SINGAPORE: The recent escape of Jemaah Islamiyah leader, Mas Selamat Kastari, has underscored the importance of community bonding among Singaporeans.

That is why the grassroots cluster of the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) is working to strengthen mutual trust among residents.

This year, about 30 out of 84 constituencies in Singapore will be the first to receive the CEP Ready Certification.

The certification criteria include developing proper constituency emergency preparedness plans and having a group of influential community leaders who can be mobilised in a crisis.

The certificate recipients include constituencies and divisions like Paya Lebar, Clementi and Marine Parade.

Grassroots volunteers have been getting together to distribute flyers for the wanted fugitive, Mas Selamat. This is a sign of how Singapore rallies together as one, regardless of race or religion.

The programme is not just about being prepared for a natural disaster, but also for a deliberate act of attack aimed at causing mistrust among Singaporeans.

Lim Swee Say, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Minister-in-Charge of Grassroots Cluster CEP, said: "What's important is for us to make sure that people are coming together, regardless of their religious groups, regardless of their racial groups, and working together...

"Over time, we would know one another better, trust one another better, and accept one another better. I think this is the only way for us to ensure that we can be best prepared."

Singapore should not wait for a case like the JI leader's escape to build confidence among the people.

Halimah Yacob, MP for Jurong GRC, said: "For instance, when I attend residents' wakes, I make sure I bring other races as well, so in Chinese wakes, there'll be Malays and Indians. In that way, we break the barriers.

"If we're able to internalise the importance of developing trust and community spirit, we'll build a whole foundation of trust and confidence among our residents."

Madam Halimah added that she is planning to develop an email database of all her residents in Bukit Batok to allow easy and faster dissemination of information.

She said: "In the event that we need to be alert, apart from SMSing our core group, we can reach out to the residents."

Crisis simulation exercises have also proved to be effective.

Irene Ng, MP of Tampines GRC, said: "We inculcate a sense that we have a common stake in society, and while we may have different religious views and different faith, it doesn't mean we have to be divided. In fact, it means that we have to work even closer."

Aside from visits to places of worship, various constituencies have come up with different scenarios to learn how to manage communal tensions among their residents.

It is eventually hoped that some constituencies will be able to share their best practices with others.


- CNA/so