Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has said Singaporeans must continue to build and maintain a harmonious society, regardless of race, language or religion.
As the country turns 50, he urged the public to reflect on how its pioneers helped shape such inclusiveness.
“This harmony did not come by accident,” said Mr Heng. “It is good work, hard work, on the part of everyone and because Singaporeans reject race-based politics, we reject intolerance. And instead we embrace each and every race, and we embrace multi-racialism, and we embrace a multi religious society.”
He was speaking at an event called SG50 Harmony Swing, which was held at the Nanyang Polytechnic Stadium on Saturday afternoon (Jun 20). It was organised by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society and was a prelude to the society’s annual “Inter Racial Inter Religious Harmony Nite”, which will be held on Jul 12.
The event saw 3,578 people being part of the country’s largest Zumba dance to date. They smashed the previous record in the Singapore Book of Records of 1,162.
3,578 people of all races and religions broke the record of the country’s largest Zumba dance this afternoon. http://bit.ly/1SyxrUH (Video: Nadia Jansen Hassan)
Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Saturday, 20 June 2015
In true Singaporean fashion, participants came from all races and religions. Amilia Amil, one of the participants, joined with her friends despite having started fasting.
“We are here to show that despite fasting, we can do fitness activities, and also to celebrate with the rest of the multi races and cultures here,” she said.
“It’s a wonderful feeling for everybody,” said Chairman of the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society Lee Kim Siang. “We’re all neighbours, we’re all Singaporeans. We get to see each other, we dance together, we have fun together.”
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
