| 31st January 2002 The Editor , Political Desk PRESS RELEASE REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT POLICY OF DISALLOWING FEMALE MUSLIM STUDENTS TO WEAR HEADSCARVES IN SCHOOL Singapore Malay National Organisation ( SMNO ) urge the Government to review its administrative policy that disallow any female Muslim students , who wish to wear headscarves in National Schools as required by their Islamic obligations . In our view , National Integration does not mean that there should be a process of eliminating or discarding the religious , cultural and racial identity of the different races , whether as a whole or even in small parts , but on the contrary , National Integration means that should be a sense of the highest respect , and equally supportive of its expressions of a multi - racial , multi - lingual , multi - cultural and multi - religious society in all spheres of its national life . Furthermore , we feel any administrative policy must be subservient to the supremacy of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore in accordance with Articles 4 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 152 , 153 and therefore in this respect , any administrative policy that disallows the wishes of those female Muslims students who feel necessary to wear headscarves in schools , in conformity with their religious obligations , should be discontinued . The Uniformity of dress code can still be established through similarity of colours of the school uniform and design . It is always worthwhile to learn from the experience of another Country as the case of Minister of Community Development and Sports / Muslim Affairs , Mr Abdullah Tarmugi when he visited Malaysia recently , he remarked that Singapore could learn from the Malaysian experience in Sports . Similarly , Singapore should be able to learn from the experience of its Malaysian counterpart where its secular - based National Schools allow Muslim female students to cover themselves as required by Islam . In addition , following the most recent statements made by PM Goh Chok Tong , we are equally supportive of the need for the formation of IRCC ( Inter Racial Confidence Circles ) , not only in Constituencies , but also in all Ministries , Statutory Boards , Government Institutions , Government Link Companies , and in all fields of National Expressions . It is crucial that we should prevent a terrorist happening and protect multi - racial harmony as the September 11 incident showed that it can be catastrophic to the Economy amounting to a staggering S$ 1.2 trillion , according to a report prepared for the New York State Senate ( Straits Times : January 30 , 2002 ) . In conclusion , racial harmony is central to economic progress and prosperity . An investment in racial harmony is an investment in economic progress and prosperity and therefore , with it comes the right of every race to enjoy the fruits of its prosperity . From : SINGAPORE MALAY NATIONAL ORGANISATION ( SMNO ) |
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| BERSATU BERSETIA BERKHIDMAT |