be sensitive to racial and religious differences, citing as reminders recent incidents of inter-racial and religious conflict outside Singapore such as last month's violent clashes between Uighurs and Han Chinese in Xinjiang.

Their messages reinforce a concern flagged in the past month by a few other members of the Cabinet.

The line between religion and the secular space came under the spotlight during the attempted takeover in April of Aware by a group of Christians determined to stop what they saw as the growing presence of gay lobbyists in the association advocating women?s issues.

This led in April to a leadership tussle and heated war of words between liberals and the Christian right.

These events led Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security S. Jayakumar to warn in an interview with this newspaper against 'importing' into Singapore the 'unending culture wars' on issues such as abortion and gay partnerships that have divided the United States.