TODAY, the bigger challenge for our community and political leaders is how to get our new immigrants to assimilate and integrate quickly and cohesively ("Forging a cohesive national identity" by Dr V. Subramaniam; Tuesday and "S'pore must 'embrace diversity as its strength'"; April 10).
This would ensure that the fabric of national unity and identity can be further consolidated, and Singapore is able to swiftly move forward to face greater, dynamic world challenges.
Singaporeans should be more mature and inclusive, and accept the cultural and religious differences of our new immigrants, as doing this will only enrich and enhance our diversity and national identity.
Only by embracing diversity can our nation firmly withstand various dilemmas and setbacks.
We should value our policies of national service, diversified yet integrated educational system, and the competitive, efficient, fair and transparent administration systems and public institutions.
These will ensure that the system of appropriate appointment on the basis of ability and integrity is enhanced and will eventually benefit every Singaporean.
The current era is an open, dynamic and challenging one, and we have to learn to accept, accommodate, and live and integrate harmoniously with diverse ethnic groups, in order to progress.
Teo Kueh Liang
