Singapore Guarantees Security And Freedom Or Religion To All

SINGAPORE, Feb 1 (Bernama) -- Faced with issues such as growing Islamophobia and religious extremism, Singapore must never allow xenophobism and majoritarianism to override the protection and guarantee of equality, particularly to minorities, Channel NewsAsia reported Singapore Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam as saying today "We are all Singaporeans. We guarantee the safety, security and freedom of religion to all, including the Muslim community," he told a roundtable discussion at a symposium organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). According to the report Shanmugam started his speech by saying that he had initially not been slated to speak. "But events around the world give cause for pause, for reflection," he said, referring to the likes of Brexit and Donald Trump's ascension to US president as an "underdog". "Post-US election, there has been a scramble, to predict the policies of the new Administration and what it means for the world," Shanmugam said. "We now have had a preview of what might happen… The country whose actions possibly have the greatest importance on the world seeks to change course, and seeks to change course suddenly." Pointing to the US exiting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries within a week of Trump assuming office, he said: "When a superpower moves this fast, the rest of us have to avoid being caught in the slipstream." He warned that events in the US could impact Singapore on a racial and religious front, specifically the "public disagreement" displayed by Mr Trump's firing of the acting Attorney-General for opposing his travel ban, protests on the streets and deep splits within Congress. "There are many consequences to perceptions of the US, its leadership role in the world, and the role the Rule of Law plays and is valued in the US," said Shanmugam. "One of the consequences... is that it could lead some Muslims around the world to become anti-American, believing that the US has become more Islamophobic." "This has serious risks for a lot of people including us." "In imposing the travel ban, President Trump validated feelings of a significant section of his voters. These feelings are sweeping across the western world... The far right in France, Netherlands, Germany are gaining significant support, and one can no longer simply dismiss it." "It is a groundswell fuelled by fear and a substantial element of racism... Anti-Islamic rhetoric is gaining ground," he added. -- BERNAMA