racial harmony in singapore essay

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Racial Harmony in Singapore

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SINGAPORE: When former national sprinter Canagasabai Kunalan and his wife, Madam Chong Yoong Yin, both 79, saw the viral video of a polytechnic lecturer making racist remarks to an interracial couple two weeks ago, they couldn't believe their eyes.

The video evoked memories of 1964, when the couple were given the ultimatum by their families to end their relationship or leave their homes — because one of them was Indian and the other was Chinese — amid the racial tensions that were gripping Singapore.

“Singaporeans now are so educated … how can we still think like this?” said Mr Kunalan.

The racial riots between the Malays and Chinese in Singapore following its merger with Malaysia in 1963 plunged the country into nationwide violence. Houses were burnt down, the police were deployed to enforce curfews and people were beaten and killed.

Yet, even in the most uncertain of times, there were also people of different ethnic groups standing together regardless of race.

Older generations of Singaporeans recounted how people stepped up in solidarity when emotive racial conflicts shattered the peace.

Mr Kunalan, who was then a 22-year-old sprinter preparing for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, said: “The riots were happening in different areas in Singapore. Surprisingly, in my kampung (village), it was peaceful. There were no tensions at all. Or maybe we just didn’t know what was happening on the other side.”

Mr Lionel de Souza, 78, a former police officer who worked as a community liaison officer in Geylang during the 1964 racial riots, recalled how Singaporeans volunteered in droves for “goodwill committees” as well as the Vigilante Corps to help keep the peace in volatile areas during curfew hours.

READ: WP calls for greater understanding, mutual respect amid efforts to eradicate bigotry and racism: Pritam Singh

Comprising an equal number of Chinese and Malay volunteers, they and Mr de Souza would patrol their beat in Kampung Kim Hong and talk to residents in coffee shops and town halls to help dispel suspicion between the different Chinese and Malay groups that were then segregated in different villages.

“There were allegations that people on one side were shooting fire arrows at the other, and rumours were flying everywhere,” said Mr de Souza of the situation then.

Singapore has since come a long way from those dark days of violent racial conflict, having taken early steps as a newly independent nation to abandon colonial-era race-based policies, and pledging to not let racial fault lines divide society.

Following its independence, the young Republic embarked on a unique path among nations of the time as a multiracial and multicultural country, one that affirms its ethnic diversity as a strength and recognises the rights of minorities.

Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, said in an interview with TODAY: “Many societies have had to wrestle with (race, racism and multiculturalism) around the world, but the place that multiculturalism has in our aspirations as a people is quite special. It is fundamentally why we became an independent country.”

Because of Singapore’s diverse society and the dynamics among the major cultural and ethnic groups, the topic of race is present in every discussion, every issue, and every policy.

“You need to then understand our social context, our historical context and our future in order to have a dialogue about race productively in Singapore,” said Dr Janil.

Yet, the topic of racism has returned to the fore once again following recent events, including the street confrontation between the Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer and an inter-ethnic couple as well as other viral videos of racially-charged encounters.

READ: Racism exists but Singapore has made 'tremendous progress' in racial harmony: Shanmugam

Commenting on the video, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam had said in a Facebook post: “I used to believe that Singapore was moving in the right direction on racial tolerance and harmony. Based on recent events, I am not so sure anymore.”

Activists, community organisers and academics spoken to agree that the conversations of race need to move forward productively in the age of social media where tensions are inflamed easily.

And when the heat surrounding the recent incidents fades away, some good may emerge from these episodes if Singaporeans can understand the experiences of others and engage with each other in good faith, several said.

Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist from the National University of Singapore (NUS), said: “It is important, in my opinion, to identify these biases and stereotypes and understand where they come from and how they link to the various fears, anxieties, suspicions, frustrations that people have.

“Some of this will look ugly, but if we can start addressing them bit by bit, with understanding, there is a good chance we can move forward.”

Pondering about what the recent racist incidents say about the state and direction of Singapore’s hard-won racial harmony, older Singaporeans such as Mr Kunalan and Mr de Souza know that the stakes are high.

“We never want that (racial riots) to happen again, which is why we should all feel strongly about protecting our racial harmony,” said Mr de Souza.

(Can we have conversations about race and diversity and how do we take on views of younger Singaporeans who may want a more open discussion? Experts discuss this on CNA's Heart of the Matter podcast.)

WHAT IS RACISM?

The Oxford English Dictionary today defines racism as acts of prejudice, discrimination and antagonism by a person, community or institution against a person or people based on their race and ethnic identity.

And by this definition, racism is usually experienced by people from minority racial groups that are subjected to such acts of discrimination.

But as contributing writer Ben Zimmer for The Atlantic magazine wrote, even dictionaries had to revise their definitions about racism.

Before 2020, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary primarily defined racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”.

READ: Ngee Ann Poly lecturer who allegedly shared 'personal and derogatory views' on Islam could be dismissed: Maliki

It was also defined as “a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles”. This secondary definition was refined to “the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another”, following the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States last year.

Mr Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, founding board member of the Centre for Interfaith Understanding (CIFU) in Singapore, said that racism is essentially formed from two components — that a race has essential traits and characteristics, and whether these are behind the inequalities and disparities between the races in society.

“Therefore, racism is any act, system or policy that appeals to or reinforces ‘essentialised’ perceptions of racial groups that strengthens the political, economic or cultural inequalities between the races in society,” he said.

Regardless of which definition is best, the debate of what racism is, and what makes an action or speech racist, has also emerged in Singapore in recent days.

In May, an Indian woman was called racial slurs and kicked in the chest by a Chinese man while brisk-walking along Choa Chu Kang Drive. He had insisted she wear a mask even though she was exercising.

A month later, Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer Tan Boon Lee was seen in a viral video confronting and making racist remarks towards an inter-ethnic couple, while proclaiming to be a racist himself.

READ: Ngee Ann Polytechnic to sack teaching staff member who made racist remarks to couple in video

Allegations by a former student that he had made Islamophobic remarks in class surfaced a week later. The polytechnic has since said it would sack Mr Tan, after completing investigations into the two matters.

Another video was uploaded the same week of a Chinese woman hitting a small gong repeatedly while an Indian man was ringing a prayer bell outside his public housing flat as part of his daily prayers.

But the debate about what constitutes racism grew loudest online in the case of Ms Sarah Bagharib, who had called out the People’s Association for using a cutout of her wedding photo — sans the couple’s faces — as part of Hari Raya decorations without her permission.

Netizens were split on the issue. Some claimed that the matter is not a case of racism but one of cultural insensitivity. Others were wont to point out that racism does not exist in Singapore, which prides itself on its multiracial society.

READ: Singapore will fail if racism and xenophobia take root: Shanmugam

Read: cancelled meeting with pa a 'missed opportunity for constructive dialogue', says woman in standee controversy.

Another viewpoint was that the blunder was made because of a lack of understanding of the Malay culture that had stemmed from ignorance that needed to be dismantled.

As Dr Nazry Bahrawi, a senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, put it, two narratives have emerged about the state of race relations here — one says Singapore is racially harmonious, and another says that it is still not quite there.

“The first has been the official position reproduced on many occasions and in many spheres, while the latter is a position that has received less airing because it is perceived to be less valid, making those who raise it seem like they are troublemakers or have an agenda to divide society,” said Dr Nazry.

For race discourse to be productive, Singaporeans from all walks of life must first be able to establish that racist acts are not condoned by society.

“Because, if so, then it would be considered outlandish that people who call out racism are seen as playing the race card,” he said, adding that these people might be commenting from a position of privilege as they may not have experienced racism.

Asked about this, Dr Janil, who is also the chairperson of the non-profit OnePeople.sg (OPSG), said it is not a bad thing that there are people who state that they have never experienced racism or have never seen it happen.

The turning point is when they find out that because not everyone shares this view, they may be “energised” to improve the experiences of others, he said.

“The uncharitable view is to say ‘hello, wake up, you don’t know what’s going on and you don’t recognise (racism)... But the glass half-full version is, aren’t we lucky that there are some people who have actually had this experience in Singapore, it’s a sign ... that maybe we’ve made some progress.”

Such views are also heard among people who participate in OPSG’s initiatives on race as well, especially among younger participants who have been “blessed with a positive experience about race”, but also could learn about the negative experiences of others, Dr Janil added.

The Singapore Government has taken the approach that racism exists here, he emphasised.

“What we want to be sure of is that our policies, our systems, our approach, is to understand that there is racism, and we must always push against it,” said Dr Janil.

Comparing indicators of racial and religious harmony from 2013 and 2018, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and OPSG in 2019 found that while racism exists, it is not widespread in Singapore.

Lead researcher Dr Mathew Mathews said about 10 per cent of Chinese respondents in the study and around 20 per cent of minorities said that they had experienced racial tension in the 2018 study. There was little change from the results of the 2013 findings.

READ: Alleged incidents of racism 'go against what we stand for in Singapore': Chan Chun Sing

Read: commentary: building racial harmony in singapore must start from an early age .

“When asked about specific incidents, most cited they had felt insulted at how perhaps social/mainstream media had portrayed their race or cultural practices – so there is certainly some racism here, but it is not rampant,” said Dr Mathews.

WHY SOME STILL CONSIDER IT TABOO

On the other hand, some people felt that the recent spate of racist incidents is an indication that racism in Singapore not only exists but has been gathering speed for some time, though hidden from view because of a lack of discourse and the difficulty in detecting unintentional and unconscious forms of racism.

Dr Peter Chew, a senior lecturer of psychology at the James Cook University, explained that overt racism tends to be low in Singapore due to the function of laws that protect racial harmony here, such as the Sedition Act.

The Act makes it illegal for anyone in Singapore to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population.

Laws like these do well to keep overt racism in check but also have an effect of quieting discourse about race, he said.

“This reluctance could be due to a misunderstanding of what constitutes racism.

Anecdotally, some individuals think that talking about race or pointing out racist incidents is, by their very nature, racist,” said Dr Chew.

A 2016 CNA and IPS study, which was also led by Dr Mathews, found that two-thirds of respondents felt that discussions of race could lead to tension.

READ: Woman who made comments about race charged with public nuisance, acting against racial harmony

Raising such issues may be deemed “too sensitive”, and so issues about race and culture tend to be thought of as private matters rather than meant for broader conversations, said the researcher.

Agreeing, Mr Gosteloa Spencer, founder of community group Not OK SG, said this could be due to generations of Singaporeans suppressing talk of racism, discrimination, and racial inequality for fear of creating rifts among the different ethnic communities.

