racial harmony in singapore essay

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Racial Harmony in Singapore

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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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Celebration of Racial Harmony Day in Singapore Coursework

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Introduction

Venue selection, event marketing.

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.

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.

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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IvyPanda. (2023, August 17). Celebration of Racial Harmony Day in Singapore. https://ivypanda.com/essays/celebration-of-racial-harmony-day-in-singapore/

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Diversity In Harmony: The Singapore Story

Take a stroll along Telok Ayer Street, and you will come across a church, a mosque, two temples and an Indian Muslim heritage centre that used to be a shrine.

More than beautiful sights, the neighbourly co-existence of these places of worship paints a picture of religious diversity and harmony in Singapore.

Forming a Cohesive Singapore Tapestry

Singapore is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world. In fact, it took the top spot in a 2014 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank headquartered in Washington DC.

Singapore is home to many ethnic groups, each of which brought their religious practices when they sailed across seas and oceans in search of a better life on an island that is no bigger than a dot on the world map.

Drawn to the opportunities created by Sir Stamford Raffles’ decision to set up a trading port in Singapore, people started arriving from regions such as southern China, India and the Malay Archipelago – even as far as Europe and the Middle East!

Putting down roots in this foreign land, the newcomers went on to build places of worship so that they could come together to express their faiths within their communities. These early-day efforts paved the way for the making of a multi-religious Singapore.

Today, many religions are registered here, ranging from Buddhism to Christianity, Hinduism , Islam , Taoism , Baha’i Faith , Jainism , Judaism , Sikhism and Zoroastrianism. Buddhism has the biggest following, with 31.1% of the population declaring that they are adherents of the faith in a 2020 census.

Religious Freedom and Harmony Go Hand In Hand

With such diversity in the religious landscape spread across a land area of just 728 square kilometers, Singapore’s 5.69 million residents have learnt to live, work and play harmoniously in close proximity with each other.

The State is secular, but not against religion.The people are free to practise their faiths, as long as the activities do not have a negative impact on public order, health or morality.

This position has been well received by religious groups here, and is often exercised with tolerance and compromise.

For example, mosques lower the volume of their loudspeakers when broadcasting the prayer call, in consideration of their non-Muslim neighbours. Christians also exercise restraint in sharing the gospel with people of other faiths, as a mark of respect for the difference in religious views.

Through give and take, religious groups in Singapore have gone beyond co-existing in peaceful harmony, to be on friendly terms with each other – even extending goodwill.

In one of many instances of inter-faith kindness , two Taoist temples, Lian Sheng Tan and Shan Fu Gong, shared the tentage set up for their separate Hungry Ghost Festival events with their neighbour, Masjid Ar-Raudhah mosque, so that about 1,000 congregants can be sheltered for Hari Raya Haji prayers.

The More We Get Together…

For a young nation, the display of such grace among religious groups is something that does not come easy. It is the culmination of hard work from all levels of society to foster a spirit of common understanding and unity.

The Housing and Development Board’s Ethnic Integration Policy, for instance, ensures a balanced mix of ethnic groups living in housing estates.

From its establishment in 1989, the policy has brought people of different cultures, customs and religious practices together. Sharing a common corridor, attending the same school in the neighbourhood and basically growing up alongside each other paves the way for friendships and trust to be formed between neighbours. This also makes it easier to develop a mutual understanding that enables people to overcome differences in cultural and religious beliefs and practices.

There are also a number of inter-faith platforms and organisations, such as the Racial and Religious Harmony Circle (Harmony Circle) and Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore (IRO), that seek to build friendship and cooperation between religious groups through inter-faith events and networks.

As of 2022, more than 771 religious organisations in Singapore have signed a commitment to safeguard religious harmony, an initiative spearheaded by various faith groups and supported by the Harmony Circle.

Another thing going for multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore is the abundance of festivals here. Some of these commemorate religious occasions, like Christmas, Deepavali and Hari Raya Haji, allowing the public to gain a better understanding of the festivals associated with different faiths. A day of rest also means that people can celebrate together, even if they do not practise the religion.

