SINGAPORE: Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said recent incidents such as derogatory online posts reported in the media show that racial and religious issues can be sensitive and emotional.
He warned that they may result in tension and conflicts if not handled properly, and added that these challenges to social cohesion will not go away anytime soon.
Mr Heng said while
technology has enhanced communication among people, it also means that
there needs to be greater responsibility in the way they use social
media.
He also said building a strong network of trust within
Singapore's multi-ethnic and multi-religious society is an important
ongoing effort that should not be neglected.
Mr Heng made these points at the Racial Harmony Day celebrations at Innova Junior College.
The theme for this year's racial harmony celebrations is 'People.Places.Memories'.
Mr
Heng said it aims to remind Singaporeans that as the environment they
live in changes and evolves, their shared memories and experiences of
living in Singapore bind them as a nation.
He said the racial and religious harmony Singapore enjoys today is not necessarily a natural state.
There
are instances where communal and religious tensions have led to
violence in communities who have lived together. Singapore experienced
racial riots on July 21, 1964, and saw how quickly communal tensions
could escalate into violence.
Mr Heng pointed out that
Singaporeans learnt from this experience, and worked hard to build
mutual trust, respect and understanding between the different racial and
religious groups.
"This will always be a work-in-progress, so we
must continue to educate our young and our new immigrants about the
importance of maintaining social cohesion and harmony. This is why
schools commemorate Racial Harmony Day on 21st July every year, to
remind ourselves that we do not want a repeat of the racial riots of
1964," he said.
Mr Heng said there has been much progress in
Singapore over the past decades. He cited findings from a recent survey
by the Institute of Policy Studies on 'What Makes Someone Singaporean'.
The
survey showed that for both local and foreign-born citizens, respect
for multi-racial and multi-religious practices is the most important
characteristic of being Singaporean. This is closely followed by getting
on well with neighbours.
Mr Heng said these findings reflect the
good work of schools, parents and the community in reinforcing the
importance of social harmony.
Students at Innova Junior College
unveiled a "Mega Photo Montage" as part of the school's Racial Harmony
Day activities. The photo montage is a compilation of photos sent by
students from various schools in the North Zone.
They also used new media, a niche area for Innova students, to exchange views on racial harmony.
The
students are taking the lead in promoting racial harmony with other
schools by sharing their experience on the junior college's online
portal.
Another project the school initiated is a virtual art
gallery modelled after the popular computer game "Second Life", where
users can view student-made artwork reflecting the theme of racial
harmony.
-CNA/ac/wm