The neutrality of the secular state to the different religions, beliefs and cultures should protect all communities, especially minorities, from being suppressed by the majority religious community. This is because discrimination based on religion is not tolerated; laws and national policies do not favour one particular religious community.

In short, the secular state will have the credibility and support to unify the diverse religious communities, and achieve social peace and religious harmony.

It is a good time for Singaporeans, after 25 years of the MRHA, to reflect on lessons from history and the conditions of present times to stay rooted in the ideology of separation of religion from politics and the affairs of the state.

… Mohammad Alami Musa is the head of Studies in Inter-religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.