While foreigners praised Singapore's racial and religious harmony, PM Lee said that feels that Singapore has not completely arrived and Singaporeans still have to work hard at it.

He again stressed that on the micro level, while many different cultures live together in HDB flats, and many events can be held at the same void deck where cultural events all come together, sometimes cases can go wrong.

He recounted the incident where a Chinese family used a void deck for a chinese funeral when it was already booked for a Malay wedding.

He raised this example to point out that sensitive incidents are bound to arrive even if very rarely and  if these are handled incorrectly, these incidents can escalate.

He reminded Singaporeans to exercise good sense and tolerance and practice the willingness to give and take, otherwise there would be no end to such episodes.

On a macro level, PM Lee observed that religious fervour was increasing in Singapore and all over the world quoting the United States and Malaysia as examples. He said that no matter what other countries were doing, Singapore should not allow religion to come in the way of peace.

PM Lee stated that there was nothing wrong with people becoming more religious. But pointed out that together with increased religious fervour, side effects too can arise and have to have to be managed properly

He pointed three such side effects; Aggressive teaching, Intolerance and exclusiveness. He warned against purposely not integrating with groups with different religious belief and stressed that all religious groups should have increased respect on tolerance for each other.

He thanked religious leaders for their wisdom and support.