Making his first public remarks on views expressed by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew about Muslims and their integration in Singapore society, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said: 'Muslims and non-Muslims alike know that identity is not a zero-sum game. We can be both religious and patriotic at the same time.'
Saying that he disagreed with MM Lee's views, he noted that the reality in Singapore consists of Muslims and non-Muslims 'working together side by side, in the unions, in schools, in political leadership, in constituencies'.
While observing that Mr Lee's remarks had caused some unhappiness among Muslims, he also urged them to see the remarks in perspective, as a 'worst-case scenario'.
Mr Lee, he said, based his views on his experiences, and his concern for the long-term future of Singapore.
Dr Yaacob was speaking to reporters while at Mendaki, the Muslim self-help organisation, to present cheques for a range of community projects. A total of $370,000 was given out to 39 organisations to fund programmes to help less privileged Malay-Muslim families.
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