SINGAPORE MONITORS REACTION TO CHURCH ATTACKS

zakaria

SINGAPORE, Jan 18 (Bernama) – The Singapore government is monitoring the
reaction of its population to the recent attacks on places of worship in
Malaysia, but so far “ground reactions in Singapore have largely been calm,”
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said Sunday.


"I think Singaporeans must be careful not to bring problems like this on
themselves," the local media reported quoting Wong during a community event
here.

"We live in an inter-connected world, we cannot be divorced from what
happens in other countries,” he said, but added at the same time Singaporeans
must be rational and examine "when we bring such problems to our shores, what
are we trying to do?”

“Are we trying to express sympathy only, or will doing so result in more
problems for our own community?" Wong asked.

Several cases of arson attacks and vandalism on churches were reported in
Malaysia following a recent High Court decision to allow the Catholic magazine
The Herald to use the word “Allah”.

Similarly like Malaysia, Singapore comprised a multi-ethnic and multi-racial
population and issues such as race and religion are considered very sensitive
and would normally be treated by the city-state’s government as security
matters.

Referring to many foreigners who are working here and its new citizens, Wong
said, "those who come here to make a living, to make this their home, ought to
understand the local context and not allow what happens in their own home to
affect what happens in Singapore."

--BERNAMA