Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Heng Swee Keat joined PERTAPIS on Monday for an iftar event, where he spoke about social cohesion, charity, and interfaith understanding.
His speech highlighted the importance of mutual support in Singapore’s multicultural society, especially during significant religious events like Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. This year, Ramadan is taking place between February 28 and March 30.
“In Singapore, it has become a tradition for my cabinet and parliamentary colleagues, across races and religions, to join our Malay/Muslim community to buka puasa during Ramadan,” Heng said in a speech at the iftar event.
Heng said this practice reflects Singapore’s commitment to interfaith understanding. Ramadan, he noted, is a time for deepening connections among different communities, and leaders taking part in buka puasa reinforce national unity.
Iftar is the evening meal that Muslims eat to break their fast during Ramadan. It happens at sunset after a day of abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs.
Buka puasa is the Malay term for breaking fast and is commonly used in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It means “open fast” in Malay.
Fasting & community support
Heng spoke about the role of fasting in building empathy.
“This practice gets followers to experience thirst and hunger to build empathy for communities that may be less advantaged, and to develop discipline and gratitude for what we have,” he said.
He said fasting teaches values that extend beyond religion, such as discipline and social responsibility.
“It teaches us not to take for granted what we have today.”
Importance of interfaith engagements
This year’s iftar with PERTAPIS carried special significance as it marked a decade since Heng broke fast with the organization at its halfway house in 2014. PERTAPIS, founded in 1970, provides education and social services, supporting over 3,000 families currently.
“Sharing this experience with fellow Singaporeans during this holy month gives us an opportunity to appreciate how each community builds deep values and to learn what we have in common,” he said.
Singapore’s unique multicultural history has long been reinforced through interfaith engagements like iftar gatherings. Leaders from different races and religions regularly join the Malay and Muslim community in breaking fast, a tradition that underscores the nation’s commitment to social harmony.
Heng referred to Minister for Social & Family Development Masagos Zulkifli’s concept of masyarakat gemilang, or community of success, and said it is based on three principles: character, competency, and citizenry.
“It is Singapore’s good fortune that our Malay/Muslim community celebrates Ramadan and Hari Raya in a peaceful and harmonious environment, joined by friends from different races, religions, and cultures,” he said.
Overcoming threats to harmony
Heng noted that while division and polarization affect many parts of the world, Singapore must safeguard its racial and religious harmony.
Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including the Gaza conflict, he emphasized that Singaporeans have maintained trust and unity, coming together to provide humanitarian aid.
“Today, in other parts of the world, we see forces of division and polarisation. We must never take our inter-racial and inter-religious harmony for granted.”