A Multi-Racial and Multi-Religious Singapore

Though Singapore does not boast a long history, it has become a place where cultures and religions coexist in harmony. It is here that people have the freedom – and the confidence – to practise their faiths alongside each other, with a healthy appreciation for others’ beliefs.

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Racial Harmony Day 2019: “The Singapore Connection”

Published Date: 22 July 2019 12:00 AM

News Press Releases

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.

2. Schools commemorate RHD each year by emphasising the values of respect and harmony in our interracial relations. Since its inception in 1998, RHD has promoted interracial understanding among our students, and is a key part of our National Education efforts.

School visits

3. President Halimah Yacob and MOE's political office holders joined students at the following schools to commemorate RHD today:

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Do we need a Racial Harmony Day? #HarmonyinSG

There were periods in our history where racial tensions escalated to full-blown conflict with lives lost and property destroyed during the 1950 Maria Hertogh riots and the 1964 communal riots.

Today, through legislation, education, and grassroots efforts, large-scale racial disputes and riots are nearly eliminated. But many minorities in Singapore are still dealing with casual and overt racism at the individual level.

Last year during Racial Harmony Day, Kindness SG published an opinion piece titled “Do we really need a Racial Harmony Day in Singapore”? Here are some thought-provoking insights from the piece.

#HarmonyinSG #racialharmony #Singapore #unity #unityindiversity

Isn’t it slightly hypocritical, they ask, to celebrate the occasion when there is so much more work to be done?

… A recent poll by CNA and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) said that more than half of Singaporeans believe that racism is an important problem to tackle, up from 46.3% in 2016.

So, what is there to celebrate if there is so little racial harmony in Singapore?

Perhaps breaking down the phrase “Racial Harmony Day” might help us find an answer.”

📎: https://pride.kindness.sg/do-we-really-need-a-racial-harmony-day-in-singapore/?fbclid=IwAR1DdxhirxZBCrUgHTrbrUGXcyN3sbgJcFvdBNtGgIOU7VkVvSi3MxLll74

One way of testing how open we are to our differences is to see how we celebrate public holidays in Singapore. Most of us would see it as a break from work, but ask yourself: How far do you go to celebrate the different holidays with your friends from other cultures and races?

For non-Chinese, do you visit your Chinese friends’ households during Chinese New Year? Likewise for non-Muslims during Eid? How much do you know about Diwali? Do you think that Christmas is only about gift-giving?

This isn’t to shame anyone for not knowing details about other cultures and races that live in Singapore. The critical question here is this: If given a chance, would you want to learn?

… Perhaps in this context, having a Racial Harmony Day is just another opportunity to teach our children more than just something that appears on a test paper.”

📎: https://pride.kindness.sg/do-we-really-need-a-racial-harmony-day-in-singapore/?fbclid=IwAR3ObaO2d-rvwsehJo-JTutceVocMYMvYsSiMcYjEcZw-WQwLS-k6adcJPk

… In the speech, he said: “The natural instincts of humans are to look out for people who are most like us, and to keep a distance from others… we would be fooling ourselves if we believed that racial and religious harmony were the natural order of things. It does not fall ready-made from the sky. There is nothing preordained about a multi-racial society.”

… Now in a positive way, social media has helped to create greater awareness of racism here. This has made us, especially the majority, look closely in the mirror and reflect deeper about who we are, and who we want to be.”

“And we clearly cannot leave things as they are. We are better than this. Whether online or offline, we must hold ourselves to higher standards, and tackle racism wherever it exists in our society.”

It’s not all just games and dressing up either. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing shared on his Facebook this morning (note: the post was posted last year) how students at Kranji Secondary School got to thinking about how they would respond to different scenarios of racial stereotypes and racism during their Character and Citizenship Education lessons.

He said in the post: “Racial harmony has been and remains a work in progress… As our schools commemorate Racial Harmony Day today, let us remember the importance of strengthening racial harmony and deepen our appreciation of diverse cultures.”