He believes it is this inhibition that led to casual racism, where people make jokes, off-handed comments, or exclusionary body language based on race. These acts also often go unnoticed and unaddressed.

“Just because it’s casual, does it make it okay to pass a racist comment?” he added. “Racism is racism, no matter what form it takes.”

Mr Sharvesh Leatchmanan, co-founder and editor of Minority Voices, which serves as a platform for minorities who have faced discrimination to come forth and share their experiences, said the concept of racial tolerance that is entrenched in the Singapore identity has also been problematic.

“Over time, this tolerance runs out … as can be seen from the recent acts of racism on social media. We need to move away from tolerance to acceptance and celebration.”

But while Singaporeans may have held back on talking about race in the past, some said that this is rapidly changing in the age of social media, where racially charged incidents can be quickly shared online and go viral.

And these incidents also encourage others to speak up and to call out racist acts publicly.

Mr Sharvesh, 24, said he received more than a hundred submissions from people sharing their stories of discrimination over the past week.

Ms Priyahnisha, who goes by one name, is the founder of non-profit organisation Mental ACT, which champions mental health services in the Indian community.

She noted the overwhelming response recently to any content on racism that she or her organisation put up on social media.

The 29-year-old full-time professional counsellor at a social service agency added: “As soon as we post, the likes, comments and shares really escalate and it has actually been way off the charts as compared to any of the other content we have put up in the past couple of months”.

The problem is that when people talk about race, their past inexperience means they lack the language and protocols needed to discuss it in a constructive manner, said those interviewed.

NUS’ Assoc Prof Chong said: “Singaporeans are not the best-equipped to handle such discussions because we have put them aside for so long.”

“But there are opportunities to learn … What is important is to not hastily conclude that the other side has bad faith, especially if the other party is engaging from a position of relative weakness and vulnerability,” he added. “It is through such engagement that we develop a vocabulary and approach suitable for our society.”

‘SAFE AND BRAVE’ SPACES … NOT JUST BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Earlier this month, Mr Jose Raymond started the Call It Out SG movement with three others to raise awareness of issues pertaining to race following the slew of racist incidents here. “This is simply a case of minorities saying that enough is enough and that racism is inexcusable,” he said.

“Perhaps in the past, when minorities faced racism, we didn't have the tools to articulate ourselves properly or the courage to call it out. Now we do,” added the former Singapore People’s Party chairman.

READ: PM Lee Hsien Loong and other ministers speak out against racism after alleged attack

The movement urges people to call out instances of racism that they see, and has gained momentum in the light of the recent incidents.

On the flipside, while the process of publicly calling for accountability and boycotting if nothing else seems to work, has become an important tool of social justice, Mr Spencer said it is difficult to control the extent of it and make sure things do not go out of hand.

Associate Professor Daniel Goh, an NUS sociologist specialising in race relations, noted that it is people’s “duty to call out racism when we see it”.

“The question is how we do it,” he said.

“We should do it in a respectful way that seeks to educate each other and deepen intercultural understanding, and the large part of the burden should not fall on the victims or members of ethnic minorities to do so, members of the ethnic majority should do so too.”

For more severe forms of discrimination, such as getting fired from a job, physical violence, or the shaming of ethnic minorities in a classroom setting, for example, victims should call for institutional and legal redress, said the former Workers’ Party (WP) Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP).

“The key calculus for me is how to balance education with redress, and my hope is that the victim is not alone in calculating this and can depend on witnesses and friends, especially those from the ethnic majority, for help and support,” said Assoc Prof Goh, who had stepped down from WP’s leadership due to health reasons but remains a party member.

Referring to the parliamentary replies to MP Faisal Manap (WP-Aljunied) earlier this year on the issue of the tudung, Assoc Prof Goh said the authorities rely on “back channels” for discussions and resolutions, and to manage racial relations in a pragmatic and careful way.

READ: Government should prepare to allow Muslim nurses to wear the tudung: PM Lee

Mr Faisal had asked in Parliament whether the Government would relook allowing Muslim women in uniformed services to don the tudung. In response, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said the topics that involve racial and religious insensitivities have to be discussed away from the glare of the public.

Mr Masagos said this is because “public aggressive pressure” can only make compromise harder and any government concession to religious pressure would also cause other groups to adopt similarly aggressive postures.

Assoc Prof Goh highlighted examples of safe spaces where such issues could be discussed, such as the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles.

“A space is safe when all participants can come to speak confidently and freely of their experiences with the expectation that everyone will listen and seek deeper understanding as equals and peers, all in a respectful manner without fear of discrimination, harassment, criticism or emotional violence,” said Assoc Prof Goh.

But the Government would have to adapt to changing trends in internet culture, social media and social justice. He noted that for younger generations of Singaporeans, the internet and social media make up “the natural space for their articulation (on issues of concern) … not back channels”.

Mr Raymond agreed, stating that racism does not hide behind closed doors.

Responding, Dr Janil, who is from the ruling People’s Action Party, said there will always be a need for both public discussions and private dialogues.

“It is not an either-or. Race is a multifaceted issue,” he said.

OPSG, for example, has moved its activities online in the course of the pandemic. Despite the usual people-to-people nature of its engagements, it has been able to maintain participation rates and in some cases, reach out to new spaces for people to be involved in.

Outside of the non-profit, Dr Janil observed that in the last five years, there are already increasing numbers of Singaporeans engaging in the online space to push back against extreme views.

READ: Government appreciates growing significance of tudung to Muslims, considering how nurses can wear it with uniforms: PM Lee

“(They are) basically saying, ‘hey look, here's the middle ground, let's find a way to bring peace to this’. So in that sense I guess they are trying to create some safe space online and it's tough because the online space is often dominated by extreme views,” said Dr Janil.

Aside from safe spaces, CIFU’s Mr Imran also urged the creation of “brave spaces” for people to confront their own views while listening to the experience of those at the receiving ends of racism.

“A brave space involves the willingness to interrogate our own assumptions and take a stand to correct our inability to see privilege and other blindspots that we have. A safe space opens up the conversation. But a brave space ensures that the conversation becomes transformative and not a mere exchange of stories,” he said.

POLICIES WHICH SHAPED SOCIETY

In its history, Singapore has relied on a panoply of policies to maintain a harmonious state, and to ensure minority representation in the highest echelons of governance.

The Housing and Development Board’s Ethnic Integration Policy, for example, helps to ensure a balanced mix of various ethnic communities in public housing estates and prevent the formation of racial enclaves.

The four self-help groups — the Chinese Development Assistance Council, Eurasian Association, Singapore Indian Development Association and Yayasan Mendaki — were also conceived to build resilient communities.

The Group Representation Constituency (GRC) scheme, along with the reserved presidential election, was implemented to enshrine minority representation in leadership positions and Parliament.

These policies and laws are part of what builds a brand of “active and inclusive multiculturalism”, as described by then Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in 2017.

Such an approach is distinct from the “live and let live” mindset in many other countries, which has resulted in communities elsewhere that are living apart and also growing apart, he said.

The key is not to dilute or weaken the various cultures in the hope of developing a single, common culture, nor is it to strengthen each separate culture. The former will likely create a confused cultural identity, while the latter will not foster a strong national identity, Mr Tharman had said.

But following the recent spate of racist incidents, some people have also questioned whether it was still useful to retain the traditional Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others (CMIO) framework, the foundation on which many policies have been based upon.

Speaking in a webinar organised by Academia.sg website last week, Dr Lai Ah-Eng, an adjunct senior fellow associate at NUS’ University Scholars Programme, said the CMIO model imposes a racialised lens and tends to ignore “hybridities” such as mixed marriages.

“Do we throw out this CMIO framework as some people have argued for, or should we do a more reduced and careful referencing by ethnicity, bearing in mind that some groups at least still want their ethnic identities as part of a larger range of multiple identities,” said Dr Lai.

Associate Professor Anju Mary Paul, an international migration scholar from the Yale-NUS College, said in the webinar that the CMIO model serves as a neat and a simple model which helps people go about their daily lives.

“But as Singapore society becomes increasingly complex, this model is showing some strain,” she said.

As of 2018, more than one in five couples who tie the knot are in mixed marriages, according to official statistics.

READ: PA cancels meeting with couple whose photo was used as standee, denies incident was racist

Dr Nazry said it is important to understand that racism is not “natural” because race itself is a social construct, as many scholars have said.

“Now, this does not mean that the sense of belonging to an ethnic community is not real — this is influenced by our context, family, society and personal experiences.

“I think we can begin with the acknowledgement that diversity exists within our own ethnic community ... This sounds simple, but it is not as practised as it should be,” Dr Nazry said.

Dr Janil said that the CMIO framework is a policy tool and should not be conflated with the goals of multiculturalism in Singapore. Any social policy or social intervention that is based on a racial categorisation will need such a framework, he added.

“You can remove racial categorisation from your (NRIC), but that is not going to prevent someone knowing what you look like when you sit across from them at an interview table or pass them on the street,” he said.

Experts said what is needed is a keener interest in each other’s cultures, which is something that has to be established from young.

Mr Mohamed Irshad, former Nominated MP and founder of interfaith group Roses of Peace, highlighted the importance of cultural education as a possible way to move forward in the race discourse.

“We know about all the different public holidays of various races and religious groups … Beyond that do people know the various non-public holiday events and occasions that the different racial and religious groups observe?” said Mr Irshad, 31.

READ: Man jailed for racially offensive tweets under pseudonym 'Sharon Liew'

“As a country, we can do a lot more in educating people about the various cultural nuances across various ethnic groups.”

Such engagement must be a constant effort in schools and workplaces, and not just something done on Racial Harmony Day, he added.

ROLE MODEL SOCIETY NEEDS TO FIND ITS OWN WAY, AGAIN

Singapore may have come a long way from the 1964 riots to build a multiracial and multicultural society, but it is clear that this is always a work-in-progress for the country, said people interviewed.

Former national sprinter Mr Kunalan said he was thankful that even interracial marriages like his are celebrated now, despite the noise.

Though he believes this racial progress will continue, he is worried that recent cases of racism may fuel anger among Singaporeans.

“Because there was a lot of anger and when you have anger, there is always a danger that something might explode,” he added, speaking from his experiences back in the day.

CIFU’s Mr Imran reiterated that the stakes for Singapore are high: “We cannot allow racism to fester and divide society. Striving for racial equality even if it cannot be fully realised, is crucial. The national pledge that says ‘regardless of race, language or religion to build a democratic society’ should continue to be our guiding principle.”

