As reported in Straits Times, (22/07/08) “All 69 mosques have joined hands for an event that community leaders hope will come to signify what the Muslim community stands for.”

It was nice to know that after the trashing Islam took worldwide since the 911 incident the Muslim community in Singapore is slowly and steadily making a concerted PR effort to separate itself from radicalism and senseless violence.

Blessing To All Day, as it is called, will be an annual event that includes a blood donation drive and sharing of food to with the needy of different religious background…to signify what the Muslim community stands for”. It is a way of showing the community that they are indeed “walking the talk and show its positive attributes”. Well said! Yes, we all can take a leaf from their book here.

But must religion wait for a reputation crisis before it starts thinking of managing its perception? Never mind that Singapore is a peaceful country with laws that maintains religious harmony. Shouldn’t all religion put aside time, money and energy to build (or at least maintain) its positive image?

I say, Yes!  And not just to people within its faith but to community at large. Here’s why:

1. The believers need less convincing that the people of the other faith. As much as religion makes an effort to imbibe the faith in its followers, it needs to tell the others what it is all about and what is it’s stand on issues affecting it’s image. This should not be confused with a zealous attempt at converting non-believers. Rather, it is about building a positive image like what “Blessing To All” Project is about.

2. People are just too distracted nowadays. If an organisation don’t tell its publics what it stand for, people wouldn’t bother finding out. You are really leaving it up to situations and prejudices of the masses to make their own conclusion.

3. The one big purpose of PR applies to all organisations, institutions and individuals: You need to build a reservoir of goodwill from which to draw from during bad times. 

What’s your take?

Do you think religion should have a PR plan as part of their operation and actually market their image to people outside their faith? What are the pros and cons of doing this?

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