SM Teo Chee Hean at Tzu Chi 53rd anniversary and Buddha Day cum Mother's Day Celebration

国务资政兼国家安全统筹部长张志贤于
慈济五十三周年庆、浴佛大典和母亲节庆祝会演讲全文

日期：2019年5月12日

时间：晚上6时30分

地点：武吉甘柏体育场

我的国会同僚刘燕玲女士，张俰宾博士，

十大宗教代表，

慈济基金会新加坡分会执行长刘瑞士先生，

女士们、先生们，

大家傍晚好。感谢大会邀请我出席今晚的慈济五十三周年庆、浴佛大典和母亲节庆祝会。

新加坡是个多元种族和多元宗教的社会。独立以来，我国政府和不同社群同心协力，建设一个安稳、团结、与和谐的家园。新加坡人不分种族、语言和宗教，在共同的社区、政府组屋和学校一起生活、成长、学习。

然而，随着科技和互联网日新月异的发展，我们的社会也受到更多不同的影响。假信息在网络上快速传播，在很多国家成为了严重的问题。假信息能够破坏不同社群之间的互信，和人民对政府的信心。政府最近推出了新的《防止网络假信息和网络操纵法案》，就是为了让我们能够更有效地对付假信息的问题、保护我国社会的团结和凝聚力。

多年来，慈济在新加坡扮演了重要的角色，促进不同社群之间的互相了解和尊重，也加强了新加坡多元种族、多元文化、和多元宗教的特点。慈济是白沙西区族群与宗教互信圈（或者 IRCC）的成员。通过慈善、医疗、教育、人文、和环境保护的各种项目，慈济也帮助了很多有需要的国人，加强了我国社会的凝聚力。

我希望慈济能继续发扬佛教的仁慈、悲悯、宽容的价值观，一起为新加坡打造更和谐、更美好的未来。

在此，我也祝所有的母亲们母亲节快乐！谢谢大家。

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[English translation]

SPEECH BY SENIOR MINISTER AND COORDINATING MINISTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY TEO CHEE HEAN AT THE Tzu Chi 53RD Anniversary, buddha day CUM MOTHERS’ DAY celebration ON 12 MAY 2019 AT 6.30PM AT BUKIT GOMBAK STADIUM

My Parliamentary colleagues Ms Low Yen Ling and Dr Teo Ho Pin,

The 10 Religious Representative from IRO,

Mr Low Swee Seh, CEO of Tzu Chi Foundation Singapore,

Ladies and gentlemen，

Good evening everyone. Thank you for inviting me to join you tonight at Tzu Chi 53^rd Anniversary, Buddha Day cum Mother’s Day Celebration.

Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society. Since our independence, our Government and different communities have worked hard to build a secure, united and harmonious nation. Regardless of race, language or religion, all Singaporeans live, grow and learn in the same communities, HDB flats and schools.

However, with the rapid pace of technological change and the growth of the internet, our society has also increasingly come under different influences. The rapid spread of fake news online has become a serious problem for many countries. Fake news can damage the trust between different racial and religious communities, and citizens’ trust in Government. This is why the Government has recently introduced the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, so that we can tackle the problem of fake news more effectively and better protect our unity and social cohesion.

Over the years, Tzu Chi has played an important role in Singapore by promoting mutual understanding and respect among different communities, and strengthened our multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious identity. Tzu Chi is a member of the Pasir Ris West Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle.  Through your various programmes in charity, medicine, education, humanitarian work and environmental protection, Tzu Chi has also provided assistance to many Singaporeans in need and strengthened the bonds of our society.

I hope that Tzu Chi will keep up the work in promoting the Buddhist values of kindness, compassion and tolerance, and work with us to build a more harmonious and better future for Singapore.

I would also like to wish all our mothers a Happy Mothers’ Day! Thank you.

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