Proud moment for Singapore Sikhs

| Singapore | 10 Dec 2016 | Asia Samachar |

Sarjit Singh s/o Fujah Singh, the Radin Mas IRCC chairman and vice-chairman of Bukit Merah, was one of the recipients of 37 Sikhs who received medals for the Singapore National Day Awards 2016.

“It was a special year for the highest number of Sikh men and women who made the cut this time,” Sarjit tells Asia Samachar.

The inter-race harmony champion has been active on the circuit to promote harmony amongst th various races in Singapore, with the youth in mind.

“I was born into a kampung where my neighbours were all Malay, but I studied at Christian schools like Saint Joseph’s Institution. I grew up with people who have different beliefs,” he said in one newspaper interview in 2015.

SEE ALSO: 37 Sikhs on Singapore National Day Awards list

Initially called the Inter-Racial Confidence Circles, the IRCC was formed in 2002 by then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in light of the Sept 11 attacks. It was renamed in 2007 to also promote religious harmony.

The 87 IRCCs, one for each constituency in Singapore, deepen the understanding of the various religions through inter-faith activities like heritage trails, dialogues and religious celebrations, according to the news report.

Among others, Sarjit had spearheaded an annual Race With Faith held in conjunction with World Religion Day and modelled after popular reality television show The Amazing Race. In the race, which was organised by Sarjit and the Radin Mas IRCC, young people had to complete tasks at various religious organisations. The first race took place in 2013.

Sarjit and some of the Sikhs were able to take a group photograph with Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife at the investiture ceremony in August 2016.

“Wish we could have got a group picture of all our Sikh Awardees due to the fact that some awards were presented on different days,” one of the recipients tells Asia Samachar in an email.

RELATED STORY:

37 Sikhs on Singapore National Day Awards list (Asia Samachar, 10 Aug 2016)