Give those with no religious beliefs a voice in efforts to promote peace

I refer to your article, “Inter-faith group to set up youth wing to maintain religious peace” (Sept 29), where the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) is planning to have regular programmes for young people to involve them in building a cohesive society and educating them about issues to maintain religious harmony.

Last year, the release of the General Household Survey 2015 report showed that more Singapore residents are not identifying themselves with any religion.

Those without religious affiliation made up 18.5 per cent of the resident population, up from 17 per cent in 2010, with the numbers being higher among younger residents compared with those in 2010.

It was reported that of those aged 15 to 24, 23 per cent said that they had no religious affiliation, while the figure was 14.6 per cent among residents aged 55 and above.

There appears to be an increasing trend of young persons having no religion.

If the mandate of the IRO is to promote racial and religious harmony in Singapore and it is serious about this, surely the “faithless” that constitute such a significant part of Singapore need to have a seat at the table.

I hope the organisation will consider this suggestion.