However, they must avoid turning themselves into enclaves catering to parochial interests, warns minister

COMMUNAL self-help groups can help build a cohesive multi-racial society in Singapore.

Refuting claims in the media that these groups only sharpen the racial divide, Minister for Community Development and Sports Abdullah Tarmugi said they can promote a diverse society in several ways.

They can tap the wider Singaporean network of community development centres, family service centres and voluntary welfare organisations to help the needy.

They also provide opportunities for Singaporeans to act as volunteers and donors and enable people to understand the challenges of different communities.

Mr Abdullah, however, warned: 'What is important is that the leadership of the self-help groups must avoid turning their organisations into exclusive enclaves catering to only parochial interests.'

He was speaking at the 'One Heartbeat' event organised by five self-help groups and the Central Singapore Joint Social Service Centre at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 yesterday.

The groups are the Chinese Development Assistance Council, Singapore Indian Development Association, Yayasan Mendaki, Eurasian Association and Association of Muslim Professionals.

The event included a seminar on the Singapore 21 vision, a mini-fair on ethnic cultures and customs, as well as traditional games.

Four speakers at the seminar, representing different communities, shared their views on what the Singapore 21 vision meant to them.

To get Singaporeans to participate actively in society, Mr Ahmad Nizam Abbas, a partner in a law firm, said social groups with common interests or backgrounds could play a helpful role.

'Individuals can be brought together by a shared love of the arts, sports or hobbies. An example is the 'Simei Briskwalkers - a group of Malay women who wanted to lead a healthy lifestyle.'

Another speaker, Dr Chitra Rajaram, editor of Tamil Murasu, said the family, as a social unit, was coming under stress from working parents and rising expectations. 'But strong families are our foundation as well as our future.'