The process whereby groups with different cultures come to have a common culture is known as

Ever mindful of social strife and racial conflict, we have worked hard to become one people, building bonds of trust that bridge our ethnic, social and cultural differences.

In Singapore, we start with the irrefutable proposition that the alternative to multi-racialism… is genocide in varying degrees.
– Mr S. Rajaratnam, then Minister for Culture (1959–1965)

After five decades of independence, Singapore has come a long way from the tense political climate and social tensions of the 1960s. Today, despite differences in ethnicity, religion and culture, we live together as one people, with a harmony that is remarkable among nations. But it would be a mistake to take this state of affairs for granted or to overlook the institutions, policies and efforts that have carefully nurtured the social harmony we now cherish.

FROM “DIVIDE AND RULE” TO ONE UNITED PEOPLE
Before 1965, Singapore was governed very differently. The major ethnic groups on the island were each assigned their own separate communal area in which to live and work. Interactions between ethnic communities were minimal. From the point of view of the colonial (and later Federal Malaysian) governments of the time, this policy of “divide and rule” prevented clashes among the different groups. However, it also meant that the communities tended to keep to themselves and had little opportunity to get to know one another, or to cultivate deeper understanding and acceptance.

Singapore would pay the price for this segregation, when poor living conditions and soaring unemployment in the 1960s led to simmering resentment and ethnic tensions that boiled over into racial violence in the riots of 1964 and 1969. On 21 July 1964, clashes between Chinese provocateurs and a group of Malay Muslims gathered to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday set off some of the bloodiest rioting in Singapore’s history. Disorder spread throughout the city, and fear ruled the streets as neighbour turned against neighbour. By the time police curfews were lifted on 2 August 1964, ethnic violence had claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds more injured. Tragically, a second ethnically motivated riot was to occur in September the same year, sparked by the killing of a trishaw rider.

Following Independence, the newly formed government was determined that Singapore would not have to relive these tragedies again. From a city-state of disparate but segregated communities, we would build a multicultural, secular, meritocratic nation in which all Singaporeans are equal before the law regardless of race, language or religion.

A National Commitment to Equality
One of the first manifestations of these principles was our Constitution, which guarantees the right of every person to embrace and practise his religion freely. 1 The Constitution protects religious freedom: every individual has a constitutional right to profess, practise and propagate his religion as long as such activities do not affect public order, public health or morality. Our commitment to being “one united people regardless of race, language or religion” is also enshrined and resonantly expressed in our National Pledge, drafted in 1966 by Singapore’s first Foreign Minister Mr S. Rajaratnam. 2

A Common Language for All
To be able to live together, we must first be able to communicate and understand one another. The use of English as a common language of administration and instruction after Independence helped to unify all Singaporeans without privileging any one cultural group, even as the different communities were encouraged to preserve their own languages and cultural roots. This allowed a common civic space to develop in which Singaporeans could share experiences, memories, and values and form a truly national identity.

Protecting the Rights of Minorities
Fully aware that unjust or discriminatory treatment could lead to resentment and disharmony, Singapore’s government took pains to treat all ethnicities and faiths fairly, and to enact legislation soon after Independence to protect minority rights and privileges. The Presidential Council for Minority Rights was introduced in 1970 as a safeguard to ensure that the Government does not implement any law which discriminates or disadvantages any race, religion or community.

Maintaining Religious Harmony
While the freedom to practise religion is enshrined in the Constitution, there were concerns in the 1980s that rising religiosity could arouse suspicions or spark fresh tensions in Singapore’s diverse society. Following a government White Paper 4 and much public discussion among the various communities, a Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act was introduced in 1990, empowering the authorities to act against incidents, however small, that could potentially escalate to threaten our religious harmony. The Act rounded off the suite of legal measures 5 that the Government has kept at its disposal to address threats to our social cohesion – including condemnations of other races or religions.

INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONS:
FROM TOLERANCE TO ACCEPTANCE
The generally peaceful state of inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in Singapore is a matter of conscious and careful planning. Ever mindful of the sensitivities of being a multicultural society, particularly one with a short history as a nation, we have infused our public institutions – from schools to public housing and compulsory National Service for all Singaporean men – with opportunities for Singaporeans of different backgrounds to come together, understand one another and respect our society’s rich diversity.

Beginning in the 1970s, national programmes were designed to ensure a balanced representation of Singapore’s diverse ethnic makeup, and in particular the four major ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay, Indian and Others, also known as CMIO). The more prominent policies among these include the Housing and Development Board (HDB)’s Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), 6 the ethnic Self-Help Groups (SHGs) 7 and the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system. 8

For example, HDB’s EIP, introduced in 1989, spells out the proportion of each major ethnic group who may own units in an apartment block or neighbourhood. These stipulations ensure that most families in Singapore (80% of whom reside in HDB’s public housing estates), will live alongside others of different religion and ethnicities, sharing common amenities such as playgrounds, shops and bus stops – the diametric opposite of the colonial era norm of ethnic segregation. This discourages the formation of ethnic enclaves, making the daily social experience of Singaporean life more inclusive and diverse.

