On
religious harmony and the steady development of society
Speech by Mr Tang Liang Hong at Zeng Yi Association's
national day dinner August 1994.
Translation:
To begin with religious harmony:
1 Guest of honour Mr Teoh Chee Hian, our president Mr Toh Nan Huat, guests of honour, friends and teachers.... wish you well! Mr Toh telephoned me, asking me to say a few words this evening. I love to talk, I can talk the whole night if I want to. However, if I am going to repeat what others have said, I am sure it will spoil your dinner.
2. I hope to probe into issues beneficial to both the nation and society with all of you since you have taken your time off to come here.
3. Today I am going to talk on religious harmony, which is an important topic.
4. Nowadays, we often talk about family concept, ours should be a harmonious society. How are we going to protect Singapore so that it can always remain stable and develop steadily? Let us discuss this issue.
5. I have collected some materials which I want to share with all of you. I have rearranged the materials after having listened to speeches by some of you, as I do not wish to repeat the talk on the guiding principles of policy. As we all know, Confucianists and Chinese culture emphasise societal stability. And societal stability is the "political ideal" emphasised by the Confucianists.
6. Tonight I am going to point out that Singapore is a multi-cultured and multi-religious society, therefore. it is very important to maintain a harmonious society and religion.
Statistic Department's figures:
7. In order to understand the meaning of a harmonious society, I wish to share with you the figures released by the Statistic Department of Singapore in May, 1991.
8. During the 10 years from 1980 to 1990, the number of our Chinese Christians has increased to 13 per cent from 10 per cent; the number of atheists has increased to 14 per cent from 13 per cent; whereas the number of Taoist and Buddhist Chinese has declined to 68 per cent from 72 per cent.
9. According to the statistic report of May 1991, there is no change in religion of the Malays, 100 per cent of them are Muslims.
10. The figures also show that the number of Indian Christians has increased to 13 per cent from 12 per cent, whereas the number of Indian Muslims has declined from 56 per cent to 53 per cent.
11. As we all know, if we want a society with religious harmony, a religious group should understand another religious group to ensure there is no misunderstandings between them.
Christians have attained great achievement:
12 According to today's statistic figures, the Chinese Christians in Singapore is about 14 per cent. But we have to take note that the achievement attained by the Christians in Singapore is greater in terms of population ratio.
13. We will notice. there are so many outstanding Christians in our parliament, the figure is very high in comparison. Many important ministries are under the charge of the Christians. For example the heads in our Home Affairs Ministry, Defence Ministry, the Commanders in chief of navy, army and air force, and the heads in our navy air force....are Christians. Likewise, many academicians and administrators in Ministry of Education and in universities are Christians. Many Christian lecturers have attained great achievement in education. Among headmasters in junior colleges, secondary schools and primary schools, many are Christians. If you look around, you will notice that there are many such examples. Christians are also playing a leading role in public welfare and charity work. They are also very enthusiastic and active. They are also very strong economically, they can afford to buy cinemas and turn them into churches or premises for activities.
14. It is not too much if I say the Christians have dealt with many important national issues and formulated national policies.
We should learn from the Christians:
15. Now the question is, how do we, the non-Christians, look at this issue?
16. I feel that we should learn from them. What is more, we also should study as to how they are able to be in the leading position? How could they attain such a great achievement? We will be left behind if we do not study this issue.
16. I feel that we should learn from them. What is more, we also should study as to how they are able to be in the leading position? How could they attain such a great achievement? We will be left behind if we do not study this issue.
Progress for everybody:
17. I feel that as the society progresses, we should also progress.
18. The issue is there. We, in particular the Chinese intellectuals should take heed of this. We cannot say that we do not understand the Christian culture. Nevertheless, the Christian culture is just beside us, around us. We should not be ignorant of Christian culture, or just have scanty knowledge of it.
19. Similarly, we also hope that our Christian friends could understand what (how) is the philosophy (thought) of the Confucianists. What (how) is their attitude towards society? l feel this is a very important issue.
Problems arising out from the family:
20. As we know, more and more of our young men will become Christians. I notice, even though these problems are not published in the press, there are in fact problems in our society. We have to deal with these problems. Our government, our intellectuals, our non government bodies should deal with...
21. What are the problems? For example, according to what I know, some of the young Christians are having different opinion with their relatives and elders in the house. They feel that food which is offered for prayers should not be eaten, or the praying tablets in the house make them feel uncomfortable. These are the problems faced by us.
22. I feel that Christianity is nothing new among the Chinese. Christianity was brought into China hundreds of years ago. These problems won't arise in China, but they do in Singapore.
23. In some families, fathers can't tolerate the prayers "thank Lord for His kindness" by children before meals; their different views over these problems have caused certain problems.
24. Today, we talk about family value and the importance of family, yet we pretend not to notice the problems which had arisen and deal with them, or feel that the problems do not exist. I believe, under the present situation, more and more people will have faith in Christianity, and more and more problems will arise. Whether .... should we or should not we deal with these problems? I feel that we should not close our eyes and ignore these problems.
The issue of progress levels of the society groups:
25. This is an important issue. As all of us are Chinese.... how come these (family) problems arise? Why certain groups (in the society) have progressed faster, and other groups have not progressed that fast? We have to deal with these problems, we have to look at them seriously. We are not supposed to assume that the problems do not exist. Even if we assume that the problems do not exist, it does not mean that the problems do not exist.
26. These are not new problems. We hope we can study or examine (the problems). I only bring out the problems which I have noticed to allow all of us to ponder over them or the relevant groups to find ways in solving these problems.
How to solve these problems? These problems concern many people and families, and it is not something which I can think of.
Hope that unpleasant incidents could be avoided and steady development be attained.
27. I myself do not have the answers to the problems raised by me today. I hope you could use your brains and think carefully. I hope our political leaders and the experienced elders will make a study so as to deal with these problems thoroughly.
28. If these problems could be dealt with thoroughly, then unpleasant consequences could be avoided. And our Singapore could maintain its steady development.
29. 1 thank you for being patient with me (in listening my speech). Thank you.
This is the true translation of the document produced for translation in Serial No 2197.
SIGNED:
Wong An Ying
Certified Interpreter/Translator
Federal Court Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Tang Liang Hong :