Singapore Must Redouble Efforts To Maintain Social Cohesion: PM Wong

Singapore must work hard to guard against powerful forces that could pull society further apart along racial and religious lines, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on April 1.

- Chin Soo Fang

The Republic must also redouble efforts to maintain social cohesion, he told about 1,000 guests at a dinner to celebrate the Taoist Federation's 35th anniversary and Singapore's 60th year of independence.

Among the guests were leaders of Singapore's major religions, including representatives from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.

Their presence is a testament to the religious harmony Singapore enjoys, PM Wong said.

This did not happen by chance, but is the result of hard work by successive generations of Singaporeans, he noted. While the Government has passed laws and policies to protect and safeguard cohesion, religious leaders put in effort to build mutual trust and understanding, and Singaporeans have also helped build a harmonious and united society, he added.

Elaborating in Mandarin, PM Wong said 60 years - or "yi jia zi" - symbolises a complete life cycle in Chinese tradition and is an important milestone.

There are ups and downs in a person's life, and the same might be said of Singapore's progress in the last 60 years, he noted.