28 Aug 2014
Fellow Singaporeans, and Friends of Singapore,
I am delighted to welcome you this evening to celebrate Singapore’s 49th National Day. 49 years ago, we became independent, a country of different ethnic groups and religions, living together in peace and harmony. Our diversity is one of our strengths; it defines us and we celebrate it.
A few days ago, an Egyptian friend from a leading media establishment told me that Egypt is still trying to build a national identity out of its diverse 90-million people. The last three years had been very challenging because Egyptians had different conceptions of what their state should be. He lamented that the society was divided along ideological lines and there were competing views amongst groups. Some wanted to keep religion out of politics whilst others wanted religion to be included in it. Without a consensus, the country drifted. With a new Constitution and a new government now in place, Egyptians want to see their country move forward. The signs are positive.
What struck me is that although Egypt has a history of over 7000 years, the process to build a common identity and forge a national vision is on-going. There are three broad lessons for other countries, including Singapore. First, we can never take racial and religious harmony for granted. The more diverse the society is, the more we have to invest in a concerted effort to manage our diversity. Second, in any stable multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, there is a spirit of mutual respect and tolerance and give-and-take. Only with such a spirit, can people rally together in good times and bad times. Third, while every group will have their own space to practise their cultural and religious beliefs, there is also a common, civil space in which we all interact together. We must preserve this space for our society to continue to live in peace and harmony.
We have come a long way since 1965 and, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated in his 2014 National Day Message, “we have not reached our limit; there is no limit to what we can do”. As some of you present here will graduate from Al-Azhar University this year, let me take this opportunity to wish you all the best as you embark on your new careers, and as you contribute to our nation-building, to make Singapore an even better place for us and our children.
We also have 48 new Singaporean students present here who are about to begin their studies in Al Azhar University, and I would like to welcome you to Egypt and wish you all the best in your studies. You will be studying in a globally prestigious university known for its open-ness, moderation, tolerance and acceptance of diversity.
As you begin to settle down, give yourself time to adapt to a new country and new culture. PERKEMAS and your seniors, who are present this evening, are here to help you settle down in your new environment. The Singapore Embassy in Cairo is also another source of help and we work very closely with PERKEMAS to look after your needs. In fact, within the Singapore Embassy, we have a dedicated student liaison officer, Mr Taufiq, to assist all Singaporean students. As students studying in the same university, I hope you will continue to keep a look out for one another, help and support one another. May the Singapore spirit shine brightly.
Happy National Day! Have an enjoyable evening.
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