Such policies seek to create common spaces where people of different backgrounds will, in the course of their daily lives, come to meet, mingle and build bonds naturally. A culture is formed not through piecemeal incidents, but through regular encounters and interactions. Over time, strong relationships and shared memories nurture tolerance, trust, understanding and acceptance.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY
No government policy or programme can maintain social harmony if our communities do not themselves embrace and observe its principles. Many public initiatives seek to build up trust and good relations between communal groups in Singapore, and to develop an instinct for the greater national good.

One of these initiatives was the formation of Inter Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs) in every constituency in 2002. Comprising leaders from racial, religious, social, educational, business groups and organisations, IRCCs help to deepen residents’ understanding of various beliefs and practices through heritage trails, inter-faith talks and religious festivities. Being closer to the ground, they also help to calm raw nerves and assuage anxieties that might arise in the community.

The work of the IRCCs is complemented by the Community Engagement Programme (CEP). Initiated in 2006, the CEP strengthens ties and builds trust among people of different ethnicities and faiths in a particular community. The CEP readies a community to respond during times of crisis in order to quickly marshal help, aid recovery and support broader national efforts.

Efforts to nurture social harmony are often more impactful if they come from the community, and if they involve the young. To this end, non-profit organisations with programmes that improve racial and religious harmony can receive support from the Harmony Fund, administered by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. With a sum of $5 million set aside to last from 2013 to 2016, the Harmony Fund has sponsored more than 50 projects to date, with about two in five projects being youth oriented or youth-run.

TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY
Singapore’s destiny depends on its people. Since our Independence, we have welcomed anyone who can contribute to our success, including skilled workers from around the world. For Singapore to thrive, we need to be comfortable living, working and playing alongside people who may be different from us, not just in terms of ethnicity and faith, but also in terms of family background, economic circumstances and, increasingly, nationalities as well.

Building Bridges
In 1997, as part of Singapore’s efforts to transform our economy to build the best home for Singaporeans and to make Singapore a cosmopolitan city, then Prime Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong explained the need to try to “attract the best talents from around the world” to Singapore. He urged Singaporeans to welcome the infusion of knowledge that skilled foreign manpower would bring to make Singapore a “Talent Capital”. 11 Underlining the point in 2002, he argued that Singapore has to “send a clear signal to all those who can raise our standards whether in sports, music, dance, the theatre, literature, the economy or politics, that they are welcome”.

Foreigners and Permanent Residents make up 40% of Singapore’s population today. Given our low resident fertility rates, they are needed to augment the workforce and help keep our economy vibrant and our society sustainable.

However, the significant inflow of foreigners in the past decade has led to the perception that their arrival has crowded out Singaporean citizens in terms of jobs, housing, transport, schools, and other resources. Despite reassurances that the interests of Singaporeans will always take priority, 12 this has led to resentment, often amplified through social media. Such negative attitudes toward foreigners threaten to divide society as much as the racial tensions of decades past.

The Government has moved to address many of the core issues. In the past five years, measures have been introduced to cool down the property market, build more public housing, and expand public transport capacity to cope with a growing city. Foreign manpower policies have also been tightened to manage the growth of foreigners in the workforce. Responding to feedback from the public as well as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), the Ministry of Manpower introduced the Fair Consideration Framework in 2013, requiring all businesses operating in Singapore to adopt open, fair, merit based and non-discriminatory hiring practices.

Becoming Singaporean:
The Citizenship Journey

We continue to welcome those who are committed to Singapore’s future and who want to stand with us through thick and thin.

We do not require foreigners, our naturalised citizens or Permanent Residents to give up their beliefs and culture. However, to help them settle in better among Singaporeans and maintain overall harmony in our society, they are encouraged to abide by our common values and norms, as well as forge shared experiences with Singaporeans. The National Integration Council (NIC) was set up in 2009 to coordinate and encourage ground-up integration efforts through partnership between the public and private sectors, and the people. Initiatives introduced by NIC include the Community Integration Fund (CIF) to co-fund and support initiatives that have helped immigrants better adapt to their new environment and provided platforms for locals and newcomers to interact, forge friendships and improve mutual understanding. The Singapore Citizenship Journey was also introduced in 2011 to enrich naturalised citizens’ understanding of Singaporean norms and values, and provide opportunities for meaningful interaction with their local community.