Tentera Di Raja Mosque Charity Golf Dinner 2015 - Speech by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening

1.     Thank you for taking time to support Tentera Di Raja Mosque's Charity Golf Tournament, which is held once every four years. This year has special significance for Singapore, as Singaporeans come together to celebrate our 50th year of nationhood. One of the many things that Singaporeans can be proud of, is our multi-racial and multi-religious harmony. This is a precious legacy that our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and his colleagues, built together with our Pioneers, and which we all enjoy today.

2.     Community bonding is an important pillar of our social harmony. Even as we ensure that each community has its own space for its culture and religion, we must also maintain a large common space where all Singaporeans can interact with one another. It is especially heartening to see how our religious organisations like Tentera Di Raja Mosque not only provide space for religion and prayer for their respective communities, but also promote inter-communal understanding and help strengthen community ties.

3.     Tentera Di Raja Mosque has organised many programmes and activities in partnership with the West Coast community. Its youth outreach programmes include collaborations with the National University of Singapore's Muslim Society to run sports events such as speed-tag, street soccer and Captain's Ball competitions. The Mosque has also conducted a youth inter-racial bowling tournament to strengthen multi-racial relationships through fun-filled activities. These efforts have helped to promote peace, harmony and understanding, and strengthened the social fabric of the West Coast and Clementi communities.

4.     Since 2007, Tentera Di Raja Mosque has been conducting the 'MUDIK KE HULU' programme, which literally means 'move upstream', to help people move back to the right path. The programme helps participantsof all races or religions in the West Coast community to remove their tattoos at a subsidised rate, while giving them emotional and spiritual support through their tattoo removal journey. Over 650 people ranging from 13 to 50 years old have participated in the programme. In 2013, the programme was expanded to include Changi Prison pre-released inmates. This tattoo removal programme helps ex-inmates to put their past behind them, and re-integrate back into society more easily, so that they can build better lives for themselves and their families.

5.     I am happy to see many organisations, both secular and religious, come forward to support this year's Tentera Di Raja Mosque Charity Golf Tournament. These include the Lee Foundation, Singapore Press Holdings, OKP Holdings, Pertapis and organisations of other faiths such as Loyang Tua Pek Kong and New Creation Church.   Your generous donations will go towards the many community programmes conducted by Tentera Di Raja Mosque, as well as the rebuilding of the mosque. Some 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) as part of Tentera Di Raja's Mosque recent partnership with the RRG to promote inter-religious harmony and to address the misinterpretation of several Islamic concepts which can lead to extremism and radicalisation.

6.     Thank you to all the generous donors who have supported Tentera Di Raja Mosque, financially or in kind. Over the years, all of you have contributed to the good work of this Mosque, to strengthen community bonds and promote inter-racial and inter-religious harmony.

7.     With the Government working together with community groups and Singaporeans, we can build a more cohesive society and a stronger sense of belonging to the nation that draws all Singaporeans together as one people, regardless of race, language or religion.

8.     Thank you.

Majlis Makan Malam Golf Amal Masjid Tentera Di Raja 2015 - Ucapan Oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Menteri Penyelaras Keselamatan Negara dan Menteri Ehwal Dalam Negeri Encik Teo Chee Hean

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan

Salam sejahtera

1. Tahun ini, kita meraikan SG50 (SG lima puluh). Semua rakyat Singapura boleh berbangga dengan keharmonian pelbagai kaum dan agama kita. Ini adalah legasi berharga yang pengasas Perdana Menteri kita, Encik Lee Kuan Yew, dan rakan-rakan sepasukannya telah bina bersama-sama dengan generasi Perintis kita, dan telah mewariskannya untuk kita semua.

2. Sementara setiap masyarakat mempunyai ruang sendiri bagi budaya dan agamanya, kita juga mesti mengekalkan ruang bersama yang besar di mana semua rakyat Singapura boleh berinteraksi antara satu sama lain. Pertubuhan agama seperti Masjid Tentera Di Raja memainkan peranan penting untuk membantu menggalakkan persefahaman antara kaum dan mengukuhkan hubungan masyarakat.

3. Masjid Tentera Di Raja telah menganjurkan pelbagai program dan aktiviti dengan kerjasama masyarakat West Coast, terutama dalam usaha mendekati belia melalui sukan. Masjid ini juga telah menjalankan program 'Mudik KE HULU' untuk menghilangkan tatu sejak 2007.

4. Saya gembira melihat banyak organisasi sekular dan agama menyokong Pertandingan Golf Amal hari ini. 20% (Dua puluh peratus) daripada hasil kutipannya akan disumbangkan kepada Kumpulan Pemulihan Keagamaan (RRG) untuk menggalakkan keharmonian antara agama dan untuk menangani salah tafsir beberapa konsep Islam yang boleh membawa kepada kegiatan pelampau dan radikal.

5. Marilah kita bekerja bersama-sama untuk membina masyarakat yang lebih padu, dengan rasa pemilikan yang lebih kukuh kepada negara bagi menyatukan semua rakyat Singapura sebagai satu bangsa, tanpa mengira kaum, bahasa atau agama.

6. Terima kasih.