Bonding Singapore

Question 1a How far is racial insensitivity a cause of a potential conflict in a

multi-ethnic society like Singapore? Explain your answer.
• Introduction
Racial insensitivity is a cause of a potential conflict in a multi-ethnic society like Singapore to
a small extent. There are three causes of a potential conflict that multi-ethnic societies face.
They are racial insensitivity, religious insensitivity and threats from external forces.

• Main Arguments using:

o Point

o Example

o Explanation

o Link to question.

• Point 1 (Definition)

One of the challenges a multi-ethnic society face is racial insensitivity. This is because
different racial groups will have different perspectives on the same issue. Racial insensitivity
happens when certain racial group passes comments or displays acts of inconsideration
towards each other.

Example
Event = what happened at Reaction of victims: refers to Result: what happened in the
first. feelings/actions end.

Event: PAP wanted a non-communal

approach towards the policies while
the Malays in UMNO felt threatened
by that approach. The UMNO later
used the Malay newspaper, Utusan
Melayu, to spread the anti-PAP
campaign. It portrayed the PAP’s
resettlement and redevelopment
scheme as anti-Malay and
highlighted that the PAP did not care
about the Malays.
Reaction of victims:
Malays feel that they are
the only ones being
resettled but in actual
fact, more Chinese
families were resettled
than Malay families. Felt
discontented. Result: This
misunderstanding led to
the 1964 race riots which
resulted in 36 deaths and
560 others injured.
Explain

Event = what happened at Reaction of victims: refers to Result: what happened in the
first. feelings/actions end.

Factor: Racial Reaction of victims: Result: Violence if

insensitive felt discontent/ the discontentment
actions/remarks unhappy/ victimized. continues.
towards a particular
Explanation Misunderstandings
racial group resulted.

Link to question

With racial insensitivity, misunderstandings will be created among the races, leading to
conflict.
• Point 2 (Definition)

Religious insensitivity is also a challenge for Singapore. This is because different religious
groups have different views on a matter, leading to disagreements and misunderstandings.
Religious insensitivity happens when certain religious group passes comments or displays
acts of inconsideration towards each other.

Example

Event = what happened at Reaction of victims: refers to Result: what happened in the
first. feelings/actions end.

Event: Maria Hertogh riots in the Reaction of victims: This

1950s. Maria’s parents placed Maria caused great
in the care of a Malay lady, Aminah, unhappiness among the Result: This led to the
as they were imprisoned by the Muslims towards the Maria Hertogh riot.
Japanese during the 1940s. When Europeans and
they demanded that they wanted Eurasians. This is
their daughter back, a court trial because and the Muslims
followed. This court trial received felt that the court did not
wide media coverage. Pictures of respect their religious
Maria in a Christian convent were beliefs.
published. The court ruled the
custody in favour of the Hertoghs.

Explanation
Event = what happened at Reaction of victims: refers to Result: what happened in the
first. feelings/actions end.

Factor: Religious
insensitivity is able to
Reaction of victims: Result: If not handled
trigger a conflict because
Misunderstandings may properly, violence may
people have different
easily occur when one occur.
religious beliefs.
group feels discriminated
against. This would lead
to discontentment.
Link to question

With religious insensitivity, people of different religions will feel that their beliefs are not
respected, causing them to feel neglected and unhappy, and a conflict is bound to start.
• Point 3 (Definition)

Threats from external forces refer to international threats that a country may face, that are
able to affect the harmony in a country. Threats from external forces are able to threaten the
social cohesion in Singapore too. Transnational terrorism is an example. Transnational
terrorism refers to the act of violence which is global in terms of aim, organisation and impact.

Example

Event = what happened at Reaction of victims: refers to Result: what happened in the
first. feelings/actions end.

Reaction of victims:
Suspicion and fear
Event: Singapore also faces among the people in the
transnational terrorism threats. They affected countries.
were suspected of planning to Result: No social
launch terrorist attacks on public harmony.
places like Yishun MRT Station and
Changi Airport as well as
government buildings. 34 members
of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) were
captured in Singapore between 2001
and 2002 and another in 2005.

Explanation

Event = what happened at Reaction of victims: refers to Result: what happened in the
first. feelings/actions end.

