Build on positive experiences to forge multi-ethnic social compact: President Tharman

SINGAPORE – History and recent events have made clear that laissez-faire models of multiculturalism – which recognise diversity but are not bolstered by proactive efforts to build a shared identity between people of different races and religions – have failed, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

But while multi-ethnic cohesion is never assured, neither is polarisation a given, he said in a speech at the International Conference on Communities of Success on Oct 14.

“We can build on the positive experiences we see, as we strive to build resilient multi-ethnic social compacts, and enable minority communities to succeed and thrive,” he said.

Mr Tharman said there is a broader loss of trust between communities in many other parts of the world, which serves as a reminder that multi-ethnic cohesion, even once achieved, can never be taken as a given.

“They illustrate an uncomfortable reality: that history does not progress automatically towards greater understanding between people of different races or religions, a deeper sense of shared identity, or lesser segregation, even as societies advance in wealth,” he said at the conference held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Ethnic prejudices and anxieties are hard to eradicate, and can be easily aroused by sectarian forces, he noted, citing the riots between Hindus and Muslims two years ago in Leicester, one of Britain’s most diverse cities, and more recent riots in Britain fomented by white nationalist groups that targeted Muslims especially.  

“The causes are rarely simple, and they vary from one society to another. And they often reflect both ethnic prejudices and social and economic anxieties that have been left to fester,” he said.

What is clear is that when race and religion get woven into politics, the differences and anxieties between people grow over time and become more combustible, he said, stressing the need to draw lessons from history and recent events worldwide.

The President highlighted Albania and Kazakhstan as examples of harmony in societies with significant religious minorities.

Turning to Singapore, Mr Tharman said the Republic has built a multicultural society with housing and education policies to encourage ethnic integration, an economy that provides opportunities for all, and continuous dialogue between religious leaders and communities.

He noted that a recent study found that Singaporeans of all faiths are tolerant and accepting of followers of different religions. The study by Pew Research Centre found that 88 per cent of Singaporean adults believe that Islam is compatible with their national cultures and values.

Coming out of a difficult history of communal strife, Singapore took race and religion out of politics, starting from the nation’s independence, he said. “Importantly, this included the majority Chinese community eschewing majoritarian politics, and accepting that being a majority did not mean having government policies that favour the majority.”

Singapore’s leaders and policymakers frequently engage with community and religious leaders to ensure that laws and policies do not discriminate against any group, he added.

He also highlighted education as the most fundamental strategy for developing the qualities needed for a cohesive society by encouraging social mixing from a young age.

Mr Tharman also lauded efforts by Singapore’s Muslim community to uplift its members, such as M3, which are three key Malay/Muslim institutions that work to strengthen marriages and families, spur students to achieve their goals, improve employment and health outcomes, and support low-income households.

Another priority here, he said, is to forge unity among diverse Islamic traditions and practices. To achieve this, religious teachers register with the Asatizah Recognition Scheme, which serves as a credible source of reference for Singapore Muslims.

Returning graduates from overseas Islamic universities in Muslim-majority countries undergo the Postgraduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies programme to apply religious principles in ways that align with Singapore’s cultural and societal fabric.

Concluding, Mr Tharman cautioned against taking for granted the trust between the communities in Singapore.

“Even as we eliminate overt racial or religious prejudices, we must pay attention to subtle prejudices and segregation – such as whether we include classmates or work colleagues from other ethnic groups in conversations, and in circles of friends at lunch and in the neighbourhood.”