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Muslim leaders welcome MM Lee's clarification
They hope it will restore confidence over Malay-Muslim integration issue
By Zakir Hussain , POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
"Last warning Understand"
MALAY-MUSLIM community leaders and MPs yesterday welcomed remarks by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew that he stood corrected on how well-integrated Malay-Muslim Singaporeans are.
They felt his clarification assuaged concerns some in the community had over the matter.
Madam Moliah Hashim, chief executive officer of self-help group Mendaki, said MM Lee's comments 'restore the confidence of our community and others that Malay-Muslims have indeed done much to integrate'.
Said Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed: 'Religion and race have always been delicate issues and require sensitive handling.
'I am happy to see MM's statement. It gives a kind of closure to the controversy, which had made many Muslims unhappy, in fact even hurt.'
Mr Lee's comments on Muslim integration appeared in the new book Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going.
The book is based on interviews he gave to a team of seven Straits Times journalists and was put out by Straits Times Press on Jan 21.
He said, among other things, that 'Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate'.
Asked what Muslims could do to integrate, he replied: 'Be less strict on Islamic observances and say, 'Okay, I'll eat with you.''
These comments drew expressions of regret from Muslim groups, with some saying his remarks were unfounded and others calling for him to apologise. Some also asked the Government to clarify whether it shared his views.
On Jan 30, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong came out to say his perspective on the matter differed from MM Lee's and that the Government valued Muslims' progress in integration efforts.
On Monday night, MM Lee issued a brief statement saying his comment on Muslims integrating with others was made two or three years ago.
'Ministers and MPs, both Malay and non-Malay, have since told me that Singapore Malays have indeed made special efforts to integrate with the other communities, especially since 9/11, and that my call is out of date,' he said.
'I stand corrected. I hope that this trend will continue in the future.'
Muslim group Jamiyah's president, Mr Abdul Karim Maidin, said he was 'pleased' with MM Lee's statement.
His group had, at the time, suggested that MM Lee clarify the matter, noting that Muslims were getting on well with others in workplaces, HDB estates, community centres and schools.
Added Mr Zainul: 'While PM's statement helped soothe feelings and reassure us that we are on the right track, many were still awaiting MM's rejoinder.
'Let's continue the good work we have been doing for a more cohesive society.'
Added Hong Kah GRC MP and Young PAP vice-chairman Zaqy Mohamad: 'There will always be detractors, but for many in the community who want closure, they should be reassured by his comments.'
Clementi mosque leader Abdul Mutalif Hashim did not see the need for an apology from MM Lee, as some in the community had called for yesterday.
Instead, he believed Muslims should take the opportunity to convince those who think as MM Lee once did that good Singapore Muslims are also good citizens.
'We should reflect on our actions: Could we have been giving the wrong signals to others?' he said.
Grassroots leader Salleh Masjor, acting chairman of Mesra, the People's Association council for Malay cultural activities at community centres, felt the community should reciprocate MM's gesture and move forward.
'Perhaps he should not have said what he did in the first place, but the fact is we have made much progress in integration in recent years, for instance, in visiting one another's places of worship.
'We should not be defensive, but show by our actions on the ground that we are committed to better integration.'
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They hope it will restore confidence over Malay-Muslim integration issue
By Zakir Hussain , POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
MALAY-MUSLIM community leaders and MPs yesterday welcomed remarks by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew that he stood corrected on how well-integrated Malay-Muslim Singaporeans are.
They felt his clarification assuaged concerns some in the community had over the matter.
Madam Moliah Hashim, chief executive officer of self-help group Mendaki, said MM Lee's comments 'restore the confidence of our community and others that Malay-Muslims have indeed done much to integrate'.
Said Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed: 'Religion and race have always been delicate issues and require sensitive handling.
'I am happy to see MM's statement. It gives a kind of closure to the controversy, which had made many Muslims unhappy, in fact even hurt.'
Mr Lee's comments on Muslim integration appeared in the new book Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going.
The book is based on interviews he gave to a team of seven Straits Times journalists and was put out by Straits Times Press on Jan 21.
He said, among other things, that 'Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate'.
Asked what Muslims could do to integrate, he replied: 'Be less strict on Islamic observances and say, 'Okay, I'll eat with you.''
These comments drew expressions of regret from Muslim groups, with some saying his remarks were unfounded and others calling for him to apologise. Some also asked the Government to clarify whether it shared his views.
On Jan 30, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong came out to say his perspective on the matter differed from MM Lee's and that the Government valued Muslims' progress in integration efforts.
On Monday night, MM Lee issued a brief statement saying his comment on Muslims integrating with others was made two or three years ago.
'Ministers and MPs, both Malay and non-Malay, have since told me that Singapore Malays have indeed made special efforts to integrate with the other communities, especially since 9/11, and that my call is out of date,' he said.
'I stand corrected. I hope that this trend will continue in the future.'
Muslim group Jamiyah's president, Mr Abdul Karim Maidin, said he was 'pleased' with MM Lee's statement.
His group had, at the time, suggested that MM Lee clarify the matter, noting that Muslims were getting on well with others in workplaces, HDB estates, community centres and schools.
Added Mr Zainul: 'While PM's statement helped soothe feelings and reassure us that we are on the right track, many were still awaiting MM's rejoinder.
'Let's continue the good work we have been doing for a more cohesive society.'
Added Hong Kah GRC MP and Young PAP vice-chairman Zaqy Mohamad: 'There will always be detractors, but for many in the community who want closure, they should be reassured by his comments.'
Clementi mosque leader Abdul Mutalif Hashim did not see the need for an apology from MM Lee, as some in the community had called for yesterday.
Instead, he believed Muslims should take the opportunity to convince those who think as MM Lee once did that good Singapore Muslims are also good citizens.
'We should reflect on our actions: Could we have been giving the wrong signals to others?' he said.
Grassroots leader Salleh Masjor, acting chairman of Mesra, the People's Association council for Malay cultural activities at community centres, felt the community should reciprocate MM's gesture and move forward.
'Perhaps he should not have said what he did in the first place, but the fact is we have made much progress in integration in recent years, for instance, in visiting one another's places of worship.
'We should not be defensive, but show by our actions on the ground that we are committed to better integration.'
[email protected]
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