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SINGAPORE: A “race-blind society” should not be confused with being blind to genuine differences and contexts between races, Deputy Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman said on Thursday (3 September).
Speaking on the fourth day of the debate on the President’s speech, Dr. Maliki said that as Singapore strives for a society free from racial prejudice and discrimination, differences exist and must be recognized.
“We must not confuse this with being blind to genuine racial differences and contexts, nor should we ignore or underestimate the serious and sometimes unintended negative consequences that can easily occur with rampant comments on race relations and related issues,” he said.
He outlined several “fundamental principles” of social inclusion, such as accepting the differences between races and addressing these differences in a “constructive” way.
These could be differences in cultural traditions and practices, emphasis on priorities and what matters most in life, or specific community issues that a racial group has to grapple with that require dedicated care and assistance.
“An inclusive Singapore must recognize, appreciate, understand and adapt to these differences; and allow this positive sense of racial identity to exist and develop, and have a comprehensive set of community policies and initiatives, including self-help groups, to address and be part of a broader ecosystem that provides help and solves problems effectively and with empathy, “he said.
“NO INHERENT CONTRADICTION”
On the issue of the government’s CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian and others) model, which Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim called “problematic” on Tuesday, Dr. Maliki said there is “no inherent contradiction.” in having a strong racial influence. and a strong Singaporean identity.
“Being truly Singaporean does not at all mean that we should renounce or dilute our racial identity, or pretend that we are not of a particular race, or that we cannot see the race of a Singaporean compatriot,” he said, adding that doing so remove the frame CMIO “does not mean that we will be more Singaporean.”
Ms. Lim suggested Tuesday that instead of the CMIO model, it would be better to talk about “citizenship rights.”
He also expressed his hope that Singapore will become a “race-blind society”, and proposed other changes in areas such as ethnically-based elections and the ethnic quotas of the Housing and Development Board.
READ: Opposition parliamentarians urge review of national policies on race, balance of interests between locals and foreigners
Being aware of and respecting differences has contributed to the “richness” of Singaporean culture, Dr. Maliki said. As such, policies, practices and public discussions should “avoid playing (or) misinterpreting ethnic differences” or “(denying) or masking genuine differences.”
While the discourse on race will evolve over time, society must remember to make a “concerted effort” to be inclusive, especially when interacting in common spaces, and to build mutual understanding, he said.
“The underlying value and guiding principle must be mutual respect for differences and strengthening social cohesion.”
In July, the Minister of Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, said that in the future, younger Singaporeans should decide the limits of discussions on race and religion and should lead efforts to discuss these issues in their respective communities.
ACHIEVE GREATER SOCIAL MOBILITY
Dr. Maliki also addressed the need for everyone to make progress to achieve greater social mobility and reduce inequality in a sustainable way.
Relative social mobility, while important, is a “zero-sum game,” Dr. Maliki said. “Where a step forward for one is a step back for the other”.
Therefore, absolute mobility, where everyone progresses, is also necessary for mobility to be “meaningful,” he said.
“If the escalator is going up, being passed by someone matters less. The differences between each step are less stark, ”he said, quoting Chief Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who used the analogy in a dialogue in 2018.
Greater equality of opportunity also supports better social mobility, he said.
He cited various initiatives by the Ministry of Education to provide opportunities for students, such as changing the educational system to recognize students with diverse talents, abilities, and learning styles, and allowing students to pursue diverse aspirations.
It also improved access to higher education and pre-school education, while providing more manpower and funding to schools with “the greatest needs.”
Additionally, the Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce (UPLIFT) helps disadvantaged students get the help they need, he said.
Greater equality of opportunity “is not just about access to education, health and other public goods,” said Dr. Maliki.
“Rather, that our starting point in life should not dictate our ending point, and that with hard work, skill and ambition, we can be successful. We must work as hard as possible to level the uneven starting blocks and provide opportunities at every stage of life. “
