2024年3月6日，新加坡社會及家庭發展部長兼衛生部第二部長，主管回教事務部長馬善高在國會答覆宏茂橋集選區議員娜蒂雅關於新加坡對加沙的援助問題。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
左圖：社會及家庭發展部長兼衛生部第二部長，主管回教事務部長馬善高 右圖：宏茂橋集選區議員娜蒂雅
娜蒂雅：謝謝部長分享即將啟動回理會全福基金會的齋月籌款計劃。我相信上一期已經籌得超過500萬新幣，這確實說明了新加坡人的慷慨。部長，我有兩個問題需要澄清。
首先，鑒於媒體報道了加沙當地接收援助的實際，能否分享一下之前的援助資金是如何被回理會全福基金會用於幫助以色列-巴勒斯坦危機中的無辜受害者和加沙的重建，以及未來資金的計劃用途，以便新加坡人了解他們的努力帶來的影響？
其次，鑒於敵對行動曠日持久，雖然其核心不是宗教問題，但社區領袖如何幫助新加坡不同背景的人處理內心的不公正感和無助感，以防止在社交媒體出現分裂言論，以及對新加坡穆斯林和猶太人社區的影響？
馬善高：感謝娜蒂雅的澄清問題。首先，回理會全福基金會籌集的每一筆資金都需要得到我們政府的批准，並用於被認可的機構和項目。因此，之前的資金我們是與聯合國救濟和工程處合作，而下一筆資金我們將與外交部合作，確定資金的使用方式。我剛才說過，我們必須繼續做我們需要為社會做的重要事情，我預見我們可能還需要再次籌集資金，因為這場衝突似乎不會很快結束。
至於第二個問題，我們所有人需要認識到新加坡的兩點：一是新加坡是一個小國。雖然我們有強大的政府和國家，但我們仍然是小國。因此，我們的外交政策是基於我們小國的長遠利益，為了保護我們的獨立、主權、領土完整和公民的利益。而這些東西對於一個小國來說是最重要的，事實上，比一個大國更重要。
因此，當我們發聲時，我希望人們理解我們發聲的背景。例如，我們在以色列問題上的立場是一貫的。我們從一開始就說，以色列有合法權利保護自己免受恐怖行為的侵害。但這不僅僅是對以色列而言。新加坡也是如此。事實上，每個國家都有抵禦恐怖行為的權利。就以色列而言，這就是 10 月 7 日的事件。對我們來說，我們必須防範任何事件，並發出我們將採取自衛權行動的信號。
但是，我們與以色列的相似之處可能也就到此為止了，因為我們知道，自衛權也必須符合國際人道主義法，包括《日內瓦第四公約》所載的必要性和相稱性原則、區分原則和人道原則。正因為如此，我們投票支持了聯合國大會的兩項決議，這兩項決議呼籲實現人道主義停火，以減輕加沙平民受害者的痛苦。我希望，作為領導人，我們要努力教育那些談論此事的人，讓他們了解事情的來龍去脈，了解政府說了些什麼，以及政府為什麼這樣說。我認為，作為新加坡人，我們必須知道為什麼要這樣說這些話。
最後，儘管最近，我們看到外交部長維文上周在議會指出，以色列的軍事反應太過分了。這也是一貫的偏離，即不只是要求自衛權，還需要與人的尊嚴和人權相平衡。
第二，新加坡不僅僅是一個小國，更是一個多元化的國家。如果說小國的解決辦法是強大，那麼多元化的解決辦法就是團結。正因如此，即使身為部長，我可能對巴勒斯坦人、穆斯林同胞有自己的看法，但在我們這樣一個多種族、多宗教的國家，作為穆斯林領袖和內閣部長，我也必須在內閣中以一個聲音說話，因為新加坡人應該團結一致，以一個聲音說話，因為我們需要在國內和國際上保護新加坡的國家利益。
一個團結的人民，一個團結的政府，這就是我們如何成為一個強大的政府，一個強大的國家，儘管我們是小國。但我承認，新加坡穆斯林確實與巴勒斯坦人有聯繫。但我們也應該認識到，我們所處的位置很特殊，與許多其他穆斯林社區的情況往往不同，特別是當他們占多數時。
正如我在供應委員會的辯論中所分享的那樣，迄今為止，我們的社區在公民意識方面已經展示並證明了自己。我希望，隨著未來幾個月局勢的發展，我們能繼續堅持這一點：我們絕不能分裂，我們必須始終尋求團結，因為我們是多元化的。只有這樣，新加坡才能生存下去。[掌聲]
以下是英文質詢內容：
The Chairman: Ms Nadia Samdin.
Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin: I thank the Minister for sharing about the upcoming RLAF Ramadan fundraising appeal. I believe the previous tranche, over $5 million was raised, it truly speaks to the generosity of Singaporeans. Just two clarifications for the Minister.
Firstly, given that the media has reported how the receipt of aid has been affected on the ground in Gaza, is the Minister able to share at all how the earlier tranche of aid was used by RLAF to reach the innocent victims of the Israel-Palestine crisis and the rebuilding in Gaza as well as the intended use of the future ones, so that Singaporeans are aware of the impact of their efforts?
Secondly, given how protracted the hostilities have been, while the heart of this is not a religious issue, how can community leaders help Singaporeans of all backgrounds process the deep sense of injustice and helplessness felt, so as to prevent unfortunate divisive postings on social media as well as impact on the ground and which affect communities, such as Singaporean Muslims and Singaporean Jews?
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Thank you, Ms Nadia, for that clarification question. Firstly, every fund that RLAF would have collected would need to be channelled into bodies and use that our Government approves. So, in the previous tranche, we worked with UNRWA and, in the coming tranche, we will work with MFA to identify how these funds will be channelled. And I do not believe this is the last time we will be doing it. I said just now that we will have to move on to do important things that we need to do for the community. I foresee that we will probably need to raise funds again because it does not look like this conflict will be resolved fairly quickly.
On the second question, all of us need to recognise two things about Singapore. It is a small country. We may have a strong government, a strong country, but we are a small country. Therefore, when we go out and say things, our foreign policy is based on our long-term interests as a small country. So, it is to safeguard our Independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and all for the sake of our citizens. And these things are most important, in fact, more important for a small country than a big country.
So, when we say things, I hope people understand the context upon which we say it. For example, our position on Israel has been consistent. We have said that from the start, Israel has a legitimate right to defend itself from acts of terror. But that is not just for Israel. That is for Singapore, too. In fact, every country has a right of defence against acts of terror. In the case of Israel, it was the incident on 7 October. For us, we have to guard ourselves against any incident and sending the signal that we will act as a right of self-defence.
But that is probably where our similarity to Israel ends because we know that the right to self-defence also must comply with international humanitarian law, including principles of necessity and proportionality, principles of distinction and humanity enshrined in the Geneva Conventions. And that is why we voted for two UNGA resolutions which called for a humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of the civilian victims in Gaza. And I hope, as leaders, we try to educate people who talk about this to understand the context, what the Government said and why the Government said it. I think it is important that we live as Singaporeans to know why these things have to be said the way they are.
Finally, though, most recently, we have seen Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stated in Parliament last week that the Israeli military response has gone too far. And that is, again, a consistent departure from just calling the right for self-defence with the need to balance it with the right of human dignity and human rights, too.
Secondly, Singapore is not just a small country. Singapore is a diverse country. We are diverse and if our solution to a small country is to be strong, our solution in being diverse is to be united. And that is why, even as a Minister, I may have my sentiments about the Palestinians, fellow Muslims, but I must also, as a Muslim leader and a Minister in Cabinet in a multiracial, multi-religious society country like ours, speak with one voice in Cabinet inasmuch as Singaporeans should be united and speak with one voice because we need to protect Singapore's national interests both domestically and internationally.
