{"id":31398,"date":"2026-02-25T00:15:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T16:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=31398"},"modified":"2026-02-25T00:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T16:15:35","slug":"religious-and-community-leaders-critical-in-setting-tone-for-harmony-in-singapore-shanmugam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=31398","title":{"rendered":"Religious and community leaders critical in setting tone for harmony in Singapore: Shanmugam"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013<!-- --> Religious and community leaders play a critical role in setting the tone for harmony in Singapore, where a secular approach gives each community space to practise its faith.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Speaking at the annual Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) break-fast or iftar event at Khadijah Mosque on Feb 23, Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam said Singapore remains an oasis of peace because of a focus on certain fundamentals, including racial and religious harmony.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWhatever happens externally in the world, we try not to bring those problems in here. Where it is possible and appropriate to help, we give help, humanitarian help for people elsewhere. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cAt the same time, our framework, our laws, do not allow our people to get involved in violence overseas. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThey are not allowed to go and fight overseas in foreign causes, whether for countries or for organisations like ISIS, whether they fight in Ukraine or Russia or Gaza,\u201d<!-- --> <!-- -->said Mr Shanmugam, who added that action will be taken against anyone who does so.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Vulnerable youths need trusted adults and mentors to guide them: Minister K Shanmugam\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/j8eUl-vNz0A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In his speech, the minister noted that people in Singapore listen when religious and community leaders reach out across faiths, speak up for unity and compassion, and serve those in need regardless of their background. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThey build understanding and friendship across faiths,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWhen challenges arise, these relationships allow communities to respond calmly, constructively, and support one another instead of letting misunderstandings divide us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added that this leadership is especially important in today\u2019s digital age, with many young people turning to the online space in their search for identity, community and belonging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cMany young people get their news from the online space. They are searching for identity. They are searching for community.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Shanmugam cited the case of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/isa-restriction-order-issued-for-sporean-boy-14-who-recreated-isis-executions-on-roblox?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">14-year-old Singaporean boy<\/p>\n<p><\/a> who had aspired to travel overseas to conduct armed violence and die a martyr.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In a statement in January, the Internal Security Department said the Secondary 3 student, who has been issued a restriction order under the Internal Security Act (ISA), is the third 14-year-old to be dealt with under the ISA over the past two years for terrorism-related activities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cCases such as these involving young people are especially troubling. They are vulnerable. They need trusted adults and mentors to guide them,\u201d said Mr Shanmugam. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThis is what, in the large context, our religious and community leaders have done successfully, which is why Singapore is very different from many other places.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The minister said the RRG is an extremely important organisation in helping to maintain a harmonious society.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe messages of interfaith harmony, mutual respect are at the core of our efforts to rehabilitate individuals who have been radicalised by extremist ideologies,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe RRG\u2019s longstanding approach of \u2018winning hearts and minds\u2019 has been vital in rehabilitation and in addressing the underlying conditions that make individuals vulnerable to extremist thinking in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Shanmugam noted that the RRG provides credible and accessible counter-narratives through initiatives such as the Majulah Gallery and its digital outreach.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said these narratives affirm coexistence and mutual respect, especially for younger audiences navigating a polarised online space, adding: \u201cThe RRG\u2019s work is also strengthened by a wider ecosystem of community and interfaith support.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThese quiet and sustained contributions reinforce interfaith harmony at the ground level. They create the conditions under which rehabilitation, prevention and reintegration can meaningfully succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The iftar event was attended by other religious leaders and guests such as Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim and former senior minister Teo Chee Hean. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"default inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/19f12f866c5081d6c2f58a197ee0fc5280100ce7cb252ca39857c1d154e48be1?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/19f12f866c5081d6c2f58a197ee0fc5280100ce7cb252ca39857c1d154e48be1?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/19f12f866c5081d6c2f58a197ee0fc5280100ce7cb252ca39857c1d154e48be1?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/19f12f866c5081d6c2f58a197ee0fc5280100ce7cb252ca39857c1d154e48be1\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-default flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover default article-default mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">(From left) Former senior minister Teo Chee Hean, Ustaz Dr Mohamed Ali, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Hassan, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and MUIS President Sa\u2019at Abdul Rahman\u00a0attending the iftar event held at Khadijah Mosque on Feb 23.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/religious-and-community-leaders-critical-in-setting-tone-for-harmony-in-singapore-shanmugam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 Religious and community leaders play a critical role in setting the tone for harmony in Singapore, where a secular approach gives each community&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}