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Commentary commentary

Commentary: Building racial harmony in Singapore must start from an early age

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commentary Commentary

If we think that racial harmony is an enduring Singapore value that we should uphold, then we need to start sensitising our children early, says Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian.

The pre-school years are when children start asking questions about the people and things around them. (Photo: Ministry of Education)

Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighted on Thursday (Sep 21) that Singaporeans have an aspiration for race to matter less but pointed out that Singapore still needs “continuous work” to maintain multi-culturalism.

"The aspiration for race not to count is something that needs working out. It cannot just be a pledge, it cannot be just an incantation," he added.

“It requires conscious action, conscious acts of the state, which work if they are supported by people,” he said.

Indeed, in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Singapore, our openness to embracing diversity has been a key tenet of a meritocratic system that has allowed generations of Singaporeans to chase after their dreams.

Our warmth in welcoming those who are not like us as a cosmopolitan society has helped us stand out in a world that is increasingly inward-looking.

Imbuing these hopefully lifelong shared values into our children must start from a young age.

Indeed, perhaps it should start at the outset of a child’s education journey.

The pre-school years are a time of immense change for children. From the ages of two to seven, their cognitive capacities grow and expand. Their observational skills sharpen, their language skills improve and their ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings deepen.

At the same time, they begin to pay more attention to their surroundings and people’s perspectives. Children are by nature curious and the pre-school years enhance this trait as children interact with each other and are exposed to new social dynamics.

In fact, parents may even observe that their pre-school children ask more pointed questions about the things, people and events that they encounter and experience – many of which can be difficult to answer or even embarrassing to address.

They may question actions that have become practice as a course of habit and convenience that we take for granted, such as why we should wash our hands before a meal or challenge long-held assumptions about gender roles that mummy and daddy play.

Loved ones, parents and caregivers who spend a lot more time with a preschool child may find themselves answering questions that also probe deeper issues of diversity touching on ethnicity, class, skin colour, gender, disability and culture.

ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY AND VALUE QUESTIONS ON DIVERSITY

Social scientists have underscored the need for young children to be prepared to engage with diversity in a positive and proactive manner.

The world today is characterised by heterogeneity and the ability to build and sustain working relationships with people from different communities is a key 21st century skill. It is critical that children are able to spend time with each other in a way that is respectful and harmonious even as the world becomes more fragmented and even more deeply fractured.

A key means to developing an ability to co-exist is to first fully accept another person for who the individual is. For young children, it is essential to guide them to new understanding that differences are not deficits but that our differences make us complementary parts of a larger world context.

In situations where differences in opinion arise, children need to know how to handle dialogue in order to seek appropriate solutions to mend rifts in their understanding. Doing so encourages them to search for mutually valuable solutions while embracing differences as a positive. This way, children learn that relationships built on respect, trust and empathy form the foundation of inclusive societies that value and appreciate diversity. 

Parents are in the best place to nurture in their children a welcoming and embracing mind-set towards the differences they observe around them. 

Pre-school children still view their parents as superheroes, and are likely to mimic their parents’ speech and behaviour. When children note differences based on physical attributes like skin colour, eye shape and colour, parents should seize the chance to engage them in conversation.

Parents should try to find out why their children raised the questions they do, instead of seeking to give a quick answer to ward off more questions. In doing so, parents can be patient and open, in seeking to listen and discuss their children’s observations rather than dismissing their questions or changing the subject because the topic is difficult to handle.

A safe environment for children to discover new meaning in what they have noticed, and feel at ease to share their thoughts and feelings should also be created. Acknowledging and encouraging them to share their observations can help children build up their communication skills and sense of confidence, improving learning outcomes.

Showing appreciation for their questions and perspectives demonstrate to children first-hand the value of acceptance and diversity.

ENCOURAGE AUTHENTIC FRIENDSHIPS, ENABLE EMPATHY

Expanding one’s social vocabulary and building a capacity to make friends with people from all walks of life should start from an early age. It is in this second area that parents can help them focus on the value of acceptance when they highlight differences.

