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| Southeast Asia |
| Singapore Muslim MPs want to reach out to non-Muslims |
| 2002-09-28 |
| Malay Muslim MPs in Singapore are stepping up efforts to reach out to non-Muslim groups to help explain, clarify and share concerns of the Muslim community in Singapore. The move comes in the wake of the second round of arrests of Muslim citizens accused of terrorism. Starting to get a little worried, are they? Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Yaacob Ibrahim, said that the national steering committee for Inter-Racial Confidence Circles, which he chairs, is looking at concrete steps to strengthen multi-racial bonds. One suggestion is for children to learn more about world religions in school so that they can better understand the various communities. "This is one suggestion that has come up on how best we can work further with the various stakeholders to sort of ensure that our children at a very early age are given the opportunity to gain a better understanding," said Mr Yaacob Ibrahim. Better clarify that, Mr Ibrahim. Does that mean that all the non-Muslim kiddies are going to have to take classes in Islam? Or that all the little Muslim kiddies are going to have to learn something about other people's religions — to include a little admonition that they should be respected? The problem from where I sit isn't that non-Muslims don't know enough about Islam, but that Muslims don't know enough about other religions and cultures. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 How about turning in the jihadis in their midst and refusing to support them ony more? That would be a marvelous way to reach out to the people the jihadis are trying to kill. |
| Posted by: Michael Lonie 2002-09-29 00:22:57 |
| #1 Yeah, when Muslims are in the minority, they reach out. When they are a majority, the crush minorities. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2002-09-28 20:50:40 |