Members of the IRO represent some of the major religions in Singapore

It’s an eclectic mix – spiritual and community leaders, business people, young adults and retirees – that forms the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO). And as the primary body that seeks to promote understanding, tolerance and harmony among Singapore’s many races, it is no surprise that the IRO is such a colourful community.

The multicultural mix of the IRO – which represents ten religions in Singapore – is one symbol of the progress that Singapore has made in matters of religious harmony. It was not always the case.

In Singapore’s early days as a colonial trading port under the East India Company, a mélange of people from all corners of Asia sought their fortunes in the bustling lynchpin of the spice route. As Singapore evolved from colonial outpost to independent state, the undercurrent of racial and religious tensions resulted in race riots in the 1950s and 1960s that threatened the stability and sovereignty of the fledgling nation.

On 11 December 1950, Muslim outrage over a court decision to return Maria Hertogh – a 13-year-old girl born to Dutch Catholic parents but adopted and raised as a Muslim by her adopted mother – to her biological parents resulted in a three-day riot that killed 18 people and injured 173.

In 1964, the worst and most prolonged period of race riots in Singapore’s post-war history raged over two five-day periods that started on 21 July and on 2 September against the backdrop of Singapore’s merger with the Federation of Malaysia. Political pundits exploited the undercurrent of resentment among the Malay minority in Singapore that had expected the special rights for Malays enshrined in the 1957 Federation of Malaya Constitution. During a celebratory procession on the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday on 21 July, a rights protest by some Malays escalated from a verbal war to a brawl with Chinese bystanders. On 2 September, racial tensions boiled over again when a Malay trishaw rider was stabbed to death. In all, 22 people were killed and 461 injured.

Recognising the dangers of racial enclaves and its impact on the community, policies were enacted since the 1970s to ensure the integration of races (and thus religions) in matters of housing, community and political representation. For example, an ethnic quota was implemented – and still exists – in public housing; ministers have been tasked to oversee Malay, Indian and Eurasian communities; and the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system ensures minority representation in Parliament.

But even before these policies was the IRO, one of the – if not the oldest – inter-faith organisations in the world. Formed in 1949 before Singapore’s independence, the IRO came about after an inter-faith reception to welcome Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, a renowned Muslim missionary. A group of religious leaders and Sir Malcolm MacDonald, then the British Commissioner General for South East Asia, recognised the need for such a group. When the IRO was launched in 1949, more than 2,000 people filled the Victoria Memorial Hall to listen to the speakers from all the different religions affirm their commitment to promote inter-faith understanding. The IRO first launched with the inclusion of six religions: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. Four others – Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Baha’ism and Jainism – were included in later years. MacDonald described the meeting as one of the “most remarkable held in Singapore. Perhaps it is also the most hopeful”. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I think the reason for our present success is that we have inculcated the ideas of not just tolerance for others, but respect and understanding, from a young age in school.”
– Sam Poo, a council member at the IRO and a representative of the Buddhist Association (Theravada School)

WEAVERS OF HARMONY

Today, the IRO is the overarching body under which all the major religious organisations count as members. But more than a collection of religious groups, the IRO’s main role is to inculcate friendship and cooperation among the leaders and followers of different religions, thus building a foundation of trust and communication, explained Ameerali Abdeali, IRO’s honorary secretary and president of the Muslim Kidney Action Association. Meetings are held regularly – at different religious institutions – to discuss strategies to improve inter-religious understanding and respect. Over the years, said Mr Ameerali, the IRO has worked to increase its understanding of other religions and has sought the advice and experience of others to achieve its objectives, such as networking with organisations like the World Council on Religion and Peace and the Asian Council on Religion and Peace.

The work, explained members – many of whom lead or play leading roles in religious associations – is not glamorous or unique, but consists of ongoing efforts to build platforms on which to increase interaction among the different religions and races and to foster understanding. This takes the form of walks and gatherings, brochures on the religions in Singapore, exhibitions, talks and lectures.

