Chapter 5 Bonding Singapore

Singapore is a multi-ethnic society.

What are the challenges of a multi-ethnic society?
(a) Managing perceptions of different racial groups
Lack of understanding among the racial groups can create suspicion and
unhappiness among the people. This may lead to outbreaks of ____________
among racial groups.
Experiences of Singapore
. !"# race riots $ %" died & '"( in)ured.
*. +ifferent political approaches of the Singapore & ____________ go,ernment
in the
!"(s $ strained relationships
(i) -.- - non-communal approach to /alaysian politics
(ii) 0reation of a /alaysia 1here e,eryone 1ould be gi,en ____________
rights and pri,ileges
Reactions of UMNO
. 2elt ____________
*. 3rganised an ____________ campaign 1hich highlighted the po,erty of the
/alays in Singapore
%. -ortrayed the -.-4s resettlement & rede,elopment programmes as anti-
/alay.
- claimed that the ____________ pro)ects aimed to uproot the /alays from
their homes in the traditional /alay areas like the 5allang 6i,er & the West
coast.
- +one to arouse feelings of dissatisfaction among the Singapore /alays
to1ards the -.-.
#. 7sed the /alay ne1spaper8 7tusan /elayu to spread the anti--.-
campaign.
- paper claimed that ____________ /alay families 1ere affected by the
resettlement
in an area stretching from 0ra1ford8 kampong 9lam to 6ochor.
(in reality8 out of the *8'(( families resettled8 only about ____________
1ere /alays)
- paper highlighted that the -.- go,ernment did not care about the /alays
in Singapore

'. :eld a meeting 1ith the ____________ $ fiery speeches 1hich portrayed
-.- as
anti-/alay stirred anger in the /alays.

Reactions of the PAP
. -.- go,ernment leaders called for a meeting 1ith /alay organi;ations to
e<plain its policies $ to address unhappiness of the /alays
*. -romised the /alays that their economic & social positions 1ould be
impro,ed through education & training
Results
7nable to pacify 7/=3.
The ground 1as set for the race riots.
1964 race riots
. 0elebration of __________________________ birthday
- a clash bet1een a 0hinese policeman & some /alay participants of the
procession resulted in full-blo1n race riots
Conseuences
. >fforts 1ere made to call for calm
*. 9ood1ill 0ommittees 1ere formed to help foster stronger bonds among the
people from different ____________ & religions
%. 0ommittee members 1ent from house to house to spread the message of
li,ing peacefully 1ith one another
(b) Managing perceptions of different religious groups
+ifferences in religious beliefs & practices created tension among the people in
Singapore in the past.
Past experience
. The /aria :ertogh riots in !'(
- /aria :ertogh 1as the daughter of a +utch couple
- The couple 1as imprisoned by the ?apanese
- They placed /aria in the care of a /alay lady8 .minah
- /aria 1as raised as a ____________ & married a /alay teacher at the
age of %
- :er parents 1anted /aria back
- . court trial follo1ed
- Trial pro,oked unhappiness among the /uslim community
- The court decided to gi,e custody to the :ertoghs
*
- /uslims felt that court 1as unfair
- Sparked off anger to1ards the ____________ & ____________
communities
- 6iots follo1ed
- 9o,ernment placed a *#-hour curfe1 for t1o 1eeks
- @ritish & /alayan troops & the Singapore police 1ere called in to maintain
peace
3. Threats from external forces
Singapore needs to handle threats like transnational terrorism carefully.
Transnational terrorism refers to acts of ,iolence 1hich are global in terms of
aims8 organi;ation and impact.
Past experience
. *((
$ Singapore e<perienced the threat of transnational terrorism
- ______________________ (?A) arrests in Singapore since *((
- %# ?A members 1ere arrested under the _____________________
- /embers 1ere in,ol,ed in terrorist-related acti,ities from *((-*((*
- .cti,ities included fund-raising & the purchase of material for making
bombs
- Targetted at the 7S embassy & some go,ernment buldings like the /3>
*. *(('
- another ?A member 1as arrested
- he 1as trained in handling 1eapons & making bombs
h! Singapore is a target for terrorist acti"ities
. Singapore is an open and ____________ society that plays host to many
foreign establishments 8 some of 1hich are attracti,e targets to terrorists.
*. We maintain a firm ____________ stance.
6eactions in Singapore
. -olitical & religious leaders in Singapore called for people to remain calm
*. They also called for racial & religious harmony
%. /uslim leaders condemned the ?A group in a united ,oice & emphasi;ed that
it did not ha,e the support of the ____________ community
#. /i<ed reactions among the people in Singapore to the arrests
# sho1ed an urgent need that ____________ 1as not affected by the ?A
arrests
# sho1ed that it 1as crucial to ensure that the different racial & religious
groups in Singapore li,e & 1ork harmoniously 1ith one another
%
Can ethnic di"ersit! be managed$
What are the measures to foster social cohesion in multi-ethnic Singapore?
%. Building a national identit!
a. Multi#racialism
- promotes ____________ among the races
- no special rights granted to any particular racial or religious group
- e,eryone has eBual opportunities to succeed8 regardless of their
background
- fa,ouring a certain racial or religious group is prohibited by the
____________
- a sense of national identity as Singaporeans is created
b. Common ____________ actions that Singaporeans carr! out
together
- singing the national anthem
- taking the pledge
- attending the flag-raising ceremony
These actions help to
- foster national identity
- inculcate loyalty
- inculcate national pride to1ards Singapore
c. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
- introduced in schools in !______
- students had to learn >nglish & /other Tongue
- >nglish is used as the language linking the different ethnic groups
- __________________ is used to impart moral ,alues & cultural traditions
of each race
'. Safeguarding the interests of the minorit! groups
a. Minorit! representation
- policy gi,es minority groups a say in go,ernance
- safeguards the interests of the minority groups
Exa!ples of ho" representation of the !inorit# groups is achie$e%
. __________________________________________ (-0/6)
- consists of members from minority racial & religious groups
#
- ensures that no racial or religious group is disad,antaged as a result of a
la1 that is passed in parliament
*. ___________________________________________ (960)
- ensures that at least one of the candidates in the team contesting in the
9eneral >lection is from the minority racial communities such as /alay8
Andian or >urasian
- ensures that the minority racial groups are represented in the
____________
- ensures that the needs & concerns of the minority groups are made
kno1n to the go,ernment
b. Self#help groups
i. 0hinese +e,elopment .ssistance 0ouncil (0+.0)
ii. Singapore Andian +e,elopment .ssociation (SA=+.)
iii. /endaki
i,. >uropean .ssociation
Roles of self&help groups
i. help the less ____________ members of their community to get aid in
their
studies & training for their )obs
ii gi,e moral support to members of their o1n community
iii help Singaporeans to cope & compete 1ith one another on an
___________________________
i, help the people from the minority groups to impro,e their ____________ &
economic positions in the society
?oint pro)ects like the ___________________________ of the self-help
groups allo1 students from the different ethnic groups to attend the same
tuition classes in tuition centres run by 0+.08 /endaki & SA=+..
c. (e"eloping common space
0ommon space refers to the time & place that people come together.
0ommon space
- pro,ides opportunities for Singaporeans to ____________
- pro,ides opportunities for Singaporeans from the different races to
deepen their ____________ of one another
%. )"ents * +rogrammes organi,ed b! grassroots organi,ations eg the
+eople-s .ssociation
- home ,isit
- home stay opportunity 1ith a host family from another ethnic group
'. /pportunities offered b! educational institutions
'
- educational institutions are open to e,ery Singaporean
- students from different races & religions study together
- 00.s help to promote closer bonds among youth from all races
- Students learn to appreciate one another4s talents & respect one another
3. Common li"ing space pro"ided ! public housing
- !C(s
- Too many people from the same racial group li,ed in the same housing
estate
- This could pre,ent ___________________ among the people from
different ethnic
groups
!C!
>thnic integration policy 1as introduced
- puts a limit on the proportion of races in e,ery neighbourhood and block
- ensures an e,en distribution of the different races in all the housing
estates
- ensures interaction of people from different ethnic groups
0. .cti"ities conducted b! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& (12CCs)
* &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& (3Cs)
12CCs
- introduced in ?an *((*
- to pro,ide the common space to foster greater inter-racial
understanding
- organi;ed ,isits to places of 1orship
3Cs
- carried out inter-____________ & inter-____________ acti,ities
- acti,ities help to build confidence & friendship among people
5. Shared experience through 4ational Ser"ice
- going through military training during =.S. help to strengthen the bond
among the men
1mportance of ethnic di"ersit!
. Security and peace
*. >conomic progress

