By : MICHAEL SCHUMAN

A previously obscure squabble over Muslim headscarves has uncovered tensions between religious communities following the exposure of alleged terrorist plots by militant Muslims here.

The row over whether Muslim schoolgirls should be allowed to wear traditional headscarves in public school has become a lightning rod for simmering grievances of Singapore's minority Muslim population at a time when the wealthy city-state is concerned about its security situation and sensitive relations among its multiethnic population. The debate gets at the core of Singapore's policy of trying to mesh its diverse communities.

In January, the government announced it had detained 13 people, all Muslims, for conspiring to conduct terrorist attacks on US targets in Singapore. The discovery of a terrorist cell with apparent international links has sparked a rare debate about the status of Muslims that is continuing to ripple through the society.

"A minor incident could blow up into a major confrontation between the races and religions," warned Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in a speech to community leaders. "We must prevent this."

Arresting Singaporeans

To a large degree, Singapore has been successful in doing exactly that. Though it suffered race riots in the 1960s that still resonate, since then Singapore has been able to avoid the religious unrest currently plaguing its neighbors Indonesia and the Philippines. Predominantly Chinese -- mostly Buddhist or Christian -- and 15 percent Muslim, the tiny island is intensely aware of its enormous, predominantly Muslim neighbors Indonesia and Malaysia . The government has tried to reduce religious tensions through aggressive policies such as mandating ethnic mixes in public housing blocks and restricting the wearing of religious symbols in public schools, as well as striving to use economic development to mute dissent.

So, many Singaporeans were shocked that all but one of the alleged terrorists that authorities arrested were Singaporean themselves, raised in this carefully engineered environment. Many lived in public housing and served in the national armed forces. The government argues that the terrorists were motivated by outside factors and influenced by the global al Qaeda network.

But the incident has prompted local Muslims to speak up about longstanding grievances. Mohd Rahizan bin Yaacob, the secretary general of the Singapore Malay National Organization political party, describes a Singapore where Malays and Muslims don't share the same opportunities as the majority Chinese. "You find that you are not being made to be part of the most important decision makers," he says. Only one of 17 government cabinet ministers is a Muslim, he notes. Economically, the minority communities lag behind the Chinese -- especially the Malays, who in 2000 saw average monthly household income only 60 percent of that of the Chinese.

Bold Criticism

This latest debate on the state of the Muslim community was largely launched by Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff, the editor until recently of a Muslim-issues Web site, Fateha.com (www.fateha.com), and the boldest of government critics. He argues that there is little ability for the Muslim community to express its views. Within the Singapore government "there is no concern about the sensitivity of the Muslim community," he says. "Those who are representing Muslims in Singapore don't represent us." His public comments set off a series of counterattacks by government officials and local Muslim leaders denouncing his views. It is difficult to determine how much support Mr Zulfikar and his beliefs have in the Muslim community here.

The ban in public schools on traditional headscarves, which many Muslims see as a required element of female dress, has become the focus of the debate. On Monday, two schoolgirls who have been defying the ban and wearing the scarves were suspended and can only return to classes if they cease the practice, the Ministry of Education said. A third student who has also been wearing a headscarf was warned that she could face the same if she continues.

Mr Rahizan's party has urged a review of the ban. "National integration does not mean that there should be a process of eliminating or discarding the religious, cultural and racial identity of the different races," the statement reads.

Even Malaysia has chimed in on the debate, with one Malaysian newspaper editorializing that the Singapore government's action "shows prejudice against a certain religion." The government, however, is standing fast to its policy, seeing it as a crucial component of building religious harmony. Mr Goh, the prime minister, said in a speech Saturday: "The schools are our common, Singapore space. Let us not shrink it by each community carving out a separate space for itself there."

Abdullah Tarmugi, minister for community development and sports and himself a Muslim, says that the ban on headscarves is "for the greater good" and that "as for now at least, I don't see the government budging on this issue." Wearing the headscarf, he asserts, would highlight the differences between Singapore's communities. "The government works to minimize the differentiation as far as possible in the schools," he says. Instead, Mr Tarmugi says he is focused on other issues affecting the community -- especially the faltering economy and the heavy toll it is taking on Malay jobs. The message the government wants to send to local Muslims, says Mr Tarmugi, is that "you are a Singaporean, but you're no less Muslim."

From Asian Wall Street Journal