When children come back with stories about the run-ins at the playground or in school with another child from a different background, parents can steer the conversation to values, and treating others the way they themselves wish to be treated. A discussion on friendship, camaraderie and respect can be sparked.

Parents can also leverage positive experiences that their children may have with other children of different backgrounds to strengthen these same lessons. 

Once children learn to build authentic friendships with those around them, they are less likely to fixate on communal or cultural differences, but focus on their mutual trust and rapport, and an appreciation for each other’s company. They will also grow a greater capacity to deal with conflict, by seeking clarity and mutual understanding from a place of affection.

Last, empathy is a critical skill for young children to build.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines empathy as “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present”. It foregrounds the need to comprehend another’s thinking and emotional response by first accepting a person for who they are and respecting their experience of an event or phenomenon.

Empathy invites dialogue and is a stepping stone towards a healthy understanding of identity, by emphasising that there are many ways of being and doing. For children to master it however, requires it to be demonstrated and reinforced by adults and older peers that the child has frequent contact with.

Practice is also key, for children to be able to relate to anyone. A basic understanding of empathy already exists, and just needs to be built upon and extended to a conversation on diversity. For instance, children who soothe their peer when he or she falls down are already demonstrating an ability to put themselves in another’s shoes. 

To build on this, parents can get them to articulate how a character may be feeling or thinking when reading stories or watching television programmes together, for instance. This way, children cultivate a habit of understanding events and people from multiple perspectives.

As we help our children make sense of the world, perhaps we too would be reminded of Singapore’s strength in diversity and how to care for one another as an inclusive society.

After all, this is one lesson we will never stop learning.

Dr Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian is a lecturer at the Early Childhood and Special Needs Education Academic Group at the National Institute of Education at the Nanyang Technological University.

This is the eighth commentary in Channel NewsAsia’s series on learning and education.

​Read the first commentary on whether Singapore schools should adopt digital textbooks  here .

Read the second commentary on how Singapore teachers should manage issues on race in the classroom  here .

Read the third commentary on whether our young need expensive enrichment classes  here .

Read the fourth commentary on the struggle parents face in choosing a good school for their child  here .

Read the fifth commentary on the role parents must play in their child's pre-school years  here .

Read the sixth commentary on whether passion and patience are sufficient qualities of an ideal pre-school teacher  here .

Read the seventh commentary on whether private higher education is a 'second chance' option in Singapore here . 

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NDR 2021: New law to deal with racial offences, promote harmony through softer approach

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).

The new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act will consolidate all existing laws dealing with racial issues, which are currently scattered under various pieces of legislation, such as the Penal Code.

Apart from providing for punishments to deal with racial offences, the new law will also incorporate "softer and gentler touches" that focus on persuasion and rehabilitation.

For instance, it will vest the authorities with powers to order someone who has caused offence to stop and make amends by learning more about the other race.

This softer approach will help to heal hurt and mend ties between races, rather than leaving resentment in the wake of such incidents, PM Lee said.

The Prime Minister devoted a third of his National Day Rally to the topic of race and religion, noting that race relations have come under stress during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the real solution to racism is to change attitudes, which takes time and effort, legislation can play a role, he said.

"Laws may not, by themselves, make people get along with one another or like one another," PM Lee noted. "But laws can signal what our society considers right or wrong, and nudge people over time to behave better."

He pointed to the existing Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, which the new law will be modelled on.

The law has never been used since it came into effect in 1992. But its very existence has helped to restrain intolerance and promote religious harmony, he said.

Similarly, the new law on racial harmony will signal the "overriding importance" of this issue to Singapore society, he added.

In his speech, PM Lee made reference to several recent high-profile racist incidents, noting several of these have targeted Indians.

There are two reasons for this, he surmised. One could be the large number of Indian work pass holders in Singapore, while the other could be linked to the Delta variant of Covid-19, which first emerged in India.

