Singapore, a society devoid of race, religious divides – Deputy Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Teo Chee Hean, has said the country has built a society devoid of race and religious divides.
Hean, who spoke at the country’s Racial Harmony Day, said unlike Singapore, not every country has been able to overcome the challenges of having everyone living together in the same community irrespective of race and religious divides.
The Racial Harmony Day afford Singaporeans the opportunity of coming together to appreciate their racial provision and the peace and harmony that they enjoy as a nation.
It is also a day to reflect on the 1964 racial riot that broke out in Singapore.
Residents use the day to bond through various activities such as knitting and batik painting.
At this year’s celebration, Hean, who is also the MP for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC and the Guest of Honour, said: “While we respect and understand different cultures and religions, we also celebrate what we have in common as one in Singapore.
“Today, we express harmony in many different ways through music through art and other interest groups.
“Residents from all walks of life come together to perform, sing and dance, to create beautiful art pieces, which bring joy and happiness to fellow residents.
“And then there’s food.
“Food brings Singaporeans together and this is one key trait that unifies all of us.
“We are very fortunate that we have people of different races, cultures and religions living together in Singapore in peace and harmony unlike other countries where people of different races and religions live separately in their own little communities.
“We have built a strong inclusive society regardless of race, language or religion where all of us live together, we go to the same school, we do national service together and we work together in the workplace.”
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Ambassador Nonye Rajis-Okpara, said the community engagement programme was very exciting and fulfilling.
Rajis-Okpara believes that Nigeria “will also let our cultural and religious diversity unite us rather than divide us”.