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The Muslim culture in Singapore may be different from the same culture in other countries. They have their own identity that is distinct however the religion, the roots of that religion, and the culture is still retained. Lee Hsien Loong delivered a speech in Singapore today, in which he pointed this out. Adding that one of the main ideologies that holds his country together is the religious tolerance and the tolerance of all those that are different from one another.

When one travels to the country this is very clear, as sitting in a Singapore restaurant on any given day, one will see people from all over the world, different races with different backgrounds and belief systems all sitting together harmoniously. Lee noted this point by stating that the way in which his country handled the New York attacks on September 11.

This act carried out so far away from his country, was one of the moments that defined this harmony. The truth of this harmony, he said, was shown as each and every religious group came together to condemn the acts of terrorism, the Malay-Muslims as well. In this way he believes that the Singaporean Muslims have developed their own different for of the religion. They reacted he said, as Singaporeans first, and Muslims second.

He also stated that in other countries, the Muslims were either shunned or feared by the rest of their community, or that they may have retreated and withdrawn. This was not so in Singapore. All Singaporeans have become open to “the other”, and they adapt to their surroundings rather than trying to make their surroundings adapt to them. These are issues that are of a sensitive nature, and when a country takes on a progressive way of thinking and each of the society has confidence, the different cultures no longer fear each other, and the entire country benefits from that harmony.

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