SINGAPORE: Singapore needs to remain open and to
welcome diversity, even as it grapples with the challenges brought
about by globalisation, technology and extremism, Deputy Prime
Minister Teo Chee Hean said.
Speaking at the Community Engagement Programme (CEP)
dialogue on Saturday morning, he said these three driving forces
can have a double-edged impact on Singapore's social
cohesion.
The CEP is a national crisis response network of
community, business and youth leaders coordinated by the Home
Affairs Ministry.
Into its seventh year, the annual CEP dialogue saw the
participation of some 600 community leaders and several ministers
including Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin
and Mr Lim Swee Say.
On globalisation, Mr Teo said more Singaporeans are now living
overseas, and Singapore is also becoming more cosmopolitan with
people from many different countries calling it home.
With many different races and religions living close together in a
small, dense city like Singapore, he said differences between the
various groups can develop easily into fissures and weaken the
country's unity.
Hence, Mr Teo said Singapore needs to pay extra attention to
facilitating the new immigrants who are ready to sink roots here,
so that they integrate into society more quickly.
He also urged Singaporeans to do their part to make newcomers feel
welcome, and to help them imbibe the values that have made
Singapore strong as a society.
On technology, Mr Teo highlighted how the Internet and social media
can help bring people together, but it can also disrupt social
order and harmony when used maliciously.
He said while social media can mobilise active citizens for
positive change, the Internet and the anonymity it affords can also
embolden people and encourage extreme views.
"Anonymity on the Internet emboldens people, encouraging them to
take on more extreme views than they might otherwise," Mr Teo
said.
"The Internet also amplifies the extreme views, even though they
might be in the minority, and virtual mobs form to cheer or jeer,
which only help to accentuate the differences, polarise and inflame
emotions further."
Mr Teo said international terrorism and violent extremism continue
to be threats to the world, including Singapore, which remains a
target for terrorists.
But the threat of extremism can also help to rally people together
in the fight against terror.
He added that strong community partnerships can help Singapore
reduce the opportunities for extremism to take hold of groups or
individuals, and to deal with and withstand the divisive effects
that violent extremism can wreak on a multi-racial and
multi-religious society.
In view of these driving forces that can have a profound impact on
Singapore's national solidarity and social cohesion, Mr Teo said
the country's community engagement efforts are even more important
today, and in the future.
- CNA/wm
Nobody is saying that we must errect the Berlin Wall or the Bamboo
Curtain surely the DPM must understand. Singaporeans are not that
stupid as to think we can live in isolation. BUT then surely we
must also be circumspect as to how we remain open, how we accept so
call "talents" and how we manage expectations of citizens. BUT
being a small nation with little natural resources and land space,
if we let all and sundry rape and plunder us socially economically
and otherwise, then it is not globalisation, diversity and
liberalisation. It's being damn bloody stupid! And it ain't going
to improve the TFR either!
