
Photo: The Live Gaza Monologues organised by Lepak Conversations in March 2024, an event supported by government agency REACH and attended by over 300 Singaporeans.
On 8 October, 64 organisations and community leaders came together to submit a request to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, for Singapore to expedite its recognition of the State of Palestine. Notable signatories include founding chair of the Singapore chapter of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Dr Kanwaljit Soin, veteran actors Lim Kay Siu and Neo Swee Lin, former NMP Anthea Ong, former President of Singapore Law Society Chandra Mohan Nair, and former PAP MP Zainal Sapari. This letter was led by Lepak Conversations, a research and advocacy platform facilitating dialogue on Malay/Muslim issues.
An Instagram post by Lepak Conversations in collaboration with fellow signatories Oon Shu An, Preeti Nair and Sarah Bagharib which publicised the letter has accumulated 72,000 views and 2,200 likes as of 10 October.
“One year on from 7 October, we are distraught to see no end to the violence and destruction in Gaza, and worse, the escalation in Lebanon and neighbouring regions,” Lepak Conversations’ founder Yulianna Frederika says. “Singapore has consistently supported the two-state solution. Recognising Palestine at this critical juncture would substantiate our contribution to the peace process and strengthen our reputation as a principled advocate for a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
When asked why she signed the letter, former NMP Anthea Ong says, “We have thrived as a people because our statehood was not denied of us in the last 59 years. I wish the same for the Palestinian people sooner rather than later.”
Lepak Conversations has not received a response from Dr Balakrishnan at the time of writing.