Inter-faith group to set up youth wing to maintain religious peace
Mdm Halimah welcomed the IRO’s plans to step up outreach to youths, noting that with increased exposure to social media, the “young need to have a safe place” to discuss issues relating to different faiths. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Creating a formal youth wing that organises structured programmes, such as those touching on issues like radicalisation and Islamphobia, are among the plans the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) will embark on in the coming months to maintain religious peace in Singapore.
While it already conducts ad-hoc events for youths, IRO president K Kesavapany, 80, told reporters yesterday that having regular programmes could boost youths’ involvement, giving the platform to educate them on the importance of building a cohesive society.
Mr Kesavapany was among 20 IRO members who had brunch with President Halimah Yacob at the Istana, where they discussed the need to promote racial and religious harmony and the organisation’s outreach efforts in the pipeline.
Speaking to reporters after the meal, Mdm Halimah noted that Singaporeans must not underestimate the importance of religious and racial harmony as these matters have the potential to become “flashpoints”. In some countries, racial and religious disputes are already affecting communities, she noted.
Citing the heightened terror situation here and how some radicalised Singaporeans have waded into Islamic State’s (IS) warfare — such as Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, who appeared in a recent IS propaganda video — Mdm Halimah said the IRO and religious leaders play an important role in maintaining peace and calm in Singapore, should there be a terror attack.
“Their work in building resilience and building strong community relationships is very critical,” she added.
Mdm Halimah welcomed the IRO’s plans to step up outreach to youths, noting that with increased exposure to social media, the “young need to have a safe place” to discuss issues relating to different faiths.
Honorary secretary of the IRO Ameerali Abdeali, 66, said the organisation would leave it to youths to come up with the kinds of structured programmes they would like to have to ensure they take an interest in the activities.
“We are actually very happy when the youth take an interest in inter-faith activities because then we know the next generation coming after us are already aware of the importance of respecting each other, treating each other with consideration,” said Mr Abdeali. “And not to ridicule or minimise or mock other people’s faiths.”
Meanwhile, Mr Kesavapany said the IRO will also try to reach out to more women as they are “the bedrock of families”. Its women’s wing, called Women of Faith, will visit various constituencies to hold engagement activities, for instance.
