From The Gallery

Parliament: Building harmony, on shared paths and in a secular society

The fact that the 30-year-old Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act has never been invoked, even though the authorities say they have come close to using it on several occasions, is a testimony to Singapore's religious harmony. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
The fact that the 30-year-old Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act has never been invoked, even though the authorities say they have come close to using it on several occasions, is a testimony to Singapore's religious harmony. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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Curbing the errant use of personal mobility devices (PMDs) and updating a law to protect religious harmony appear to be disparate topics, but these two items at yesterday's Parliament sitting have something in common.

In essence, what MPs debated and sought answers on was how to maintain harmony - whether between pedestrians and PMD users on sidewalks, or in how Singaporeans practise their various faiths in peaceful co-existence in a secular society.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 08, 2019, with the headline Parliament: Building harmony, on shared paths and in a secular society. Subscribe