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In the final part of his Malay speech, PM Lee moves on to race and religion, addressing specifically the request by the community for Muslim nurses to be allowed to wear the tudung at work. Current rules do not let officers in uniform wear the tudung.
PM Lee says he discussed the issue with the community leaders before and the leaders have explained why wearing the tudung was important to the community. He says the Government’s main concern was to strengthen racial harmony and must make sure any change to the rules brings the different communities closer together.
He says for students and other uniformed services like SAF and police, the tudung cannot be allowed for crucial reasons. There are also valid reasons for the policy not allowing the tudung for nurses, but the arguments for and against it for this group are more finely balanced. Over time, a new balance could be carefully and incrementally struck.
PM Lee says he told a group of asatizah and community leaders that he hoped to make a decision by NDR. The day has come, the decision is made. And as this is a matter of national interest that concerns our multiracial and multi-religious society, he will give further details and the announcement later during his English speech.
https://www.straitstimes.com/ndr-live-coverage-2021
PM Lee says he discussed the issue with the community leaders before and the leaders have explained why wearing the tudung was important to the community. He says the Government’s main concern was to strengthen racial harmony and must make sure any change to the rules brings the different communities closer together.
He says for students and other uniformed services like SAF and police, the tudung cannot be allowed for crucial reasons. There are also valid reasons for the policy not allowing the tudung for nurses, but the arguments for and against it for this group are more finely balanced. Over time, a new balance could be carefully and incrementally struck.
PM Lee says he told a group of asatizah and community leaders that he hoped to make a decision by NDR. The day has come, the decision is made. And as this is a matter of national interest that concerns our multiracial and multi-religious society, he will give further details and the announcement later during his English speech.
https://www.straitstimes.com/ndr-live-coverage-2021