With racial tensions flaring up in many countries today, there are also few positive examples of multiculturalism that Singapore can learn from.

Dr Janil said: “We took that unprecedented step in 1965 when we set out on this path … There is no one else with our unique history, and there's no one else that has gone down this road before. But we have been down this road for many decades and we should learn our own lessons first.”

In 2013, former Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong gave a lecture to the Singapore Academy of Law on the growth of multiculturalism in Singapore. He said that if demography is destiny, then Singapore’s destiny is to be a multicultural state.

“If its citizens are unable to share a common space suffused with shared values, the people will forever be unable to forge a nation that can survive and prosper,” Mr Chan said then.

READ: Commentary: Worries over rising COVID-19 cases are fuelling racially charged comments

In an email to TODAY, Mr Chan, 83, agreed that the recent racist incidents have highlighted how racism is innate in Singapore’s society. Positive dialogue is sorely needed to move the topic forward constructively, he said.

After decades of being held up around the world as a role model society for multiculturalism and multiracialism, Singapore seems to be at a crossroads — and it now needs to find its own way again, having blazed the trail for others.

Surely though, it is doing so from a position of strength, said several academics interviewed.

While some believe that the recent incidents reveal deeper issues that need to be addressed, there is little doubt that inter-racial ties in Singapore are built on a solid foundation, and Singaporeans also need to be careful to ensure that societal fault lines are not exploited by nefarious forces within and outside the country.

READ: Commentary: The 2010s – when tolerance and pluralism came under attack

Read: commentary: challenging racism starts in the family.

Looking back, media consultant Ian de Cotta, 62, attributed this foundation to the kampung spirit which had its heyday in the aftermath of the 1964 racial riots.

“Our neighbours’ doors were always open, even at night, and people would just walk in to chit chat and have coffee,” he said. “This kampung spirit that was so deeply rooted in our people was something that worked in Singapore’s favour.”

Agreeing, Mr Kunalan added: “To live harmoniously like in the kampung ... there must be understanding and there must be forgiveness.”

With Singapore’s kampung days long gone, the younger generations would do well to remember the adage as they find their own way forward.

Maintaining Racial and Religious Harmony

Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society. Therefore, racial and religious harmony is vital for Singapore’s social cohesion. This harmony does not come naturally – we need to take the effort to build trust, and acceptance between different races and religions, and protect the common space that we have.

Through our legal framework comprising laws such as the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) and Penal Code, as well as partnerships and engagements with various stakeholders and the community, we will continue to ensure harmony, peace and security in our multi-racial, multi-religious society.

Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) takes a strong stance against threats to Singapore’s race and religious harmony. Legislation, such as the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, introduce powers that would allow pre-emptive action to be taken to maintain religious harmony in Singapore.

The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) was enacted in 1990 to provide for powers to maintain religious harmony in Singapore.

It is based on two principles:

Followers of different religions should exercise moderation and tolerance towards each other and their beliefs, and not instigate religious enmity or hatred

Religion and politics should be kept separate

These principles remain relevant today. The MRHA was updated on 7 October 2019 to help MHA respond more effectively to incidents of religious disharmony, and strengthen our safeguards against foreign influence that threaten our religious harmony. Here are the four key amendments to the MHRA:

Introduce Safeguards Against Foreign Influence

To safeguard our religious groups [1] against malicious foreign influence that affect religious harmony, religious groups will be required to comply with the following requirements:

Leadership Composition

Key administrative leadership positions [2] must be held by a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, and the majority of the governing body has to be Singapore Citizens. The requirement does not apply to spiritual leaders who are foreigners, and do not hold key administrative leadership positions. MHA will consider request for exemptions on a case-by-case basis.

[1] Religious groups include registered societies, companies, partnerships, or any other body of persons that promotes religion or religious worship, or deals with religious affairs of the practice, conduct, teaching or propagation of any religious beliefs.

[2] If the religious group is a company, the key leadership requirements will be imposed on the persons in the entity that hold positions analogous to the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, such as the Chairman, Managing Director, and Company Secretary. If a religious group is a partnership, they would be the partners of the partnership.

Donations and Foreign Affliations

Religious groups can still accept donations from foreign sources. However, there will be disclosure requirements. Single monetary donations of S$10,000 or more from foreign sources must be declared.

Donations from the following foreign sources do not need to be declared, even if it is S$10,000 or more:

Singapore Permanent Residents;
Foreigners residing in Singapore on valid Employment passes or Immigration Passes issued by the relevant authorities in Singapore;
Anonymous donations received through donation boxes placed at religious sites;
Proceeds collected during collective worship or religious rites/ceremonies;
Non-cash donations (such as statues or ritual items); and
Zakat and Fitrah.

Where there is foreign influence in the religious group which undermines religious harmony and is a threat to Singapore’s peace, Restraining Orders (ROs) can be issued to religious groups to stop them from receiving donations from foreign sources, or impose further leadership requirements.

Religious groups must declare any affiliations to foreign persons or organisations in a position of control or power over the local religious group. This is purely disclosure, and the RO will not be able to compel religious groups to dissociate from their foreign affiliations.

Introduction of the Community Remedial Initiative

If someone has hurt the feelings of another religious community, the Community Remedial Initiative (CRI) allows them to make amends to the affected community and learn more about our multi-religious society.

Under the CRI, the Minister for Home Affairs may offer a person who has wounded the feelings of another religious community an opportunity to perform activities to help him better understand the affected religious community, and mend ties with them. Examples of remedial actions may include a public or private apology to the aggrieved parties, or participation in inter-religious events.

The CRI is not mandatory. The alleged offender can refuse to take up this offer, and the non-completion or refusal of the CRI will not be a criminal offence. At the same time, if the offender agrees to complete the remedial actions and does so, the Minister undertakes not to refer this case for criminal prosecution.

Updates to the Restraining Order

With the Internet, offensive content can circulate much faster and wider. The updated Restraining Order (RO) will swiftly and effectively respond to offensive online content that might cause widespread religious disharmony.

Firstly, the scope of the RO is expanded to require the offender to remove the offensive online content.

Secondly, the 14-day notice period for the issuance of ROs is removed.

The safeguards remain unchanged. The individual on which the RO is served, and the religious group which the individual belongs to, will still be able to make representations to the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony (PCRH). The RO will still be reviewed by the PCRH, and the President will still have the powers to confirm, cancel or vary the RO.

Consolidated Offences Related to Religious Harmony under the MRHA

Previously, both the Penal Code and the MRHA had provisions that safeguard religious harmony. With MRHA as the comprehensive act to safeguard religious harmony, the Penal Code offences that pertain to religion were consolidated under the MRHA.

The offences will cover acts that:

Urge force or violence on the basis of religion, or against a religious group or its members;
Incite feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility against a religious group; and
Insult the religion or wound the religious feelings of another person.

Download the MRHA Infographics

Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (PDF, 1.09MB)
Declaring your Religious Group's Governing Body (PDF, 1.46MB)
Declaring Donations and Foreign Affiliations (PDF, 1.19MB)

Information on MRHA

For more information on the MRHA, read:

Press Release: First Reading of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Bill , 2 September 2019
Second Reading of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Bill – Speech by Mr K Shanmugan, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law , 7 October 2019
Second Reading of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Bill – Speech by Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development , 7 October 2019
Reading of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Bill, Wrap-up Speech by Mr K Shanmugan, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law , 7 October 2019
Commencement of the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Act 2019 and Section 3 of the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2021 , 31 October 2022

Speeches on Race and Religion

View speeches on race and religion in Singapore:

Regardless of Race – The Dialogue 2 – Speech by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law , 30 September 2019
IPS-MHA Forum on Religion, Extremism and Identity Politics – Closing Speech by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law , 24 July 2019
Ministerial Statement on Restricting Hate Speech to Maintain Racial and Religious Harmony in Singapore by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law , 1 April 2019

Surveys on Race and Religion

View surveys on race and religion in Singapore:

IPS Working Paper No. 33 - Religion in Singapore: The Private and Public Spheres , Mar 2019
IPS Working Paper No. 34 – Religion, Morality and Conservatism in Singapore , May 2019
IPS Working Paper No. 35 – IPS-OnePeople.Sg Indicators of Racial and Religious Harmony: Comparing Results from 2019 and 2013 , July 2019
CNA – IPS Survey on Race Relations , August 2016
IPS Survey on Race, Religion and Language , 2013 – 2014

Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures

The Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures (RFPD) administers the new reporting requirements under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA). The role of RFPD is to ensure that local religious groups meet the statutory requirements and hence, safeguarding against malicious foreign influence undermining religious harmony in Singapore. For more information on RFPD and its e-services, you may wish to visit MHA e-Services . Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Tackling racism and racial discrimination

Response to parliamentary questions on efforts to tackle racism and racial discrimination, and efforts to strengthen racial and religious harmony in Singapore

Miss Cheng Li Hui: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) how does the Government intend to address tensions on racial insensitivities and discrimination on social media platforms; and (b) how does the Government intend to strengthen racial and religious harmony in Singapore.

Ms Carrie Tan: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what are the current efforts to build the civic engagement sector for skilled facilitators to lead conversations in the community on sensitive topics of race and religion; (b) how are suitable and effective facilitators sourced for, identified and trained; and (c) how will the tracking, evaluation and scaling of the positive effects of these conversations on social cohesion be made within the community.

Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law:

Sir, as a multiracial and multi-religious country, we do not tolerate any form of racial or religious discrimination. Racial discrimination sows discord amongst, and between, different communities, and threatens the harmony that we have worked so hard, over so many generations, to build up.
Our multiracialism is not perfect, and there is still much that we can do to improve. Let me elaborate on our multi-pronged approach to tackle racism and racial discrimination. Enforcement and legal framework
First, we have an enforcement and legal framework to deal with egregious cases that undermine our racial and religious harmony. Under the Penal Code, it is an offence to commit acts that deliberately wound the racial and religious feelings of any person, that promote enmity between different racial and religious groups, or that are prejudicial to the maintenance of racial and religious harmony. The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA), as amended in 2019, allows the Government to respond more effectively to incidents of religious disharmony, and strengthens our safeguards against foreign influence that threaten our religious harmony.
The Government does not tolerate hate speech, and will investigate anyone who sows enmity between races. Just last year, an individual used a Twitter account to make racist remarks against people of different races. This included comments against Indians whilst making reference to a news article on foreign workers living in dorms contributing to the apparent high COVID-19 infection rate in Singapore. He was charged for offences of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race under Section 298A of the Penal Code.
In addition, under the Broadcasting Act, IMDA can direct Internet Content Providers to take down broadcasting material that glorifies, incites or endorses ethnic, racial or religious hatred, strife or intolerance, which is prohibited under the Internet Code of Practice. Encouraging respectful online behaviour
Second, Sir, we foster social norms for respectful online behaviour and discourse. Recent events have highlighted the polarising effect of online platforms and social media, and we must guard against potential divisions. This is especially important because we can only strengthen our multiculturalism, if we treat fellow Singaporeans as partners, instead of adversaries to be confronted. To achieve this, we will require a whole-of-society partnership, with Government, Industry, and of course the Community, and each of us, collaborating.
For example, the Media Literacy Council (MLC) promotes responsible online behaviour by working with partners to support projects by our youth promoting the shared values of respect, responsibility, empathy and integrity; and online behaviours that demonstrate safety, responsibility, and also civility.
Social media companies also play a part in managing content hosted on their platforms, by constantly improving and enforcing their policies to remove content that promotes violence against people based on race or ethnicity. For example, Facebook has a set of Community Standards, which classifies “Hate Speech” as “objectionable content”. Twitter also has a similar set of policies on hateful conduct. And the Government works with these social media companies to promote healthy, online discourse.
MCCY also encourages ground-up projects that promote racial and religious harmony, including those that leverage digital and online platforms. MCCY provides funding support through its Harmony Fund, and partners community organisations to organise initiatives such as the Mission:Unite Hackathon in December 2020. Encouraging conversations on R&R topics
Third, we foster open, meaningful and responsible conversations on race and religion. That is important. These conversations bring Singaporeans together to discuss and find common ground on issues important to us as a People, and in the process, build up mutual trust and respect, and also understanding.
To support such dialogues and civic engagements, we work with stakeholders in the public, private and people sectors to identify and equip individuals with the relevant skills, so that they can in turn create safe spaces for sensitive topics to be discussed.
Within the public service, we have trained and developed a sizeable pool of facilitators who are able to design and lead engagements both within the public service and with the wider community. An example is the ongoing Emerging Stronger Conversations, which I’m sure many members have heard or participated in, which are mostly led by public officers across different government agencies who are trained in facilitation.
Beyond the public service, community and religious groups also play a key role in engaging constructive discussions, clarifying doubts and misconceptions, and rallying Singaporeans around our shared values to take a stand against divisive rhetoric on racial and religious issues.
Our religious and community leaders have amongst them, strong facilitation and convening capabilities. MCCY augments their efforts. For example in June, MCCY supported the Centre For Interfaith Understanding’s launch of a series of public workshops that aim to discover and develop and deepen interfaith facilitators’ roles, and expose them to cross-cutting issues such as interfaith marriages, economic inequality when discussing race and religion. So having other segments of society come together, discussing policies, economic policies, but having the undertone of racial and religious harmony as a backdrop.
Last month, MCCY also launched the “Create and Connect” digital media workshops where 40 participants from religious and community organisations came together to learn from technology companies on how to impactfully engage audiences on sensitive race and religion issues, and also manage complex online discussions in a constructive manner.
MCCY also supports community-driven dialogues that provide safe spaces and opportunities for open dialogue and mutual learning. MCCY’s BRIDGE programme was launched in 2017, and has to date supported over 120 such dialogues pertaining to race and religion. For instance, OnePeople.sg has been organising the “Regardless of Race” dialogue series since 2019, with its most recent sixth edition in April this year. These dialogues address salient issues on racial harmony, including the impact of social media on race and religious relations. Enlarging the common space
Fourth, sir, we are committed to enlarging the common spaces in which all Singaporeans can live, work and play together, and also share in the daily-lived experiences that bind us. Singapore’s approach to maintaining our common space has created room for every community to enjoy our diverse cultural heritage, without asking any specific segment of community to give up its rich inheritances, culture and heritage. Over time, we have achieved a balance that all communities can accept, and it has allowed us to live together in peace for more than half a century. This approach remains fundamental to tackling racism and racial discrimination, and strengthening racial and religious harmony in Singapore. And I must stress that we all have a part to play.
MCCY also works with other Government agencies and community partners to provide opportunities for Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds to have meaningful interactions with one another. So it is not just between government and people, but also, crucially, between people to people, as well. These include events organised by arts, heritage and sports organisations, the People’s Association (PA) and the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs).
We also nurture the values of respect and harmony in our students. Within the classroom, topics on multiculturalism and the importance of racial harmony are taught in subjects like Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), History and Social Studies. As part of the refreshed 2021 CCE curriculum, teachers in secondary schools and pre-university institutions will receive specialised training so that they can also facilitate conversations, discussions, dialogues, on contemporary issues, including race and religion, to hone students’ ability to understand different perspectives, and engender a sense of empathy and respect for one another.
Through Co-Curricular Activities and other school experiences, students bond and interact with one another regardless of background. Learning journeys to cultural and heritage sites and the celebration of cultural festivals also help students to foster and develop a stronger sense of identity, learning, and also importantly, sensitivity on racial and religious issues. Conclusion
Sir, these are just some of the Government’s initiatives in the community and education domains to strengthen racial and religious harmony in Singapore. Racial harmony in Singapore is a constant work in progress, and our ambition is for the bonds that bind our different communities to grow from strength to strength in the common spaces that we provide. All of us have a part to play in building a united nation “regardless of race, language or religion”. Thank you, Sir.

Celebration of Racial Harmony Day in Singapore Coursework

Introduction.

The main goal of the upcoming event dedicated to the Racial Harmony Day in Singapore is to engage the public in cultural and leisure activities designed to popularize the ideas of racial equality and tolerance. This meeting is aimed at promoting humanism and brotherhood to maintain favorable relationships in society and avoid any racial conflicts. The upcoming holiday is a convenient time for such an event because, according to Frost (2020), in Singapore, issues associated with the racial division are manifested and reflected in the cultural development of the country. Chauvinistic sentiments in society are a relic, and organizing a cultural program for the population can help direct the thinking of prejudiced people in the right direction.

The key stakeholders in the event are the participants, the People’s Association, suppliers, and the media. The distribution of roles is important for building a stable event concept. The government side will provide appropriate financial support and give the necessary permits. Suppliers will provide the equipment and the elements to accompany the holiday, for instance, catering and musical design. Media resources will cover the event and publish relevant materials, and the participants will attend the holiday and purchase the desired accessories.

Since the Racial Harmony Day in Singapore is celebrated on July 21st and falls on Thursday, the entire program of the event will take three days – from Thursday to Saturday. During this period, various entertainment and educational competitions and leisure projects will be offered to the participants. According to the Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs (2022), promoting religious equality and tolerance is an essential objective of social development. Therefore, one of the activities will be the presentation of the characteristics of different ethnic cultures living in the country. In addition, quizzes will be organized for everyone, and based on the results of the contests, the most erudite participants will receive significant and useful prizes. Given the results of the past year, the most active members of social movements for equality will be noted and rewarded. Finally, joint receptions with people of different racial minorities will be organized for the participants to get to know better the representatives of other cultures.

Venue Selection

To select the optimal venue for the event, the number of participants and organizers involved should be thought out in advance. In addition, the possibility of hosting related services outdoors should be made, such as catering, recreation, medical services, and other sites to ensure convenience. Safety aspects are critical to follow to avoid accidents, and interaction with fire and law enforcement agencies should be part of the venue selection process. Finally, weather conditions are imperative to consider to prevent equipment damage or discomfort for all the participants engaged. Due to these factors, the optimal venue for the event is a university campus in which there are both open areas and large closed rooms in which people can also interact.

Event Marketing

Types of target audience.

By promoting the idea of the event among the population, one can distinguish three categories of the target audience, highlighted in Table 1. The primary group includes the direct participants in the holiday programs, including representatives of the population, honorary citizens, and social activists. The secondary category consists of the providers, who will include support teams, service personnel, and other staff members. Finally, the tertiary group involves the media representatives who will be invited to cover the event process, interview, and post relevant materials on online platforms with mass access.

Table 1. Categories of the target audience.

Marketing Channels

With regard to marketing channels, promoting the event among the population can be carried out differently, but as the most efficient method, one can cite the use of digital resources. As Yoga et al. (2019) state, modern people receive basic information from the Internet, including data about tourism and entertainment projects. Therefore, the publication of news about the upcoming holiday on social networks is the key to the active dissemination of information among stakeholders. Another marketing channel is the involvement of traditional media, for instance, through the distribution of brochures and announcements about the future event. Such a step can also help draw attention to the holiday. Finally, direct emails to the public are a potentially powerful strategy for engaging people in the upcoming event. To do this, this is essential to segment the target audience and highlight those who actively use the Internet to ensure the widest possible involvement.

Marketing Timeline and Budget

The marketing timeline for the future event implies taking the key steps for a successful stakeholder engagement project. Over the next six months, appropriate stages will be implemented to spread the awareness of the Racial Harmony Day celebration. Within a month, negotiations with the administrators of popular online platforms will be completed to use their services and publish the necessary materials. It will take another month to prepare a base of potential participants for direct emailing. In parallel, negotiations will be held with suppliers and the media to participate in the event. The next four months will be used to publish specific materials, answer user questions, and organize all related service procedures.

The marketing budget has several major cost items and associated costs. The main costs relate to organizational nuances (equipment rental, staff fees, and other expenses). Associated costs will concern the acquisition of resources necessary for the comfort of the guests of the event, including food, drinks, prizes, and other details. This is planned that the main costs will be around $150,000, and the secondary costs will be approximately $50,000.

Event Evaluation

Event evaluation is critical to drawing appropriate conclusions about the success of the work performed and assessing potential gaps and omissions. MeetingHand Content Marketing Team (2019) identifies two main reasons that determine the significance of this procedure. They include the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data to identify the adequacy of the applied organizational strategies and the need to receive feedback from the target audience (MeetingHand Content Marketing Team, 2019). In the first case, economic, managerial, and other aspects of the work done are considered. In terms of participant feedback, the satisfaction of the parties involved is assessed to determine if the event has been valuable and important to them.

From the standpoint of specific key performance indicators to take into account, one can emphasize the sustainability of logistics, the adequacy of scheduling, and the effectiveness of marketing activities. As Chi et al. (2018) note, the perceptions of the parties involved are more important after a particular event than before because the organizers get real ratings. Thus, effective and thoughtful work to create conditions for the celebration of the Racial Harmony Day assumes the satisfaction of all interested parties at the end of the three-day holiday.

