Race in Singapore: What topics are due for discussion, and how?

Discrimination, racial classification and the role of race and identity in policies are among hot topics. Observers say education, data are key

Stereotyping and discrimination, the listing of race on Singapore’s identity cards and the country’s growing mixed-race population were among issues raised by Singaporeans in an informal poll. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
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Mr Zacharoy Dass has mixed feelings on Singapore's CMIO - Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others - classification framework.

As the son of a Singaporean-Indian father and Singaporean-Chinese mother, who studied Chinese, he appreciates how it was easier to get a new Housing Board flat when he and his Singaporean-Chinese wife applied as a minority-race couple.

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