A second chance under new law to strengthen racial harmony in Singapore: Opinion

In 2019, the Young Sikh Association (YSA) reached out to an Instagram influencer who made insensitive comments about the community. Ms Sheena Phua said in an online post that their turbans obstructed her view of the Formula One night race.

The association invited her to spend time with their community, visit one of their temples and learn about their religion and culture. Both the YSA and Ms Phua spoke positively of the experience; in the words of then YSA president Sarabjeet Singh, “she demonstrated humility, kindness, curiosity and sincerity, and that is more important to us”.

In handling the incident, the YSA set a commendable example of constructive engagement and education in addressing racial and religious misunderstandings, one that serves as a model for how community partners can foster reconciliation and social harmony.

Over the years, Singapore has witnessed several race-related incidents that sparked strong public reactions. Some took the form of social media posts and videos, while others occurred in face-to-face interactions.

There were cases that led to prosecution. In most instances, these incidents left more than just a sour taste – they also revealed the absence of structured avenues for reconciliation or rehabilitation for the “offender”.

The Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, therefore, is a timely initiative that reinforces Singapore’s dedication to unity and mutual respect.

A commendable feature of the Bill is its focus on reparative measures, prioritising rehabilitation and reconciliation through the introduction of the new Community Remedial Initiative (CRI).

The initiative gives those who have committed less egregious race-related offences a chance to mend community ties.

It is an additional avenue for the authorities that provides space for reconciliation, similar to how the Sikh community approached Ms Phua.

By prioritising education, rehabilitation and community engagement, the Bill addresses racial discord in a holistic and sustainable manner.

A shift towards education and reconciliation

The emphasis on rehabilitation ensures that alleged offenders have the opportunity to reflect on their actions and change their behaviour.

Through educational initiatives and community engagement, they can gain a deeper understanding of racial harmony, fostering empathy and personal growth.

Moreover, the Bill encourages reconciliation by offering alleged offenders a platform to express remorse and rebuild trust.

Engaging with the affected parties and the wider community helps mend social rifts, promoting accountability and empathy.

This is important, as racial incidents not only impact the individuals directly involved, but also harm ties between different racial groups, erode trust and impact social cohesion. Criminal prosecution alone does not facilitate the reparation of community ties.

The Bill recognises the need to involve the community in addressing these challenges.

By requiring alleged offenders to engage meaningfully with affected communities, it promotes healing, reduces stigmatisation and fosters a culture of understanding and redemption. It also enables alleged offenders to learn from their actions and make amends, thereby easing social tensions.

This process is not easy, but it enables community stakeholders to take ownership of these issues, strengthening relationships and building a more cohesive society.

It is encouraging to note that the Bill, particularly the CRI, supports long-term social cohesion and understanding.

This shift towards sustainable solutions, rather than punitive ones, provides the authorities with greater latitude to deal with the spectrum of racist incidents that regularly arise, and reflects a thoughtful approach to addressing racial discord.

By tailoring responses based on the severity and context of each offence, the Bill ensures balanced and effective resolutions that complement existing policies.

Balancing freedom of expression and social cohesion

The new law strikes a necessary balance between freedom of expression and social cohesion.

The authorities have provided reassurances that open and respectful good-faith discussions, including academic discourse, will not be penalised. This includes reasonable comedy, satire, and self-reflection about racism and stereotypes.

However, egregious actions, such as those inciting violence or which severely undermine social cohesion, will be recommended for criminal prosecution without being offered the CRI.

The law thus distinguishes harmful speech from constructive discourse, emphasising the importance of mutual respect.

By curbing hate speech while encouraging meaningful dialogue, it helps preserve racial harmony without stifling open discussions.

We trust that provisions within the Bill will be used in a measured manner.

Ongoing dialogue on sensitive racial issues is important, and it is essential to foster good-faith discussions without fear of undue punishment.

Providing platforms for open conversations

As a key community partner for the CRI, OnePeople.sg will work closely with the Government and other stakeholders to support the Bill’s objectives.

We will continue to provide platforms for open, honest conversations about race and religious relations.

With a proven track record in promoting cultural and religious diversity, we will actively contribute to the Bill’s implementation by broadening the space for community engagement.

This will involve developing initiatives that foster mutual respect, challenge racial stereotypes and advocate a deeper understanding of race and religious relations.

We will also facilitate deeper conversations by providing safe spaces for conversations on difficult issues, tackling bias, and fostering self-reflection to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of racial and social dynamics.

Capability development is another area of focus. This involves empowering community leaders, educators and stakeholders with the skills to address racial tensions and proactively foster harmony.

Finally, we provide rehabilitation support by collaborating with community partners to facilitate volunteer work and community engagement opportunities, helping alleged offenders make meaningful amends.

OnePeople.sg wholeheartedly supports the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, recognising it as a significant step forward in reinforcing Singapore’s commitment to racial unity, regardless of race, language or religion.

While legislation plays a role, we must also continue to foster social harmony by actively challenging biases and standing up against prejudice in our daily lives.

Our work and experience in engaging diverse communities on difficult issues of race and religion have shown that honest dialogue and deeper engagement do help uncover blind spots and address biases.

OnePeople.sg is committed to supporting these efforts, working alongside community stakeholders to build a Singapore that embraces diversity and thrives on trust.

Christopher Gordon is secretary of the racial harmony advocacy group OnePeople.sg. Mohamed Nasim and Leonard Lim are OnePeople.sg management committee members.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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