Chi, C. G. Q., Ouyang, Z., & Xu, X. (2018). Changing perceptions and reasoning process: Comparison of residents’ pre-and post-event attitudes. Annals of Tourism Research , 70 , 39-53. Web.

Frost, M. R. (2021). An unsettled majority: Immigration and the racial ‘balance’ in multicultural Singapore. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies , 47 (16), 3729-3751. Web.

MeetingHand Content Marketing Team. (2019). How to evaluate an event . Meeting Hand. Web.

Ministry of Home Affairs. (2022). Maintaining racial and religious harmony . Web.

Yoga, I. M. S., Korry, N. P. D. P., & Yulianti, N. M. D. R. (2019). Information technology adoption on digital marketing communication channel. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities , 3 (2), 95-104. Web.

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Bibliography

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Race & Religion

Safe spaces for constructive conversations. Education on these issues from a young age. Find out what we the participants have to say about race and religion.

We value our multiracial and multicultural society . We feel that it is important to reflect on race in our local context. Some feel that racial discourse from other countries cannot be imported wholesale. Some of us have experienced or witnessed racial discrimination in daily interactions, such as landlords or employers preferring a certain race. We hope that more of us can better understand what it feels like to face discrimination or racism.

Each of us should understand issues about race and religion better . We should step out of our comfort zones to meet with people of different backgrounds, races, and religions. As individuals, we can do more to tackle racist behaviours in society such as by speaking up against racist comments, starting with the people around us.

We hope for more social mixing to foster greater racial and religious cohesion , especially for our children and future generations. Some of us reminisced that there seemed to be more opportunities in the past for people of different races and religions to mingle, such as in schools and neighbourhoods. While many feel that race is important to their identity, we should be united as Singapore and Singaporeans . Existing race-related initiatives or policies need to be reviewed continually. We hope for more partnership opportunities with community leaders and government agencies in these areas.

Race and religion in our education system

We hope that education about the complexities of race and religion can start from young . Our understanding of racial harmony should go beyond a basic appreciation of other cultures’ cuisines and artistic heritage. For example, we could have a Racial Harmony Month, or equip parents and teachers with resources to help guide and facilitate discussions on more sensitive issues revolving around race, religion, and cultural beliefs in Singapore’s context. Some of us feel that our youth should be taught to think critically, and be better equipped to talk about sensitive topics.

Hope to see how to deepen the program for the yearly July event: a Racial Harmony Month instead of just having dances, singing etc. to make our society more racially harmonious after COVID-19.

Constructive dialogue on race and religion

As a society, we need to be able to engage, listen, and reason with facts when discussing sensitive issues like race and religion . We hope to have more inclusive and safe spaces for people to discuss such issues, and enable those who feel marginalised to speak up about their personal experiences. Without these platforms for discussion, we worry that people may turn to venting online anonymously. Some of us acknowledge that younger people tend to speak up more on race and religion issues, while others may be less comfortable discussing such issues. We need to find ways for different groups to have meaningful dialogue with each other. We hope that conversations on sensitive issues will be kind and compassionate.

We feel strongly that such dialogues and conversations build mutual understanding between different races and religions . We think that the government could facilitate this process, but should not try to shape the conversation. We also hope that these conversations will lead to tangible action and change.

Hope to have open dialogues about race and religion, getting those who feel marginalised to speak about their experiences and encourage mutual understanding.

Apr 20, 2023

Building Bridges, Celebrating Differences: The Story of Racial Harmony in Singapore

Updated: Apr 27, 2023

Ah, Singapore! The land of hawker centres, the Merlion, and one of the world’s most Instagrammed hotel – Marina Bay Sands. But there’s more to Singapore than just its vibrant tourism industry. The country’s success is attributed to its multicultural population living in harmony with one another. How is this possible, you ask? Well, of course, Singapore’s Racial Harmony! It is part of our community, our architecture, our history and even our National Pledge.

A section of Singapore’s National Pledge

However, this little country didn’t always have such a united population, with many disputes amongst the various races occurring over the years. In this blog, we’ll take a look at how racial harmony started in Singapore, the challenges they faced, and the efforts being put in place to maintain Racial Harmony.

The History of How Racial Harmony Started in Singapore

Singapore’s ethnic and cultural diversity can be traced back to its early days as a trading port. The city-state’s strategic location made it a hub for trade, attracting immigrants from all over the world. In the early 1800s, Chinese immigrants started coming in droves, followed by Indian and Malay immigrants in the late 1800s.

Over time, these immigrants established their own communities in Singapore, each with its own language, religion, and customs. The Chinese, for example, built their own shophouses and temples, while the Malays established kampongs (villages) and mosques. This diversity helped shape the unique multicultural identity of Singapore today.

Despite Singapore’s diversity, tensions between different ethnic groups were not uncommon. In 1964, tensions between the Malay and Chinese communities boiled over into the infamous race riots. Over four days, rioters set fire to buildings and clashed with police, resulting in 23 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

The riots served as a wake-up call for Singapore’s leaders, who realised that they needed to take action to manage ethnic and cultural tensions. How did they respond to these challenges? By implementing various policies and initiatives to promote racial harmony. One may view Singapore as a land full of laws, policies, and restrictions ( yes, there’s a lot, even I don’t remember all of them ) but they are essential in guiding the citizens into a more peaceful, united society.

Government’s Efforts in Ensuring Racial Harmony

One of the most notable policies is the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MHRA) , which was introduced in 1990. The MHRA aims to prevent the use of religion to incite disharmony or promoted political aims. It provides the government with legal tools to deal with any acts that threaten Singapore’s religious harmony. This act ensures that all religious groups in Singapore can worship freely, without fear of any discrimination or hostility. This policy applies to all citizens, politicians and even the President.

With the internet and social media being integrated to our daily lives, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had to update the MHRA in 2019 to ensure that religious harmony would be protected and practiced even online. There are many foreign influences online that may spread malicious rumours regarding a particular faith or race that can influence Singaporeans’ mindsets and trigger a racial dispute amongst one another. The changes made in MHRA enables MHA to respond more effectively and strengthen their safeguard against foreign malicious influence.

Have you ever heard of the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP)? It is another policy that was introduced in 1989 to promote racial integration in public housing estates. This policy ensures that there is a balanced racial mix in HDB estates, ensuring that no ethnic group is concentrated in one area. The EIP has played a significant role in preventing racial enclaves in Singapore, promoting racial harmony, and encouraging interaction between different groups.

Back then, each ethnic group preferred staying at certain areas of Singapore. The Chinese preferred staying in Hougang and Ang Mo Kio, the Malays preferred Bedok and Tampines while the Indians preferred Naval Base and Serangoon Road. Even though the Government was able to separate the racial enclaves in 1960s and 1970s due to a massive resettlement and public housing programme, they noticed that such programmes would no longer be feasible for housing that we already developed. And hence, the EIP was implemented. (Ta-da! ) This is the main reason why each neighbourhood would have a clear mix of races, encouraging people from all walks of life to intermingle.

Infographic of Applicants to New Housing Estates

The government has also set up institutions to promote inter-racial understanding and harmony. For example, the Institute of Policy Studies has conducted research on inter-ethic relations in Singapore, highlighting issues that need to be addressed to promote racial harmony. The Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs) have also been set up across the island to encourage inter-racial and inter-religious dialogue

People from various backgrounds joining IRCCs

Today, Singaporeans take pride in their multicultural identity and the racial harmony that exists in the country. But how did Singapore achieve this? The answer lies in a combination of government policies and grassroots initiatives. In addition to the EIP, the government has also implemented a range of measures to promote intercultural understanding and harmony. These include the annual Racial Harmony Day, which is celebrated in schools and workplaces, and the Community Engagement Programme, which encourages Singaporeans to volunteer in their local communities.

At the grassroots level, there are countless initiatives aimed at promoting racial harmony. These include community events, interfaith dialogues, and cultural exchange programmes. One example is the Harmony Circle, a grassroots movement that brings together individuals from different ethnic and religious backgrounds to build friendships and promote mutual understanding.

Food Distribution Programme ran by Punggol West Harmony Circle

The impact of these policies and initiatives has been significant. Singapore has managed to maintain racial harmony, and its citizens have a strong sense of national identity. The EIP has ensured that public housing estates are racially integrated, preventing the formation of racial enclaves. The MHRA has ensured that all religious groups can worship freely without fear of discrimination or hostility. The IRCCs have encouraged inter-racial and inter-religious dialogue, fostering mutual understanding and respect. Overall, these policies and initiatives have helped Singapore become a multi-cultural society that celebrates diversity and promotes racial harmony.

The Various Festivals of Each Culture

Now that the more political part of this blog is done, let’s talk about how Singapore embraces each culture! Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, with a diverse population compromising Chinese, Malay, Indian and other ethnic groups. This diversity is celebrated and showcased through various cultural festivals and celebrations that take place throughout the year. These festivals not only provide an opportunity for people to come together and enjoy the rich traditions and heritage of different communities but also contribute to the country’s racial harmony.

One of the most prominent festivals in Singapore is Chinese New Year, which is celebrated with much fanfare and excitement. The streets are decorated with vibrant red lanterns and banners, and families gather to enjoy sumptuous meals, exchange ang baos (red packets filled with money) and participated in lion dance performances. The festivities are not just limited to the Chinese community, and people from different backgrounds come together to join in the celebrations. Be prepared to also see red being a prominent colour during Chinese New Year as red symbolises power, celebration, fertility, prosperity, and repelling evil.

Light Display at Chinatown in lieu of Chinese New Year

Similarly, Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, is an important festival for the Indian community in Singapore. It is a time for families to decorate their homes with lights and rangolis, exchange sweets, and enjoy traditional Indian cuisine. They would also decorate the entrance of their houses with rangoli, intended to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck. The streets of Little India come alive with colorful decorations, and people from different backgrounds join in the festivities, lighting lamps and participating cultural performances. Purple would be the prominent colour during Deepavali, as it represents wealth and grandeur according to Indian beliefs.

Light Display at Little India in lieu of Deepavali

Hari Raya Puasa, also known as Eid al-Fitr, is a festival celebrated by the Malay community in Singapore. It marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and is a time for feasting and visiting family and friends. The Malay community opens their homes to welcome guests of all races, and everyone joins in the celebrations, enjoying traditional Malay cuisine and cultural performances. Throughout Ramadan, many Bazaars would be opened at various locations, selling halal street food, various house decors and clothes for the Malay to prep for Hari Raya Puasa itself. Similar to the other festivals, green would be the prominent colour, as it is a symbol of bliss, life, fertility, and beauty, according to Islamic beliefs.

