PM: Harmony between races 'fundamental'

This article is more than 12 months old

Jul 22, 2016 06:02 am

Harmony between different races and religions is a fundamental principle for Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted on Racial Harmony Day yesterday.

In a Facebook post, Mr Lee wrote that Singaporeans should celebrate their diversity and share one another's customs and cultures.

Pointing to recent terrorist attacks in Orlando in the US, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Nice in France and Puchong in Malaysia, which he described as "chilling, driven by hatred, and heartbreaking", Mr Lee said there have been more cases of people rejecting diversity and inclusion.

He wrote: "In Singapore, we must always stay united as one people, and never allow any such event to break or divide us."

Racial Harmony Day commemorates the 1964 communal riots and teaches students the importance of racial and religious harmony.