On the morning of the Hari Raya Puasa holiday in Singapore, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat launched the Harmony Train on the North-East Line of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train system. The MRT system is a network that connects many people from different backgrounds to their places of work and home, and an efficient public transport system is a key pillar that paves the way to economic opportunities, creates greater access to services, employment, and labour for both individuals and businesses.

The 165-metre long train, a collaboration between Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (THK) and the National Youth Council (NYC), is a symbol of racial and religious harmony in Singapore. The special themed-train, decked out in decals with message promoting harmony, also displays logos of companies who have pledged their commitment to racial and religious harmony.

Minister Heng said the effort was timely given the "horrific attacks" happening around the world. “When differences threaten to divide us, we have to remember our common goals. We want our home to be a place offering good opportunities to all. We want our home to be a peaceful place, rich with genuine friendship and neighbourliness," he said.

Logos of Hong Leong Group companies – City Developments Limited, Hong Leong Holdings Limited, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, CDL Hospitality Trusts, Hong Leong Finance and Hong Leong Asia – are displayed prominently next to the emergency intercom panel. The Harmony Train will run for 18 hours a day, throughout the Harmony Month of July, which is also Youth Month – a month dedicated to celebrating youth energy and diverse talents, youth resilience and youth contributions to community. This effort is organised as part of THK’s Inter Racial Inter Religious Harmony Nite, which is into its 14th year.

“The train designs are a reflection of the diverse races we have and act as a reminder that this diversity has brought us together as one Singapore,” says Mr Lee Kim Siang, Chairman of Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society. “While differences between people have a tendency to cause strife and division, our mutual respect and understanding of our differences have been woven into a rich and colourful tapestry that we can call our own.”