Singapore, brace yourselves for total ban of live animal exports: PM Lee

PM Lee calls for new arrangements to prepare for this possibility.

Here's what PM Lee posted on his Facebook account today as he extends greetings to Muslims observing the end of the Haj.

Today marks the end of the Haj (pilgrimage), one of the five pillars of Islam. Millions of Muslims have gathered in the holy city of Mecca. Unfortunately, this year Saudi Arabia accepted fewer pilgrims, as it is redeveloping the area around two Holy Mosques. Singapore’s Haj quota was also reduced, even though I wrote to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to request more places. I hope that those who were unable to go this year will get the chance to do so before too long.

Muslims also perform the Korban (sacrifice) today, to celebrate Prophet Ibrahim’s faith in God. Min Yaacob Ibrahim and I were initially quite worried that our Korban ritual might be affected by Australia’s stringent new regulations on live sheep exports. Fortunately 16 mosques passed the Australian audits, and were able to import 2,500 sheep for the ceremony.

When I met Australian PM Julia Gillard in Canberra recently, I thanked her for her government’s help on this matter. She told me that her government wants to continue exporting live animals. But I know that Australian animal welfare groups are pressing strongly to ban live exports completely, as New Zealand has done. We should be prepared for this possibility, and work out alternative arrangements in future.