IRCCs take part in Crisis Preparedness Exercise

Leaders from community and religious organisations practise crisis management skills in restoring communal relations.

1. About 60 members from the five Tampines GRC Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs) took part in a crisis preparedness exercise this evening. The exercise is part of ongoing efforts to prepare religious and community leaders for the important role they would play in managing tensions that may affect inter-communal relations and harmony, following a terrorist incident with racial and religious overtones.
2. During the Inject-Based Exercise (IBX), hosted by the Living Hope Methodist Church, participants from the various religious and community organisations came together to manage a crisis involving escalating communal and religious tensions. This included developing quick responses to address ground concerns, quashing rumours, and preserving solidarity among its members. Participants also discussed ways for society to rebuild trust and confidence in the aftermath of an incident. During the two-hour IBX, participants also practised their mediation and communication skills through role-play and simulated media interviews.
3. IRCCs play a key role in restoring communal harmony in the aftermath of a crisis. The friendship and trust forged among leaders and members from various religious and community organisations provide confidence for Singaporeans to come together in solidarity. To ensure that they have a good grasp of their roles and responsibilities, IRCCs have been taking part in crisis preparedness exercises since 2007. These exercises are strongly supported by their members, who view them as practical opportunities to refresh and hone their crisis management skills. 
4. This evening’s IBX involved leaders from community and religious organisations in Tampines GRC (please see Annex A for list of participating community and religious organisations). Youth leaders from the various organisations were also involved in the IBX, so as to get a better appreciation of the roles they could play in maintaining unity and cohesion in a crisis.
5. Said Mr Baey Yam Keng, Parliamentary Secretary for MCCY and MP for Tampines GRC, “Despite our best efforts, we cannot guarantee that a terrorist attack will never happen in Singapore. So how we respond is vital. The IRCCs play an important role in maintaining Singapore’s racial and religious harmony and such an exercise helps them strengthen their capabilities and preparedness. They are able to do so because of the time and effort put in by the various leaders in building mutual trust and confidence, but there is a role for everyone in this. In times of crisis, we must all step up to play our part in restoring calm and harmony in Singapore.”
6. More information on the IRCCs is in Annex B.