Apart from these major festivals, there are many other cultural celebrations in Singapore that showcase the country’s multiculturalism. For instance, the Pongal Festival is celebrated by the Tamil community, and the Thaipusam Festival is a time for devotees to offer prayers and make offerings at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. The Hungry Ghost Festival is also a significant event for the Chinese Community, where they pay respect to their ancestors and perform rituals to appease the spirits. Meanwhile, the Hari Raya Haji is also celebrated by the Malay community, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) complete faith and trust in God.

What about the other common Western celebrations, like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, New Years? Of course, we celebrate them too! Singapore embraces all cultures and religions, respecting every culture’s belief to their best abilities. The streets of each of their heritage districts would be decorated with beautiful lights respectively, music from each culture would be played in shopping malls, supermarkets and more depending on the festivals and more.

What is unique about these celebrations is that they are not limited to the respective communities, and people from different backgrounds participate in them, sharing the joy and festivity. Singaporeans are proud of their diverse heritage and culture, and this is reflected in the way they come together to celebrate each other’s festivals and traditions. They showcase the richness and diversity of Singapore’s cultural heritage and contribute to the country’s reputation as a harmonious and inclusive society. So, let’s come together and celebrate the beauty of our differences!

Educating & Promoting Racial Harmony

Policies and festivities aside, what are other ways Singapore promotes racial harmony towards its citizens? That would be through education and media! Today, both education and media play a major role in educating and influencing people- both young and old. With education being readily available for each Singaporean, it is important to promote and instil a strong sense of racial harmony in each student.

Singapore’s education system emphasises multiculturalism and teaches students to respects and appreciate different cultures. Schools in Singapore celebrate the various cultural events by allowing students to dress up in their tradition costumes, performing the traditional dances and even playing traditional games during their free time. This allows each student to have a first-hand experience in learning about the traditions, history, and values of different cultures. The schools also celebrate Racial Harmony Day, which falls on 21st July of each year. In addition, schools also organise cultural exchange programs with either local or international schools where students can interact and learn from one another.

Students celebrating Racial Harmony Day in School

But education doesn’t just happen in the classroom. Media, too, plays a crucial role in promoting racial harmony. Singapore’s media industry is highly regulated and promotes positive images of different cultures. For example, MediaCorp, Singapore’s largest media company, produces television shows and dramas that depict the diversity of Singapore’s population. Channels specifically dedicated to each ethnic groups are also available: “Channel 8” for the Chinese, “Vasantham” for the Indians and “Suria” for the Malays. Despite being dedicated to the various groups, the shows and dramas still feature actors and actresses form different ethnic backgrounds, highlighting the richness of Singapore’s multiculturalism.

The first multilingual Singaporean TV Drama

Furthermore, the media in Singapore also promotes the celebration of multicultural events. For instance, Singapore’s National Day Parade feature performances from different ethnic groups showcasing their unique cultures. The parade also features traditional costumes and music, highlighting the diversity of Singapore’s population. Overall, education and media have been effective tools in promoting racial harmony in Singapore. Through the education system and media industry, Singaporeans are exposed to different cultures and learn to appreciate and respect them. With its strong emphasis on multiculturalism, Singapore is a shining example of a country where diversity is celebrated and embraces.

What Worked for Singapore & Some Challenges

With all the efforts done to promote racial harmony, not all has been successful. There are still many challenges for Singapore to tackle, both in present day and in the future. But first, let’s talk about the successes. Like aforementioned, Singapore is a unique melting pot of cultures with Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian communities coexisting in relative harmony. This has been achieved in part through government policies that emphasise racial harmony, such as the Ethnic Integration Policy, which ensures that neighbourhoods remain racially balanced. Together with the current education system and media channels, these efforts have established a harmonious living within races, while also educating each citizen about the various cultures.

However, despite these successes, there have been challenges. Singapore has had to confront issues such as xenophobia, which can be exacerbated by economic anxiety and competition for jobs. There have also been incidents of racial and religious tension, such as the 2013 Little India Riot.

But fear not, because Singaporeans are committed to maintaining and improving racial harmony in their country. For example, the government recently launched a national conversation on race, inviting Singaporeans to share their experiences and ideas on how to strengthen social cohesion. There are also grassroots efforts such as the #BetterTogetherSG movement, which aims to foster empathy and understanding between different communities.

In Conclusion…

Hence, what can we learn from Singapore’s approach to promoting racial harmony? First and foremost, it takes a concerted effort from all members of society, from the government to individuals. It also requires ongoing dialogue and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths and issues. But ultimately, the benefits of a harmonious and diverse society are immeasurable, from the richness of a cultural exchange to the strength of social cohesion.

So, let’s keep the conversation going, Singapore! Together, we can continue to build a society that celebrates diversity and fosters understanding and empathy.

Want to Know More?

If you’d like to learn more about the various cultures and their respective cultural landmarks, do join our Learning Journeys for an in-depth dive into the cultures or participate in our Interactive Adventure Trails , where you get to learn history while completing various tasks/missions along the way! Do check out our previous blog articles as well if you are interested!

Racial Harmony Day

Singapore infopedia.

