TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING’
PNG ENG HUAT
August 27, 2009
I refer to the articles, ‘Twin threats of race and religion’ (ST, Aug 17).
The standoff incident cited in the National Day Rally speech involving a Malay wedding and a Chinese funeral over a void deck space was unfortunate but nothing racial at all.
Both events were important to the families involved. I am sure if both parties were of the same race, the standoff would still be equally intense.
The commonsensical resolution to the standoff would be first-come, first-served. Most reasonable Singaporeans will understand this rule of thumb quite easily. Thus, it was gracious of the wedding party to give way to the grieving family.
The chances of different races squaring off in our multi racial society over space, environment, or facility due to unreasonable behaviour or administrative error are very high. If a badminton court is double-booked by two parties of different races, is the resultant standoff going to be racial?
The Government has always reminded Singaporeans the danger of playing the race card. As the incident cited in the rally speech was caused by an administrative oversight on the part of the grieving family or some other parties, it should not be brought up as an example of racial and religious fault lines.
Putting a racial undertone to a common day mixed-up is unhealthy. Such incident can happen to any one regardless of race. It would be more appropriate to cite the resolution of the incident and the Malay family as good examples of what neighbourliness is all about in a densely populated and land scarce Singapore.
Taken from http://pngapore.blogspot.com/2009/08/common-day-mixed-up-racial-issue.html
Comments
It could be argued that perhaps PM was subtly trying to tell the Chinese that Malays have been very accommodating. After all this story was told during the Chinese portion of his speech.
But I agree that this was an administrative mess up, not a racial incident. To use it to play the race card was not very responsible and unnecessarily provocative.
Yes Png, I agree with u that it was mere coincidence that the two families happen to be of different race.
If this is to happen to similar race, the issue would surface too, Its not a matter of racial clash here.
PAP trying to play race card? Some things never change.