Use our diversity to strengthen social cohesion

• Main Author: EUGENE, Tan K. B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2016
• Subjects: Asian Studies; Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration; Social Influence and Political Communication
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/3873; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/5831/viewcontent/use_our_diversity.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Two Cabinet Ministers recently offered a sobering view of the state of ethnic relations in Singapore, against the backdrop of rising religiosity and global terrorism. Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam spoke of four threats to social cohesion, including Muslims growing more distant from the rest of society and feelings of Islamophobia among non-Muslims. Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli reiterated the importance of practising religion suited to the local context and for Muslims not to be influenced by radical foreign ideologies — often easily spread through social media.