SINGAPORE – The PAP is a broad tent that brings together people from different races and religions with the common purpose of serving all Singaporeans.
For as long that remains true and people keep faith with one another, Singapore will not only endure but be an inspiration, said party activist and lawyer Ahmad Firdaus Daud.
He was among the four activists who spoke on how the PAP and Singaporeans can shape a more inclusive and selfless society at the party convention on Nov 9.
More than 1,800 PAP activists attended the gathering at the Singapore Expo, where they were addressed by PAP secretary-general and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, as well as party chairman and Education Minister Desmond Lee.
Drawing on the Malay words ‘kami’ and ‘kita’ – both words for ‘we’ – Mr Ahmad Firdaus noted that while ‘kami’ excludes the listener and distinguishes between us and them, ‘kita’ is an inclusive ‘we’ that embraces everyone.
“Having that ‘kita’ spirit doesn’t mean ignoring our differences – it means embracing one another fully, even, and perhaps especially, our religious identities.”
He noted that while the city-state provides equal space for all Singaporeans, regardless of race and religion, people often avoid speaking of religion in public because they know how sensitive the topic can be.
Yet, Singaporeans cannot be blind to the dangers – such as of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism – when religion enters public conversation. Such dangers are precisely why society has to seek a deeper unity to anchor itself in uncertain times, he added.
The father of two cited how the Malay/Muslim community responded calmly after a
suspicious parcel was sent to Masjid Al-Istiqamah in September.
A Singaporean man was on Sept 27 charged for his alleged involvement in sending the
parcel, which contained pork.
“We knew it was the act of a single individual. I was proud of our community’s response – full of patience and maturity,” he said. “And it is here that our true strength lies – in the spirit of ‘kita’, not ‘kami’.”
