this is a plaintive call for a certain section of community to move up together with the rest and not get left behind. True, those are neither new nor hard truths.
However, we all know it won't happen. its writing in the DNA of some of the people who happen to practice Islam, and its nothing to do with the faith itself.
Muslim bodies irked by MM's remarks
by Leong Wee Keat 05:55 AM Jan 29, 2011
SINGAPORE - Two Muslim organisations here have expressed "deep regret" at some of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's remarks about the community that were published in the new book, Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going.
The Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) and Perdaus - the association of Islamic scholars here - issued media statements to register their disagreement with Mr Lee's views, which they said were neither new nor hard truths.
AMP's board of directors feel that the printed comments "have hurt the community and are potentially divisive", while Perdaus says Mr Lee's call for Muslim Singaporeans to be "less strict" in practising Islam "is both unfair and unacceptable".
Hard Truths is published by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). SPH says the book's title is a reference to Mr Lee's remark, repeated several times in his interviews with the writers, "that there are hard truths or facts about Singapore that cannot be changed, and that make it critical for Singapore to have a stable society and strong, effective government".
In the book, when asked to assess the progress of multi-racialism here, Mr Lee 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, intermarriages and so on, Indians with Chinese, Chinese with Indians - than Muslims. That's the result of the surge from the Arab states.
"I would say, today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam." He added: "I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate."
But Perdaus feels that the level of integration "has significantly progressed" and "a better understanding and appreciation" of Singapore's cultures now exist between Muslims and non-Muslims here. It cited the community's participation in Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles and contributions by humanitarian relief organisation Mercy Relief as examples.
On Thursday, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) had said that Islamic teachings do not hinder Muslims from integration in Singapore society. AMP echoed these views and said that "a good Muslim is duty bound, in Islam, to be a good Singaporean".
It added that there was "nothing wrong" in ethnic communities asserting their identities, for example, through the Speak Mandarin campaign for the Chinese Singaporean community.
AMP said it is seeking clarity from the Government over Mr Lee's latest comments and how Government policies may or may not be affected by perceptions about the Muslim community.
