Zero tolerance and deterrence should continue to be the norm in sentencing those who commit racist attacks here in order to clamp down on such incidents, say observers.

Such sentences frequently involve a jail term and are handed out to deter the offender - and others - from committing or repeating similar acts.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Attorney-General's Chambers said last Friday that it will continue to seek deterrent sentences to "deter actions that may cause harm to our community and racial harmony".

It added: "Deliberate acts generating ill will between different racial groups and denigrating other races in Singapore will not be tolerated. Offenders who commit such acts will continue to be dealt with firmly and in accordance with the law."

This comes after a woman was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment last Wednesday for hurling profanities and racist insults at another woman on the bus for over seven minutes.

Siti Ai'sha Jaffar, 40, called the 33-year-old victim a "stupid Indian" during her tirade, which the court heard was unprovoked.

In passing a deterrent sentence, District Judge Tan Jen Tse called the attack "prolonged and savage" and said: "In no way can this (sort) of offence... stand in our society."

Criminal lawyers whom ST spoke to said the courts typically practice zero tolerance for racism, and jail sentences are the norm in cases involving seditious or offensive remarks made against a person's race, nationality or religion.

Under the Penal Code, those who say anything that is heard by the victim, or gesture, or place an object in the sight of the victim with the deliberate intention of wounding their religious or racial feelings, can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

Those who knowingly promote enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race and perform acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony can face the same penalty under the same Act.

Under the Sedition Act, it is a crime to speak or publish anything that promotes feelings of ill will and hostility between different races in Singapore. First-time offenders can be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to three years, or both.

Lawyers said that aggravating factors for these offences include the nature or content of the offensive material, the reach of the offensive material, the offender's agenda and the disquiet caused.

When asked if he noticed an upward trend in such offences, Quahe Woo and Palmer's Mr Sunil Sudheesan said it might be a case of more people making reports.

"Similar to sexual harassment cases, I think these incidents have always happened but more people are coming forward and more incidents are being recorded now," he said, calling the general deterrence a "must factor" in such sentences.

"The simple lesson must be 'don't be a racist, or you will go to jail'," he added.

However, Mr Cory Wong from Invictus Law Corporation mentioned cases where the mental condition of the offender contributed to the crime.

Citing the case of Lee Dji Lin, who had a delusional disorder and got a mandatory treatment order (MTO) and probation after she placed raw pork outside the home of a Malay Muslim neighbour, Mr Wong said: "This does raise the question of whether MTO or probation can be imposed for even the most heinous of racist acts committed by a seriously mentally unwell offender or a particularly young offender. Is this something that will sit well with the public? What are the exact limits that we can put up with? Only time will tell."

Offenders given an MTO have to undergo treatment for their mental condition in lieu of jail time.

Lawyer Gloria James of Gloria James-Civetta & Co said that aside from implementing harsher laws and a tough judicial stance, a better understanding of the root cause of such issues would be more effective in moving towards racial harmony.

Researchers whom ST spoke to concurred that what goes on in the courts can only go so far in eradicating racism in the community.

Associate Professor Leong Chan-Hoong from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said that highlighting the seriousness of the offence is one option. But this will not address the distortion in racial attitudes and discrimination in private.

Dr Mathew Mathews, principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said that though media coverage of such cases will help more people become aware that they face stiff penalties if they hurl racist abuse, there will be the occasional few who continue to do so.

"What is important then is for society to know what to do when such incidents happen - we should take a firm stand against racist attacks and continue to affirm our commitment to make Singapore a truly multicultural society.

"This comes with public education and a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in our multicultural society," he said.