Update on Case of Posters Found at NUS that were Deemed Disrespectful to Buddhism and Islam

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Minister for Education (a) whether any further action has been taken by the National University of Singapore in connection with a NUS student religious group's posters and website that were deemed disrespectful and insensitive to Buddhism and Islam, and to other countries; and (b) whether the Ministry and the institutes of higher learning (IHLs) have plans to engender greater respect and sensitivity for religious and non-religious beliefs among students, staff and faculty in our IHLs.

Mr Heng Swee Keat: MOE and our Institutes of Higher Learning do not condone any action or behaviour that disrupts religious harmony or disparages any community in Singapore or in other countries. When NUS management was alerted to the posters, they immediately counselled the students involved and explained to them how others could be offended by their actions. The students promptly removed the offending materials from campus and their website, and apologised for their actions on their website. The activities of the NUS Campus Crusade for Christ have since been suspended, and police investigations are still ongoing. NUS management also took the occasion to remind the wider NUS community of the importance of being respectful to others' beliefs and views.

Our MOE schools and IHLs regularly emphasise the importance of social cohesion, tolerance and sensitivity, through both the formal and informal curriculum. MOE schools emphasise these values through their Civics and Moral Education programme; and build appreciation of the cultural diversity among the various ethnic communities in Singapore through subjects like Social Studies and History. Our IHLs create opportunities for students to discuss and imbibe the values of respect and the importance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore through their various character and citizenship education programmes. These include not only academic-based modules on Singapore, but also co-curricular platforms that bring students from different backgrounds together in natural settings, to foster deeper interactions and friendships.

The "Inter-Faith" Group in NUS has members who are representatives of the various NUS student groups that are religion or ethnicity-based, eg, Varsity Christian Fellowship, Buddhist Society, Hindu Society, etc. This "Inter-Faith" group organises activities, such as talks, seminars and civics tours, to promote harmony among different religions and faiths.

Maintaining racial and religious harmony is critical in the context of a multi-racial, multi-religious Singapore. This incident reminds all of us not to take racial and religious harmony for granted, and that we must be sensitive and vigilant on matters of race and religion.

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