MCYS MEDIA RELEASE NO: 24/2005

DATE OF ISSUE: 16 July 2005

Press Release
CHILDREN TO SEE THE `COLOURS OF HARMONY' (A STORY BOOK ON
RELIGIOUS HARMONY FOR CHILDREN)

A story book for children titled ‘Colours of Harmony’ will be launched this
month to mark the celebration of 40 years of racial and religious peace in
Singapore.

2 ‘Colours of Harmony’ is filled with stories and fables compiled from the
major religious communities in Singapore. Through the stories, children will
appreciate the universal values of kindness, harmony and compassion that are at
the core of all religions.

3 The book, published by the Inter-Religious Harmony Circle (IRHC), will be

launched by its chairman, Minister-of-State for Education, Mr Chan Soo Sen, at
the Bukit Merah Community Library on Sat, 16 July 2005, at 2pm.

4 ‘Colours of Harmony’ is the IRHC’s gift to our children, and all primary
schools will receive complimentary copies of the book for their school libraries.
The book will also be available at all libraries managed by the National Library
Board, religious organisations, and the People’s Association’s community clubs.

5 Students from five primary schools will attend the launch, where they will
be treated to a storytelling session comprising selected stories from ‘Colours of
Harmony’ by a veteran storyteller who works closely with the National Library
Board’s reading programme.

Declaration on Religious Harmony during Racial Harmony Week

6 Groups of Singaporeans will also be reciting the Declaration on Religious

Harmony during Racial Harmony Week (17-23 July 05). Mooted by then PM Goh
Chok Tong in October 2002 and officially launched in June 2003, the Declaration
on Religious Harmony is an affirmation on the importance of, and Singaporeans’
commitment towards peace and harmony. It is a basis for all in Singapore to
reflect on religious harmony, and what should be done to preserve it.

7 This year, Declaration notepads and posters have been given to all
schools, the Inter Racial Confidence Circles (IRCCs) and the various Harmony
Circles. Singaporeans of every creed, race and religion are encouraged to recite
the Declaration during Racial Harmony Week.
 8 Apart from reciting the Declaration, IRHC members such as churches and
mosques have planned a wide array of activities to commemorate the
Declaration on Religious Harmony during Racial Harmony Week. Please see
Annex A for the list of activities by IRHC members.

=========
Annex A

IRHC Member’s Publicity Plans on Declaration on Religious Harmony

Event/ Activity By: Date of Event/ Contact Contact Person Details

Organisation Activity Person
Inter-Religious Taoist 24 Jul 2005 Lok Yeok Wen Adm. Ast. of Taoist
Harmony Day Federation (Sunday) Federation Singapore
(Singapore)--- Tel:6242-2115
崇義廟 Fax: 6242-1127
(80 Rivervale Email:
Cresent S’pore taoist21@singnet.com.sg
63872862)
Harmony Week National During the Racial Doreen 63142883
Council of Harmony Week
Churches of
Singapore
1. Reading of the Sikh Advisory On a Sunday Mr Deep Singh 98636294
Declaration in Board (SAB). session in July 05
all 7 Sikh to be decided by
Gurdwaras Singapore Sikh the SAB.
(Temples). Education
Foundation On any one Mr Bhajan
(SSEF). Saturday school Singh 90022800
2. Reading of the session in July 05
Declaration to be decided by
and the the Chairman of
significance of the SSEF.
religious and
racial harmony
at all Punjabi
School
Centres.

ƒ Family Day ƒ Al- 3 Jul 05 Hj M Yahya

(Co-organised Istiqamah
with
Serangoon Hj Noran
CC) ƒ Al- 17 Jul 05
ƒ Family Day Mukminin Hj Saat
 Event/ Activity By: Date of Event/ Contact Contact Person Details
Organisation Activity Person
ƒ Al-Falah 24 Jul 05
Ms Harlina
ƒ Visit by 24 Jul 05
Anderson CC ƒ Darussalam
ƒ Racial Hj A Rahman
Harmony 16 & 17 Jul 05
Carnival
ƒ Visitors from ƒ Tentera Di- 9 Jul 05
RC & CC Raja
ƒ Talks on ƒ Kg Siglap
understanding
other religions

Inter-Racial Inter- Thye Hua 19 July 2005 at Mr Lee Kim 81120280 (Hp)
Religious (IRIR) Kwan Moral 7.15 pm at Siang 63371201 (O)
Harmony Nite Society Singapore Expo 63335141 (Fax)
2005. together with Hall 2 leekimsiang@thkms.org.sg
their 7
Partners : Inter- Aim: To promote
Religious Inter-Racial Inter-
Organisation, Religious
SINDA, Harmony.
MENDAKI, We will be
The Eurasian distributing
Association, declaration
CDAC, Chee materials such as
Hoon Kog posters, notepads
Moral and declaration
Promotion cards in 4
Society, Chee languages to the
Hia Kog Moral 5,000 guests.
Society.
Guests-of-
Honour: President
SR Nathan & Mrs
Nathan

Special Guests:
Dr Yaacob
Ibrahim, Minister
for the
Environment And
Water Resources
Mr Abdullah
 Event/ Activity By: Date of Event/ Contact Contact Person Details
Organisation Activity Person
Tarmugi, Speaker,
East Coast GRC
and Mrs Abdullah
Mr Chew Heng
Ching, Deputy
Speaker, East
Coast GRC

The Nite will also

feature the IRIR
theme song
performed by
winners of the
Singing
Competition.
Ethnic dances will
be performed by
CDAC, SINDA,
MENDAKI,
Eurasian
Association. Inter-
Religious
Organisation’s 9
religious leaders
will say
invocations and
explain how their
religions will
promote harmony.

Racial Harmony Bahai 23rd and 24th July Daniel Chu 94889281
Week Community
Visiting scholar
Mr Marc
Vloeberghs.
will be invited by
the Bahai
community to a
study of
Christianity.
The objective is to
promote an
awareness of other
religion and to
 Event/ Activity By: Date of Event/ Contact Contact Person Details
Organisation Activity Person
have a better
understanding of
their religious
teachings thereby
fostering religious
harmony

Declaration on
Religious
Harmony will also
be shared during
this event.
Parsi New Year Parsi 20 Aug 2005 Russi Ghadiali 67378504
Zoroastrian
Association