The success of Singapore’s overall policies can be seen today in temples and churches standing side by side and religious holidays celebrated by all faiths, said Sam Poo, a council member at the IRO and a representative of the Buddhist Association (Theravada School). “I think the reason for our present success is that we have inculcated the ideas of not just tolerance for others, but respect and understanding, starting from school,” he added.

Apart from grassroots work, the IRO is also a regular feature at a national level, Mr Ameerali pointed out, conducting inter-faith prayers and blessings at launching ceremonies of public and private institutions. This has led the IRO to become recognised as “a force for good”, he added. Amid national tragedy, the presence of the IRO has also acted as a potent symbol of unity. The organisation was present during incidents such as the air crashes in Taiwan and Palembang, as well as at the dragon boating tragedy in Cambodia in 2007.

SETTING THE MORAL TONE

As a symbol of religious unity, the significance of the IRO cannot be underestimated, especially in the present global climate. In his National Day Rally, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave kudos to the role of religious groups here. Mr Lee noted that they have played an important role in ‘”guiding their flocks” and in setting a “wholesome and moral tone” in Singapore. He noted that Singapore has not been untouched by the global phenomena of the ‘mega-church’, growing Muslim community and other rising religious trends. In an opinion piece in The Straits Times, Dr Matthew Matthews, a visiting fellow at the National University of Singapore cited the work of Dr Jose Casanova, a leading academic in the sociology of religion, stating, “There is likely to be an increasing number of issues which religious groups will see as contentious moral issues. As societies become more diverse, scientific technology harnesses forces that bring life and public policy reaches into the private affairs of life.” This will inevitably “engage religion and provoke religious responses”.

In Singapore, the role of religious groups have managed to tackle such thorny issues by not appealing to absolute religious principles, but by considering ethical, moral and secular sentiments. “Spiritual leaders here are practical about things and do not just blindly impose their religious viewpoint on others, but factor in the views of society at large,” said IRO vice-president Russi Ghadiali, who is also president of the Zoroastrian Association.

“Fortunately in Singapore there are no serious problems amongst the different religious and racial communities,” said Mr Ameerali. But the IRO still keeps a watchful eye out for any problems. “It is misleading to assume that racial or religious riots take time to develop,” he added. “It can happen suddenly and unexpectedly, for example, even a traffic accident caused by a drunken driver of one ethnic group which results in injury or death of a person (or child) of another ethnic group.” Proactive steps to build a solid foundation of discourse and trust – through community engagement and dialogue – make it easier to tackle such problems should they arise, Mr Ameerali said.

SOME MAJOR RELIGIONS IN SINGAPORE

TALKING ABOUT RELIGION

Apart from its foundation-building work, the IRO is also primed to be responsive to external controversies as well. For example, during the incidents over a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad by a Danish artist in 2005, the IRO called a special council meeting and subsequently issued a statement that it did not condone the act. Most recently, amid the furore over the ‘takeover’ of the Association of Women for Action and Research, by what was revealed to be a group of women from the same church, IRO stated that secular organisations should remain secular.

“In the event of any controversy concerning religion, the IRO works quietly towards resolution,” said Mr Ameerali, “Where necessary, the IRO will simply state its stand.” Such a quiet and measured stance may be seen as counterintuitive to overcome the storm of emotion that can result from religious controversy, but this is a calculated move, explained the IRO, and consciously used to offer a rational position rather than an emotional one. Recognising the challenges that religiosity brings, Mr Ameerali noted that it is not entirely a bad thing. “If any citizen ridicules, belittles or mocks another’s beliefs, then he or she is discrediting their own religion because all the major religions teach us to respect people of other faiths,” he said. Continued work by schools and civic institutions to build bridges of trust and respect cannot be underrated. “Knowledge and a good education is the key to understanding … [we] should continue to share the importance of racial and religious tolerance and respect. There is no end point to this education. It must be continuous and ongoing.”