DPM Teo Chee Hean at Punggol North Racial and Religious Harmony Street Parade

Host Adviser Mr Ng Chee Meng

Fellow Advisers Mr Teo Ser Luck, Mr Charles Chong and Mr Zainal Sapari,

Organising Committee Chairman and members

Distinguished Guests

Religious Leaders

Grassroots Leaders 

Residents 

Good evening. 

Each year, our Punggol residents mark Racial Harmony Day at the Punggol North Racial and Religious Harmony Street Parade. This is the 12th year that we are enjoying this colourful and energetic display.

It is wonderful to see Singaporeans of different races come together as one people to celebrate the racial harmony that we have enjoyed for many decades. But this was not always the case in Singapore. Some of us may have lived through or still remember the racial and religious riots in the 1960s. People were killed and injured, and homes and property were destroyed. It was only through the resolve and determination of our founding generation of leaders and Singaporeans not to go through such an upheaval again, that we have built a cohesive and resilient society, united as one people regardless of race or religion. 

Today, Singapore is the most religiously diverse country in the world,  yet we live in harmony. We respect the culture and practices of all races and religions. But we also create a large common space where Singaporeans can interact with one another – living together, eating together, studying together, serving NS together. We focus on what we have in common and unite us as Singaporeans, rather than be drawn apart by what makes us different. 

Sadly, we do not have to look far to find examples of societies under strain, or torn apart by racial or religious strife. We have also seen how extremists led astray by misguided teachings carry out terrorist attacks in the name of religion. Just in the last month, attacks have taken place in Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, Surakarta, Baghdad, and cities in Saudi Arabia, including Medina.Just three days ago, in the south of France, a truck drove through a crowd celebrating France’s National Day, killing more than 80 people including several children. The intention of any terror attack is not just to take lives, but also to strike fear and to divide societies. So, if an attack were to occur, we must stand together as a united and resilient community, and not allow the extremists to destroy the social fabric that we have built over the decades. The solution has to come from our hearts and from our minds; that we have decided in our hearts and minds that we want to live together in peace and harmony and that we will make sure what our society, our neighbourhoods remain that way.
    
Let us all continue to stay alert to possible security threats, stay united as one people if an attack should occur, and stay strong to bounce back quickly in a crisis. 

Let us all do our part to strengthen inter-racial bonding, inter-religious understanding, and social harmony in Singapore. These are precious gifts that our forefathers have left for us, and which we should treasure and pass on to our children. I wish all of you and your families an enjoyable and meaningful afternoon at this year’s Parade. Thank you!