Result: If not handled

properly, conflict may
occur. Terrorists would
Factor: Terrorists use make use of this to create
religious differences to Reaction of victims:
Misunderstandings may ill-feelings.
break the social cohesion
in multi-ethnic societies. easily occur when people
They try to garner support associate people from a
from a particular religious particular group with
group, especially the terrorism. This would lead
Muslims. to discontentment.
Link to question

With transnational terrorism, the social cohesion in Singapore is possible to break and this
will result in disastrous consequences for the future of the country, as well as for the well-
being of Singaporeans.
Ways which Singapore has used to ensure Social Cohesion (peace and
harmony)/ How can ethnic diversity be managed?

 Building a national identity

 There is a need to create a common history, culture and identity for
Singaporeans, so that people will see themselves as part of the country, not
just part of an ethnic group.
 Eg. Multi-racialism – equality among the races. No race or religion is
given special treatment. Every individual in Singapore is given a chance to
progress regardless of race or religion. This shows that meritocracy is
observed.
 Eg. Common Practices – Taking the pledge and singing the national
anthem together as one Singapore. Through this practice, Singaporeans
can feel a sense of togetherness and belonging to the country.
 Eg. Bilingualism – Everyone has to learn English, apart from their Mother
Tongue, so that every racial group can communicate through a COMMON
LANGUAGE. At the same time, they are able to stay rooted to their
cultures and traditions through Mother Tongue learning.
 By building a national identity, Singaporeans will see themselves as
equals. As such, they will be more tolerant towards each other. Hence, this
allows social cohesion to be formed.
 Safeguarding the interests of the minority groups.
 To make sure that the minorities are not being left out in our society. To
let them feel part of the society.
 Eg. Minority Representation – Presidential Council of Minority Rights
(PCMR) to ensure that no racial or religious group is disadvantaged when
a law is passed. In the PCMR, there is a representative from every
religious and racial group. Before a law is passed, the PCMR must ensure
that it does not disadvantage anyone. Group Representation Constituency
(GRC) made it compulsory for teams participating in election to consist of
at least one minority race, so that every minority race is represented in the
parliament. This ensures that the needs of the minorities will be addressed.
 Eg. Self-help groups like CDAC, SINDA, Mendaki & Eurasian community help
the lower-income groups in their community to get help in their studies or work
training. This ensures that all Singaporeans compete with each other on an equal
footing; there won’t be unhappiness that any group is more advantaged.
 By safeguarding the interests of the minority groups, the needs of the minorities
would be taken care of. As such, they would feel accepted and respected in the
community. They will be more likely to work with other ethnic groups for peace.
This ensures social harmony.
 Developing common space
 This means that Singaporeans are given time and space (an opportunity) to
interact.
 Eg. Events and programmes organised by grassroots organisations –
activities like ‘beach clean-up’, ‘jogathon’ or ‘cycling’ are organised for
the people so that they can make friends and interact with each other.
  Eg. Educational institutions – in schools, people from different races study
together and participate in different activities regardless of race or
religion. Students make friends with people from other race and religious
groups.
 Eg. Public housing – quota given to each race in public housing so that
there is a fair mix of each race staying in a block. People from each block
can interact with each other.
 Eg. National Service – All able-bodied boys who are above 18 years old,
are expected to go through 2 years of national service. They will be placed
in various units regardless of race and religion. Through the 2 years of
shared experience together, they would form close bonds with each other.
 By developing a common space, Singaporeans would be given an
opportunity to interact with each other. As such, through this, there would
be mutual understanding among them. This would lead to social cohesion.

3. Why is it important for

Singapore to manage ethnic
diversity?
• Security and Peace for the people
a. People feel safe living here (Something Singaporeans take for granted.
In other places where survival is a real thing everyday, we are blessed
to live in one that is relatively safe and peaceful)
b. Not having the stress to be extra cautious over all areas.
- This can only continue if Singapore continues to be a place where the
different racial groups can live harmoniously together.

• Economic progress
a. Stability in a society encourages foreign investors and trade.
b. Tourist industry will boom since foreigners feel safe to travel here.
c. In addition, the unique characteristics of a multi-ethnic society
attracts tourists.