SINGAPORE - While the circuit breaker measures have made physical gatherings impossible, religious groups will continue interfaith learning and understanding through online sharing, seminars and meet-ups.
The pledge, held in conjunction with IRO Day 2020 - which marks the organisation's 71st anniversary - took place on video-conferencing platform Zoom. The event was attended by about 100 people. But Covid-19 has also presented Singaporeans with an opportunity to practise their religions in new and creative ways, she said, citing examples such as Khong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery's use of technology to broadcast the Qing Ming ritual, as well as churches doing the same for at Easter services.
The coronavirus has, however, sparked a wave of discrimination and prejudice in other parts of the world, she said. Singapore is not immune to occurrences of such events, she noted. Racist and insensitive comments have been directed at foreign workers, blaming them for the rapid spread of Covid-19. A man was also recently accused of hurling racist remarks at a Chinese storekeeper and attributing the source of the virus to the Chinese.
The organisation is represented by 10 faiths: the Baha'i faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism and Zoroastrianism.