Racial Harmony Day is an annual event held on 21 July to commemorate the communal riots of 1964 and teach students the importance of maintaining racial and religious harmony in Singapore’s multicultural and multi-ethnic society. It was launched in 1997 as part of the National Education programme conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for schools. 1 Racial Harmony Day celebrations are also carried out by grassroots organisations such as the People’s Association (PA), community development councils (CDCs) and OnePeople.sg to strengthen race relations among Singaporeans. 2 Since the first Racial Harmony Day, the event has undergone a series of expansions to widen its reach. Background In 1996, tests conducted by MOE on students and street polls showed that many Singaporeans, particularly those from the post-independence generation, knew little about their country’s history. These findings led then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to call for a citizenship education programme, known as National Education, to become a part of the school curriculum. 3 National Education was officially launched by then Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 17 May 1997, with the aim to “develop national cohesion, the instinct for survival and confidence in [Singapore’s] future”. 4 During the launch, Racial Harmony Day was designated as one of several key events to be celebrated in schools as part of the programme. The day commemorates the communal riots that broke out on 21 July 1964 between Malays and Chinese during a Muslim procession celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday . The historical event serves to remind Singaporeans of the need to maintain racial understanding and tolerance among the different communities in Singapore. 5 Racial Harmony Day in schools Schools organise a range of cross-cultural activities for students during Racial Harmony Day, which may extend to become a weeklong event. Some of these activities include dressing up in ethnic costumes, sampling ethnic food and playing traditional games. Students also revisit the 1964 communal riots in different ways such as skits, talks and oral history accounts. 6 Grassroots involvement Central Singapore Joint Social Service Centre In 1997, the Central Singapore Joint Social Service Centre (CS JSSC) was set up by the Central Singapore CDC with the assistance of five ethnic self-help groups: Chinese Development Assistance Council, Yayasan MENDAKI, Singapore Indian Development Association , Eurasian Association and Association of Muslim Professionals . Then-Prime Minister Goh had envisioned the establishment of a joint body like the CS JSSC to allow self-help groups and community organisations to work together in promoting racial harmony and community bonding. 7 In 2001, the CS JSSC began coordinating activities for Racial Harmony Day with the PA. 8 Community development councils To promote racial harmony at the district level, a few CDCs began participating in Racial Harmony Day in 1998. 9 The following year, the North East CDC and Buddha’s Light Association (Singapore) set up a S$100,000 fund to support heritage tours and forums, as well as school activities related to Racial Harmony Day. A total of 48 primary and secondary schools were slated to benefit from this fund. 10 In 2000, with the help of the PA, all nine CDCs at the time joined in the Racial Harmony Day celebrations. During the month of July, they organised activities that foster community bonding and social cohesion. 11 People’s Association In 2001, the PA started working with the CS JSSC to coordinate activities for the celebrations. 12 Since then, the PA has been a key organisation in the annual festivities. In 2002, for example, the PA, together with schools and other community groups, organised over 120 events to mark the occasion. 13 OnePeople.sg In 2007, CS JSSC was repositioned as OnePeople.sg to work together with the CDCs, community self-help groups and the PA in promoting racial harmony initiatives. 14 Other organisations The National Heritage Boar d and its various museums took part in the Racial Harmony Day celebrations in 2001. Activities organised by the National Heritage Board included an exhibition at the National Archives titled “Living History: Tracing Our Customs and Traditions” and another exhibition at the Singapore Philatelic Museum, which explored Singapore’s ethnic cultures through stamps and postcards . 15 In 2003, the National Arts Council also participated in Racial Harmony Day by presenting a concert that included ethnic dance and musical performances. 16 Later developments Orange Ribbon Celebrations Besides food tasting, games, homestays and the practice of donning ethnic costumes, a few key activities have been introduced to the Racial Harmony Day celebrations over the years. The practice of wearing orange ribbons – the colour symbolising racial harmony and intolerance towards racism – first began in 2001, when the Singapore History Museum (now known as the National Museum of Singapore ) introduced it in a school. 17 Since 2008, OnePeople.sg has organised the Orange Ribbon Celebrations, a signature month-long event held every July, to commemorate racial harmony on a national level. 18 Declaration on Religious Harmony In October 2002, then Prime Minister Goh unveiled a draft code to serve as a guide for Singaporeans to practise their respective religions and strengthen interreligious confidence. The code was drafted in response to the challenge posed by terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah to religious harmony in Singapore. 19 A multireligious team, headed by then Minister of State (Ministry of Community Development and Sports, and Prime Minister's Office) Chan Soo Sen, was subsequently formed to work on finalising the code. The team consulted various community and religious leaders, national religious bodies, the national steering committee for the Inter-Racial Confidence Circles (now known as the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle) as well as the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony. 20 The finalised code, known as the Declaration on Religious Harmony , was unveiled to the public in June 2003. Representatives of the national religious bodies propagated the declaration to their respective congregations and worked together to resolve any queries from the public regarding it. 21 The declaration was first recited by students, grassroots organisations and religious groups during the Racial Harmony Day celebrations in 2003. 22 Text of Declaration on Religious Harmony 23 WE, the people in Singapore, declare that religious harmony is vital for peace, progress and prosperity in our multi-racial and multi-religious Nation. We resolve to strengthen religious harmony through mutual tolerance, confidence, respect and understanding. We shall always Recognise the secular nature of our State, Promote cohesion within our society, Respect each other's freedom of religion, Grow our common space while respecting our diversity, Foster interreligious communications, and thereby ensure that religion will not be abused to create conflict and disharmony in Singapore. Beyond race and religion During the Racial Harmony Day celebrations in 2012, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned about new fault lines emerging in Singapore society that went beyond race and religion, such as the rising tensions between new and old citizens due to differing norms and habits. He thus encouraged more interaction between the two groups to promote better understanding and integration of new citizens. 24 Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat delivered a similar message during the 2014 celebrations when he called on Singaporeans to embrace greater diversity by going beyond the main races to respect everyone who resides in Singapore, regardless of their race, language or religion. 25 Authors Loh Pei Ying & Jamie Han References 1. “ Racial Harmony Day ,” National Heritage Board, updated on 14 September 2021. 2. “ About ,” OnePeople.sg, accessed 2012. 3. Tan A. and Wan R., “Introduction to National Education in Singapore,” in Securing Our Future: Sourcebook for Infusing National Education into the Primary School Curriculum , ed. Steven Tan Kwang San and Goh Chor Boon (Singapore: Prentice Hall, 2003), 3. (Call no. RSING 372.95957 SEC) 4. Lee Hsien Loong, “ Launch of National Education ,” speech, Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) TV Theatre, 17 May 1967, transcript, Ministry of Information and the Arts. (From National Archives of Singapore, document no. 1997051607) 5. “Racial Harmony Day”; Tommy Thong Bee Koh, et al. eds., Singapore : The Encyclopedia (Singapore: Editions Didier Millet in association with the National Heritage Board, 2006), 437–38. (Call no. RSING 959.57003 SIN-[HIS]) 6. ‘Hi, your Flowers Match my Baju…’ ,” Straits Times , 22 July 1997, 1; Allson de Souza and Tracy Quek, “ Schools Mark Occasion with Cross-Cultural Events ,” Straits Times , 22 July 1997, 38; Allson de Souza, “ Catholic High Students Broadcast History Programmes ,” Straits Times , 21 July 1997, 27; Audra Lim, “ Ethnic Groups Gear Up for Racial Harmony Week ,” Today , 24 July 2001 , 24. (From NewspaperSG) 7. OnePeople. sg, "About.” 8. “ Feast of Activities to Celebrate Racial Harmony Day ,” Today , 18 July 2001, 5; Lim, “ Ethnic Groups Gear Up for Racial Harmony Week .” 9. Lim, “ Ethnic Groups Gear Up for Racial Harmony Week ”; Teo Chee Hean, " The Racial Harmony Day organised by Pasir Ris Zone ‘11’ RC, Northeast CDC and Loyang Secondary School ,” speech, Aquarius Park, 18 July 1998, transcript, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. (From National Archives of Singapore, document no. 1998071804) 10. “ Fund for Racial Harmony Set Up ,” Straits Times , 24 November 1999, 47. (From NewspaperSG) 11. Jack Hee, “ CDCs Celebrate Racial Harmony Day ,” Straits Times, 21 July 2000 , 51; “ Islandwide Fun for Racial Harmony Day ,” Straits Times , 19 July 2000, 51. (From NewspaperSG) 12. “ Feast of Activities ”; Lim, “ Ethnic Groups Gear Up .” 13. “ Harmony Every Day ,” Straits Times , 21 July 2002, 38. (From NewspaperSG) 14. “About.” 15. “ Feast of Activities ”; Lim, “ Ethnic Groups Gear Up .” 16. “ Cultural Infusion ,” Straits Times , 17 July 2003, 28. (From NewspaperSG) 17. “ Orange Ribbon for Racial Harmony Day ,” Straits Times , 23 July 2001, 10. (From NewspaperSG) 18. Jessica Jaganathan, “ 1st Orange Ribbon Event for Newcomers to Mix ,” Straits Times, 7 July 2008, 24. (From NewspaperSG); “ National Orange Ribbon Celebrations ,” People’s Association, last updated 25 August 2021. 19. “ PM Condemns ‘Dastardly Acts’ at S’pore’s Doorstep ,” Straits Times , 15 October 2002, 1. (From NewspaperSG) 20. “ Multi-Religious Team to Draft Harmony Code ,” Straits Times , 2 November 2002, 6. (From NewspaperSG) 21. Neo Hui Min, “ More than Words, a S’pore Way of Life ,” Straits Times , 10 June 2003, 1. (From NewspaperSG) 22. Neo Hui Min, “ A Religious Harmony Pledge for Everyone ,” Straits Times , 19 July 2003, 15; Neo Hui Min, “ Reliving the Kampong Days – and its Spirit ,” Straits Times , 20 July 2003, 32. (From NewspaperSG) 23. Neo, “ More than Words .” 24. Toh Yong Chuan, “ PM Warns of New Fault Lines in S’pore ,” Straits Times, 11 July 2012, 3. (From NewspaperSG) 25. Pearl Lee, “ Reach Out Beyond Main Races Here ,” Straits Times , 22 July 2014, 5. (From NewspaperSG) Further resources April Cheong and Yen Feng, “ Call to Build Trust Among Races ,” Straits Times , 20 July 2009, 20. (From NewspaperSG)

Eugene K B Tan, “ Celebrate, Don’t Fear, Diversity ,” Today, 21 July 2010, 16. (From NewspaperSG) Gurmeet Singh, “ A Taste of Our History ,” Today , 14 July 2003, 23. (From NewspaperSG) “ How has Religious Harmony Fared Since 1989? ,” Straits Times , 24 July 2009, 19. (From NewspaperSG) Inter-Religious Harmony Circle, Declaration on Religious Harmony , postcard (Singapore: Author, 2007). (Call no. RCLOS O1061)

Lai Kew Chai, “ One United People ,” Straits Times , 22 July 2008, 110. (From NewspaperSG)

Ong Dai Lin, “ Bus Tour Takes you Places, Promotes Racial Harmony ,” Today , 11 July 2011, 6. (From NewspaperSG) Tay Kay Chin, “ Schools Mark Racial Harmony Day ,” Straits Times, 22 July 1988, 22. (From NewspaperSG) Zainudin Nordin, “ Whither Race Relations in S’pore? ,” Straits Times , 23 July 2011, 32. (From NewspaperSG)

The information in this article is valid as at 29 September 2014 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

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Racial Harmony Day 2022

Published Date: 21 July 2022 11:00 AM

News Press Releases

Singapore: Our Multicultural Mosaic

1. As part of our National Education efforts, schools commemorate Racial Harmony Day (RHD) every year on 21st July through activities and discussions to enable students to gain a deeper appreciation of racial harmony, multiculturalism and social cohesion.

2. The theme for Racial Harmony Day 2022 is Singapore: Our Multicultural Mosaic, which reflects how communities in Singapore are unique but also intertwined with others to depict the cultural diversity that characterises Singapore life.

3. Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Second Minister for Education, Dr Maliki Osman, and Minister of State for Education and Manpower, Ms Gan Siow Huang, joined students at the following schools to commemorate RHD today:

by Team Bukit Timah

Essay details and submission instructions below, details are also available in the following languages:.

Racial Harmony in Singapore Essay Competition

The Bukit Timah CCC and Kowloon Club proudly co-present its very first Primary School Creative Writing Competition with the theme of "Harmony amidst Diversity”.

All primary school students living in the Bukit Timah Division, as well as students currently enrolled in Raffles Girls’ Primary School, Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School and Bukit Timah Primary School, are encouraged to write about their experiences and feelings about racial harmony in their mother tongue languages (Mandarin, Malay or Tamil) or English.

Through this competition, we hope to inspire primary school students in expressing their enthusiasm and creativity through their mother tongue languages.

Featured Submissions

Theme: harmony amidst diversity.

What are the stories in your life that showcase harmony amidst diversity?

Singapore has always been a multiracial and multi-religious country. In order to commemorate and celebrate the mutual understanding and harmony among all ethnic groups, the government has designated 21st of July each year as Racial Harmony Day.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong once compared racial harmony to an orchestra:

“Participants need to work well together despite different backgrounds. It is a lifelong process, and will always need fine-tuning. In Singapore, harmony amidst diversity is one of our proudest achievements. We celebrate differences that strengthen rather than divide us. When we are in harmony, we can make beautiful music together.”

To celebrate this occasion, we would like you to share with us your story of harmony amidst diversity! The theme of the essay can include any aspects that show multiracial experiences, and acts of intercultural sharing or understanding.

Submitted by: Almyra Asmadi

ANDREA HENG (ENGLISH CAT A 2ND PRIZE).png

Submitted by: Andrea Heng

AMRITA THAMBURAJ (ENGLISH CAT A 3RD PRIZE).png

Submitted by: Amrita Thamburaj

Submitted by: Estee Koh

Submitted by: Max Zhang

Submitted by: Wang Yiqing

CLARA TAN( ENGLISH CAT C EXCELLENCE).jpg

Submitted by: Clara Tan

Submitted by: Joia Kor

Click here to download full essay

Submitted by: Evangeline Sim

Submitted by: Gou Rou Ern

KAITLYN TAN (ENGLISH CAT B Excellence).jpg

Submitted by: Kaitlyn Tan

Submitted by: Noemi Tahlia Bakke

Submitted by: Sage Ong

Submitted by: Tsen Si Rong

Attribution Statement & Personal Data Protection

Any submission of drawing/essay for the competition implies accepting that the organisers and all partners retains unlimited, non-exclusive rights to reproduction (including edit, recreate, translate, display, publish etc. on various platforms in various forms of the participants’ drawing/essay) without further compensation.

When submitting drawing/essay for the competition, it is agreed that the organisers and partners will directly contact the participants on the matters of the competition through phone calls, short messages, emails, etc. The organisers and partners cannot privately forward the personal information provided by the participants to other organisations or individuals unrelated to the competition without the permission of the participants.

For enquiries, please contact Janice (Bukit Timah CC) at

6466 2912 or email to [email protected] .

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Public invited to give feedback on newly proposed racial harmony laws

SINGAPORE - Public opinion is being sought on the new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill that will be introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2024.

The proposed laws will consolidate and review race-related offences from existing laws, introduce restraining orders (ROs) against content harmful to racial harmony, and introduce safeguards against foreign influence through race-based organisations.

