That's why old fart tells local don't be so strict like the middle east. They are nothing but trouble. Trouble not only to the authorities, but to local non-Muslim and moderate Muslims alike.
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Even PM Lee disagrees with his father MM LKY. So I'll give him the last word
Muslims have done much to integrate, says PM
He says his perspective on the matter differs from MM's
By Zakir Hussain , POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
A resident greeting PM Lee and Yio Chu Kang MP Seng Han Thong (on PM?s left) at a wet market and food centre in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 during Mr Lee's visit to the constituency yesterday morning. PM Lee said that while religion had become an important part of the lives of Muslims and others here, tremendous progress had also been made in bringing the different communities closer. --ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
THE Prime Minister yesterday spelt out the Government's view on the progress made by Singapore's Muslims in integrating with other communities, saying that his perspective on the matter differed from Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's.
The Muslim community in Singapore has made great efforts to integrate with other communities, and to help make Singapore one of the most harmonious and successful multi-religious societies in the world, PM Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday. 'Muslims are a valued and respected community, who have done a good deal to strengthen our harmony and social cohesion,' he said.
He also encouraged community leaders to keep on expanding the common space while upholding their respective religious beliefs.
PM Lee was speaking to reporters at Yio Chu Kang Community Club, where he presented oranges and food items to 100 needy residents ahead of Chinese New Year.
He is an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, which borders Yio Chu Kang constituency.
His comments came in the wake of remarks on Muslims and Islam by MM Lee, made in a new book Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going.
PM Lee noted that his own perspective on the subject was 'not quite the same' as MM Lee's.
The latter's views stemmed from his experience having watched how Singapore and other multiracial societies had evolved since the 1950s.
'My own perspective on how things are in Singapore, based on my interaction with the Malay community...is not quite the same as MM's,' said PM Lee.
Religion had become an important part of the lives of Muslims and others in Singapore, he noted, but tremendous progress had also been made in bringing different communities closer.
He cited how Muslims dress differently and are more conscious of religious requirements today than they were 50 years ago.
'We recognise these changing norms. But at the same time, we ought to be careful not to let them evolve so that differences in food, dress, customs and so on keep us apart or reduce our common space,' he said.
'Singapore Muslims have been conscious of this and have made that special effort to try and bridge the links between them and the other communities.'
Such efforts, he said, helped Singapore deal with sensitive issues such as extremism in a manner that strengthened trust among people rather than drove them apart, and they must continue.
MM Lee's remarks in the book were in response to questions on the state of multiracialism in Singapore.
He said: 'I have to speak candidly to be of value, but I do not want to offend the Muslim community. I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration - friends, inter-marriages and so on - than Muslims.'
He also said: 'Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate.'
Asked what Muslims could do to integrate, he said: 'Be less strict on Islamic observances and say, 'Okay, I'll eat with you'.'
The remarks drew expressions of regret from a number of Muslim groups, and calls for the Government to clarify whether it shared those views.
The Muslim Missionary Society (Jamiyah) pointed out that Muslims were already mixing with others in workplaces, HDB estates, community centres and schools. Leaders of various religious groups also shared a close relationship.
PM Lee noted this point, adding that many races and religions co-exist harmoniously in Singapore, with give and take, respect and regard for one another.
'I hope we all continue to do this, and I think we can do this without being any less Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or whatever,' he said.
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim made a similar point on Saturday when he noted that Muslims here can be both religious and patriotic at the same time, and have indeed been working with fellow Singaporeans to integrate and help in nation-building.
While acknowledging that religion is a more salient feature of Singapore today than 50 years ago, PM Lee noted that the Singapore identity is also much stronger today.
Asked how Singaporeans should react if a similar issue crops up again, he said some degree of awkwardness and discomfort was understandable.
He said: 'This is a discussion which is a continuing one...Let's take it as an impetus to us to strengthen and improve the work we've done.'
As for whether the episode might have an impact at the general election (GE), he said: 'I hope the community will consider this in a positive light, and from the discussions some good will come.
'And I hope that when the GE comes, they will vote for the party which looks after them, and which will strengthen religious and racial harmony in Singapore.'
Mr Sakdun Sardi, 46, executive chairman of the Al-Muttaqin Mosque whose worshippers took part in yesterday's event, welcomed PM Lee's reassurance on the matter, which had sparked some unease in the Muslim community.
'I'm glad that he said you do not have to be less Muslim to be a good citizen,' he said. 'We should move on.'