But it is illogical to blame these issues on Indians and let these frustrations impact racial harmony, PM Lee said.

"Just as it is illogical to blame the Alpha variant on the English, the KTV cluster on the Vietnamese, or the initial outbreak in Wuhan on the Chinese," he added.

"We must address the real issues - manage the work pass numbers and concentrations, and improve our border health safeguards."

While these racist incidents are a reminder of the fragility of Singapore's harmony, they do not negate the country's multiracial approach which has worked well, he said, adding that racial harmony did not happen spontaneously here.

He outlined how Singapore has worked hard to achieve the current delicate balance, where people of different races and faiths live peacefully together.

Even so, racial harmony is still a work in progress and will be for a long time, PM Lee said. He noted that everyone retains racial or religious preferences, which are natural in every society.

"But sometimes, it goes beyond racial and cultural preferences to become biases and prejudices. Then it is a problem," he said.

He gave the example of job advertisements which require Chinese speakers even though it is not clear that this is a genuine job necessity. He also cited individuals who are rejected for rentals after property agents find out they are not Chinese.

People from minority groups experience these things more acutely because they are the ones most affected by such racial discrimination, PM Lee said.

"They feel angry, hurt, disappointed that the words in our National Pledge are still an aspiration, still not fully achieved," he added.

"I know it is harder to belong to a minority race than to the majority. And this is true in every multiracial society, but it does not mean that we have to accept this state of affairs in Singapore."

This is why Singapore must keep working at the issue, PM Lee stressed.

The majority must be more sensitive to minority concerns, while individuals must also have the moral courage to take a stand against racist behaviour, he said.

This means expressing clear disapproval of racist incidents, and also calling out deliberate racist agitation that masquerades as something else.

The campaign against the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India (Ceca), for instance, claimed to be about putting Singaporeans first but had a strong racial undertone, PM Lee said.

The new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act is part of keeping Singapore's policies on race and religion up to date, PM Lee said, noting that racial and religious harmony is dynamic.

Societal views and beliefs shift over time, with each new generation holding different perspectives on racial issues.

Older Singaporeans who lived through the racial riots that marked Singapore's journey towards independence usually believe that such issues are best left alone.

"They think: Discussions can become disputes, disputes can become quarrels, better don't talk about such things too much," he said.

But younger Singaporeans, who have largely grown up in an environment of peace and harmony, think differently.

They believe that as the country is now mature and stable, issues of race and religion must now be discussed more openly, and existing policies and assumptions re-examined, to improve the status quo.

"These generational differences in views are perfectly understandable and should be accommodated," he said.

The Prime Minister then turned his attention to how Singaporeans are influenced by external religious trends in a changing world.

For instance, many Christians think of themselves as members of a worldwide communion, while Muslims consider themselves to be part of a global ummah, or community of believers.

"So when religious norms elsewhere shift, norms and practices in Singapore are also affected," PM Lee said.

This is similar to how Singapore is exposed to, and subsequently influenced by, external political developments, he added. These include the Black Lives Matter movement in America, or the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza.

"Our own circumstances and context are completely different, and these are not our quarrels," he noted. "But they do affect our people."

Such changes are why Singapore needs to adjust its policies on race and religion from time to time. But it must do so based on its own needs, rather than simply reacting to trends abroad, PM Lee stressed.

And as it makes such changes, it must proceed with caution. This is because race and religion will always be highly sensitive issues, he said.

"We have to take the time to discuss respectfully, make sure everybody understands, and build a consensus before we make any move."

R​ead next: 7 highlights from PM Lee Hsien Loong's ​National Day Rally

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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

Submitted by: Andrea Heng

Submitted by: Amrita Thamburaj 

Submitted by: Estee Koh

Submitted by: Max Zhang

Submitted by: Wang Yiqing 

Submitted by: Clara Tan

Submitted by: Joia Kor

Click here to download full essay

Submitted by: Evangeline Sim

Submitted by: Gou Rou Ern

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] .