In a statement on April 16, MHA said both racial and religious harmony are important for Singapore.

It said: “Singapore’s racial and religious harmony is of paramount importance, and arguably an existential issue for our society. We have invested significant effort since independence – through legislation, policies, institutions and other measures – to preserve this harmony.”

A key measure to deal with religious harmony was the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA), which was enacted in 1990 and amended in 2019.

The most recent amendments to the MRHA criminalised conduct that harms religious harmony, provides safeguards against foreign influence in religious organisations, and allows a person who has committed offences against religious harmony to repair ties in lieu of prosecution.

MHA added that the same objectives of the MRHA regarding racial harmony serve as the motivation for the newly proposed laws.

The first aspect of the new Bill is the porting over and reviewing of race-related offences from existing laws.

These include offences under the Penal Code that deal with threats to racial harmony, such as acts that wound the racial feelings of any person, promote enmity, hatred or ill will between racial groups, or that are otherwise prejudicial to interracial harmony.

In September 2023, a local rapper was jailed for six weeks for trying to promote feelings of ill will between different racial and religious groups in Singapore. He had made several online posts between July 2019 and March 2021 comparing races and religions.

To deter race-based violence, the Bill proposes a new offence for acts that urge violence against groups or their members on the grounds of race.

An example given by MHA is a racial supremacist urging violence against people with disabilities – even members of the person’s own race – on the grounds of “racial purity”.

The proposed penalties will take their cue from existing penalties under the Penal Code.

The second aspect of the Bill deals with content prejudicial to racial harmony.

It will enable the minister for home affairs to make ROs against the production or distribution of content that prejudices the maintenance of racial harmony in Singapore.

A person or entity that commits this can be issued an RO and be restrained from being involved in the communication or distribution of specified information or material; addressing a specified audience on a particular subject; and holding office on an editorial board or a committee of a specified publication.

In 2019, a video showed a man speaking aggressively to police officers at Bishan MRT station, accusing them of targeting Malays during checks.

The police said such allegations were untrue, baseless and irresponsible, and they would take action against those who post such remarks.

MHA said the exercise of ROs will be subject to safeguards, including review by a presidential council consisting of individuals who represent the different racial groups in Singapore or have distinguished themselves in public or community service.

A person who is issued the RO can make representations to the council.

The review will then be sent to the president for confirmation together with the council’s recommendation and Cabinet’s advice. If the council’s recommendation is different from the Cabinet’s advice, the president can decide whether to confirm, cancel or vary the RO.

The third aspect of the Bill introduces safeguards against foreign influence through race-based organisations.

MHA said designated entities that promote the interests of a racial group or sub-group must disclose foreign donations and foreign affiliations, as well as their leadership composition.

The minister for home affairs can impose additional safeguards to counter foreign influence. These safeguards will apply only to designated race-based organisations.

MHA said this is because race-based organisations are a much larger and more diverse group, and it is neither necessary nor desirable for such safeguards to apply to all race-based organisations at this time.

The final aspect of the proposal is the introduction of reparative measures to mend community ties.

Presently, remedial activities are on an ad hoc basis, initiated by community partners out of goodwill.

MHA said that working with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and other community partners, it intends to introduce a separate set of reparative measures. These may be offered to offenders as an alternative to prosecution for offences.

MHA said: “Such an approach helps the aggrieved community take a more reconciliatory view towards an offender and strengthens understanding between races. The offender is given an opportunity to learn from his mistakes while carrying out the reparative measures.”

The full report with details of the proposals can be viewed at go.gov.sg/feedback-mrachb and on the Reach website at reach.gov.sg

The public can submit feedback till May 14 by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or by mailing MHA at New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329560, with the subject Re: Public Consultation on the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill.

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The Importance of Racial Harmony
It takes more than a day to talk about racial harmony
Racial harmony: 'It is time to embrace, not just tolerate', Latest
How We Must Redefine ‘Racial Harmony’ For Singapore In 2021
Racial Harmony Day 2021. Learning Journeys for Singapore
How We Must Redefine ‘Racial Harmony’ For Singapore In 2021

COMMENTS

Racial Harmony in Singapore: [Essay Example], 712 words
A survey on Racial and Religious Harmony conducted by the Institute of Policy studies in 2013 showed that approximately 80% of Singaporeans are willing to work on building closer relationships with people of different race or religion. However, the same study also revealed that 40% of Singaporeans feel that racial tensions still exist.
Racial Harmony Day a reminder that S'pore's diversity is a strength
SINGAPORE - Racial Harmony Day is not just another event on the school calendar, but a reminder that Singapore's diversity is a strength, and harmony must continue to be instilled and built up ...
The Big Read: High time to talk about racism, but Singapore ...
Comparing indicators of racial and religious harmony from 2013 and 2018, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and OPSG in 2019 found that while racism exists, it is not widespread in ...
Maintaining Racial and Religious Harmony
Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society. Therefore, racial and religious harmony is vital for Singapore's social cohesion. This harmony does not come naturally - we need to take the effort to build trust, and acceptance between different races and religions, and protect the common space that we have.
Maintaining social and racial harmony, gender equality key themes of S
"This underscores Singapore's unwavering commitment to work towards a society free from racial discrimination, and in line with UN Sustainable Development Goal 10 on reducing inequality," she said.
Racial Harmony In Singapore: Where Do We Go From Here?
2. What does research say about how Singapore society fares when it comes to race relations? "The IPS-OnePeople.sg Indicators of Racial and Religious Harmony tracks how Singaporeans feel about the state of racial harmony on many dimensions. Based on the wave that was completed in 2019, Singapore is doing quite well and continuing to make ...
Essay on racial harmony in singapore
The government recognized the importance of racial harmony in building a cohesive nation and adopted a proactive approach to address these challenges. Government Policies and Legislation: Singapore's commitment to racial harmony is enshrined in its constitution, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, and language.
Students discuss racism and racial stereotypes to mark Racial Harmony
Jul 22, 2022, 05:52 AM. SINGAPORE - Students are more open to questioning racial stereotypes and racism, and teachers can help create a safe space in school for such discussions to take place. Mr ...
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The Genesis of Racial Harmony Celebrations. Racial Harmony was first commemorated in 1997 when National Education (NE) was introduced into schools. Celebrated on 21 July, it commemorates the race riots that broke out in 1964 during a procession marking the Prophet Mohammed's birthday. Being among the four core events celebrated by schools ...
Tackling racism and racial discrimination
Racial harmony in Singapore is a constant work in progress, and our ambition is for the bonds that bind our different communities to grow from strength to strength in the common spaces that we provide. All of us have a part to play in building a united nation "regardless of race, language or religion". Thank you, Sir.
Celebration of Racial Harmony Day in Singapore Coursework
Since the Racial Harmony Day in Singapore is celebrated on July 21st and falls on Thursday, the entire program of the event will take three days - from Thursday to Saturday. During this period, various entertainment and educational competitions and leisure projects will be offered to the participants. According to the Singaporean Ministry of ...
Race & Religion in Singapore
For example, we could have a Racial Harmony Month, or equip parents and teachers with resources to help guide and facilitate discussions on more sensitive issues revolving around race, religion, and cultural beliefs in Singapore's context. Some of us feel that our youth should be taught to think critically, and be better equipped to talk ...
Building Bridges, Celebrating Differences: The Story of Racial Harmony
Like aforementioned, Singapore is a unique melting pot of cultures with Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian communities coexisting in relative harmony. This has been achieved in part through government policies that emphasise racial harmony, such as the Ethnic Integration Policy, which ensures that neighbourhoods remain racially balanced.
Speech by Minister Lawrence Wong at 'Regardless of Race' Dialogue VI
Harmony in Singapore did not arise naturally between our different ethnic groups. For example, in 1964, bitter misunderstandings between the communities boiled over into racial violence. At the time, when we were about to become independent, many newly independent countries were also grappling with racial and religious wars.
Racial Harmony Day
Background. Racial Harmony Day is an annual event held on 21 July to commemorate the communal riots of 1964 and teach students the importance of maintaining racial and religious harmony in Singapore's multicultural and multi-ethnic society. It was launched in 1997 as part of the National Education programme conducted by the Ministry of ...
NDR 2021: New law to deal with racial offences, promote harmony through
SINGAPORE - Singapore will introduce a new law on racial harmony to encourage moderation and tolerance between different racial groups, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 29).
Racial Harmony Day 2019: "The Singapore Connection"
1. Racial Harmony Day (RHD) 2019 celebrates The Singapore Connection, where students reflect on the shared experiences and values that have connected us as Singaporeans. Students are also encouraged to consider how we can create a more open and inclusive culture, even as our society becomes increasingly complex.
Racial Harmony Day 2022
The theme for Racial Harmony Day 2022 is Singapore: Our Multicultural Mosaic, which reflects how communities in Singapore are unique but also intertwined with others to depict the cultural diversity that characterises Singapore life. ... MOS then joined in the school's Racial Harmony Fiesta which featured booths around the campus for students ...
Racial Harmony via Racism (Singaporean video essay) : r/singapore
I remember doing case studies on what European cities like Paris were doing to handle racial harmony, in the face of mass immigration from North Africa and Eastern Europe. The key takeaway, if I remember correctly, was that the melting pot approach favored by western nations was flawed, compared to how Singapore acknowledges different races and ...
The Myth of Multiculturalism in Singapore
The first part of the essay will provide the context of how the four racial categories came to being during British colonialisation of Singapore from 1946-1963, and subsequently elevated as a ...
The Importance of Racial Harmony Free Essay Example
In the past, when there was not harmony, many racial riots broke out, claiming many lives and generally reducing the social security felt in Singapore at that time. One such example would be the Maria Hertogh riots which started on 11 December 1950 and lasted for two days, leaving 18 people killed and 173 injured.
Religious and racial harmony a cornerstone of Singapore's political
SINGAPORE - Religious harmony is an integral part of Singapore's identity. It did not come about by chance but is the result of hard work and continuous efforts by all, said Emeritus Senior ...
racialharmony
Racial Harmony in Singapore Essay Competition. The Bukit Timah CCC and Kowloon Club proudly co-present its very first Primary School Creative Writing Competition with the theme of "Harmony amidst Diversity". All primary school students living in the Bukit Timah Division, as well as students currently enrolled in Raffles Girls' Primary ...
Public invited to give feedback on newly proposed racial harmony laws
Apr 16, 2024, 03:30 PM. SINGAPORE - Public opinion is being sought on the new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill that will be introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2024. The proposed ...