Religious Harmony

Religious harmony in Singapore

The biggest obstacle, however, to such development is found the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, which proves to be the biggest bugbear in vigourous religious debate. A restraining order can be placed on any member of a religious institution for the following reasons:

(a) causing feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religious groups;

(b) carrying out activities to promote a political cause, or a cause of any political party while, or under the guise of, propagating or practising any religious belief;

(c) carrying out subversive activities under the guise of propagating or practising any religious belief; or

(d) exciting disaffection against the President or the Government while, or under the guise of, propagating or practising any religious belief.

The clauses mentioned above are vague and poorly defined. “Enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility” will always exist whenever differences are highlighted, even when it is unintentional. One man’s offense can easily lead to another man’s arrest.

While noble in intent, the Act goes to the extreme of out rightly separating religion from politics, when in reality the two are inexorably linked. It also places the authority of the State above religion, when in fact religion should act as a check on government.

Such a topsy-turvy arrangement is problematic for the well-being of the nation, for if the State rules over the nation, then who rules over the State? Surely not the mainstream media, which has been rendered toothless by the government? Surely not the judiciary, which has been found to be loyal to the State?

It is time Singapore loosen up for its own good.