PM Wong warns against racial and religious divisions amid evolving extremist threats

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has urged Singaporeans not to let overseas conflicts divide them at home, warning that disagreements over the Gaza conflict and the wider Israeli-Palestinian issue could strain relationships between people of different faiths.

"We must never allow disagreements over events elsewhere to divide us here at home," PM Wong said at the 20th anniversary gala dinner of the Harmony Centre and An-Nahdhah Mosque on Wednesday (Oct 14).

He noted that extremist influences had become more diverse over the past two decades, with cases involving Islamist extremism, far-right anti-Islam and neo-Nazi ideologies, as well as incel ideologies that promote hatred and violence against women.

PM Wong cited a case involving a Protestant Christian youth who had planned to carry out attacks on mosques, adding that "anyone, regardless of age, race, or religion, can be susceptible" to extremist influences.

He also warned that inflammatory comments online could encourage further offensive behaviour and gradually make unacceptable conduct seem normal.

"We will not tolerate racism or religious bigotry," he said.

The Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, which came into force in September 2026, strengthens Singapore's legal framework for protecting racial harmony and provides safeguards against foreign influence.

"But laws can only set the boundaries. They cannot, by themselves, create trust and friendship between people," PM Wong said, stressing that building relationships across communities required collective effort.

The Harmony Centre was established in 2006, following the Sept 11 attacks, to promote understanding of Islam and strengthen relations between people of different faiths.

Over the past 20 years, tens of thousands of visitors have passed through its doors, taking part in conversations, learning journeys and interfaith programmes to help dispel misconceptions, build friendships and deepen trust.

PM Wong said Singaporeans must continue to look out for young people and ensure they have strong support networks, including family, friends, teachers, religious and community leaders.

He also cautioned against people retreating into separate social circles where they interact only with those who share their views, weakening their connection with the wider community.

JIRAN toolkit puts neighbourliness into practice

At the gala, PM Wong launched the JIRAN Interfaith Engagement Toolkit, which stands for Joining In, Respecting All Neighbours, to help communities engage across differences.

"It means getting to know the people around us, building friendships across our differences, and looking out for one another, especially when times are difficult," he said, describing neighbourliness as going beyond simply living peacefully alongside one another.

Mufti of Singapore Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir led the Charter of Neighbourliness segment, involving leaders from different faiths who affirmed a shared commitment to strengthening interfaith relations.

Dr Nazirudin said preserving social cohesion required continuous effort, adding that religious leaders had a responsibility to pass these values on to future generations.

He stressed the importance of neighbourliness and encouraging people to contribute positively to those around them.

The gala, themed "From Harmony to Neighbourliness: Building Trust for the Future", brought together about 450 guests, including religious and community leaders, interfaith partners and public officers, to mark two decades of efforts to strengthen trust across communities.

PM Wong said the fundamental task remained unchanged after 20 years: "To keep building trust, person by person and relationship by relationship."

helmy.saat@asiaone.com

新加坡总理黄循财敦促新加坡人不要让海外冲突分裂国内，并警告说，围绕加沙冲突和更广泛的以巴问题上的分歧可能会使不同信仰的人们之间的关系紧张。

黄循财总理周三（10月14日）在和谐中心和安纳赫达清真寺成立20周年庆典晚宴上表示：“我们绝不能允许其他地方发生的事件的分歧分裂我们国内。”

他指出，在过去的二十年里，极端主义的影响变得更加多样化，涉及伊斯兰极端主义、极右翼反伊斯兰和新纳粹意识形态，以及宣扬仇恨和暴力侵害女性的“非自愿独身者”（incel）意识形态。

黄之锋总理援引了一名计划袭击清真寺的基督教青年的案例，并补充说，“任何人，无论年龄、种族或宗教，都可能受到”极端主义的影响。

他还警告说，网络上的煽动性言论可能会助长进一步的冒犯行为，并逐渐使不可接受的行为看起来正常化。

他说：“我们绝不容忍种族主义或宗教偏见。”

《维护种族和谐法》于 2026 年 9 月生效，加强了新加坡保护种族和谐的法律框架，并提供了防止外国影响的保障措施。

黄循财总理表示：“但法律只能划定界限，单凭法律本身无法在人与人之间建立信任和友谊。”他强调，建立跨社区关系需要集体努力。

和谐中心成立于 2006 年 9 月 11 日袭击事件之后，旨在促进对伊斯兰教的了解，并加强不同信仰的人们之间的关系。

在过去的 20 年里，成千上万的访客走进了这里，参与对话、学习之旅和跨宗教活动，以帮助消除误解、建立友谊和加深信任。

黄循财总理表示，新加坡人必须继续关注年轻人，并确保他们拥有强大的支持网络，包括家人、朋友、老师、宗教领袖和社区领袖。

他还告诫人们不要退缩到各自独立的社交圈子中，只与那些和自己观点相同的人交往，从而削弱与更广泛社区的联系。

JIRAN工具包将睦邻友好付诸实践

在晚会上，黄英贤总理启动了 JIRAN 跨宗教参与工具包，其全称为“加入、尊重所有邻居”，旨在帮助社区跨越差异进行互动。

“这意味着了解我们周围的人，跨越差异建立友谊，互相照顾，尤其是在困难时期，”他说道，并将睦邻友好描述为不仅仅是和平共处。

新加坡穆夫提纳兹鲁丁·莫哈末·纳西尔博士主持了“睦邻友好宪章”环节，不同信仰的领袖们共同重申了加强宗教间关系的共同承诺。

纳兹鲁丁博士表示，维护社会凝聚力需要持续不断的努力，并补充说，宗教领袖有责任将这些价值观传承给子孙后代。

他强调了睦邻友好的重要性，并鼓励人们为周围的人做出积极贡献。

此次盛会以“从和谐到睦邻：构建未来信任”为主题，汇聚了约 450 位嘉宾，其中包括宗教和社区领袖、跨宗教合作伙伴和公职人员，共同庆祝为加强社区间的信任而努力的二十年。

黄总理表示，20年来，根本任务依然没有改变：“要继续建立信任，从个人到人际关系，一步一步来。”

helmy.saat@asiaone.com