At the National Day Rally 2009, PM Lee raised the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) saga as a case not to be followed.

"It was an attempt by a religiously motivated group who shared a strong religious fervour to enter civil space, take over an NGO it disapproved of and impose their agenda.

"It was bound to invoke, to provoke a push back from groups who held the opposite view which happened vociferously and stridently as a fierce battle."

He expressed gratitude for the very responsible stand which was taken by the church leaders - the statement by the National Council of Churches of Singapore that it didn't support churches getting involved and the statement from Catholic Archbishop.

"Had these statements not been made, we would have had a very serious problem."

PM Lee raised four basic principles Singaporeans should observe to maintain racial and religious harmony.

He firstly advised all religious and racial groups to exercise tolerance and restraint. He stressed that rules in one group cannot be laws enforced on everyone.

"Live and let live."

He also pointed out that religion should remain separate from politics. He advised that it would be impossible to compromise if different groups believed they both are doing God's work.

In the People's Action Party, while members are encouraged to bring their friends and supporters, they are told not to mobilise their temples, mosques or churches.

"The government must remain secular," PM Lee said. He said that the government is not against religion but is committed to upholding sound moral values.

The fourth principle he spoke off was maintaining the common space all Singaporeans share as the only way to stay at peace and make every Singaporean feel at home and at ease.

He said that schools already have clear rules in place to keep them secular, as in the case of Saint Joseph's Institute. He also stressed that this should be achieved in all offices where staff should feel they are in an equal environment even if they belong to a different faith from their managers.

He reminded Singaporeans not to neglect our Garden of Eden state and urged all to never forget what being a Singaporean means and open their hearts to fellow Singaporeans.