"
Chapter 5 Bonding Singapore
Singapore is a multi-ethnic society.
What are the challenges of a multi-ethnic society?
(a) Managing perceptions of different racial groups
Lack of understanding among the racial groups can create suspicion and
unhappiness among the people. This may lead to outbreaks of ,iolence among
racial groups.
Experiences of Singapore
. !"# race riots $ %" died & '"( in)ured.
*. +ifferent political approaches of the Singapore & /alayan go,ernment in the
!"(s $ strained relationships
(iii) -.- - non-communal approach to /alaysian politics
(i,) 0reation of a /alaysia 1here e,eryone 1ould be gi,en eBual rights
and pri,ileges.
/alaysia4s stance $ /alay /alaysia
Singapore4s stance $ /alaysian /alaysia
Reactions of UMNO
. 2elt threatened
*. 3rganised an anti--.- campaign 1hich highlighted the po,erty of the /alays
in Singapore
%. -ortrayed the -.-4s resettlement & rede,elopment programmes as anti-
/alay.
- claimed that the resettlement pro)ects aimed to uproot the /alays from
their homes in the traditional /alay areas like the 5allang 6i,er & the West
coast.
- +one to arouse feelings of dissatisfaction among the Singapore /alays
to1ards the -.-.
#. 7sed the /alay ne1spaper8 7tusan /elayu to spread the anti--.-
campaign.
- paper claimed that %((( /alay families 1ere affected by the resettlement
in an area stretching from 0ra1ford8 kampong 9lam to 6ochor.
(in reality8 out of the *8'(( families resettled8 only about *(( 1ere /alays)
- paper highlighted that the -.- go,ernment did not care about the /alays
in Singapore
D
'. :eld a meeting 1ith the /alays $ fiery speeches 1hich portrayed -.- as
anti-/alay stirred anger in the /alays.

Reactions of the PAP
. -.- go,ernment leaders called for a meeting 1ith /alay organi;ations to
e<plain its policies $ to address unhappiness of the /alays
*. -romised the /alays that their economic & social positions 1ould be
impro,ed through education & training
Results
7nable to pacify 7/=3.
The ground 1as set for the race riots.
1964 race riots
. 0elebration of -rophet /uhammad4s birthday
- a clash bet1een a 0hinese policeman & some /alay participants of the
procession resulted in full-blo1n race riots
Conseuences
. >fforts 1ere made to call for calm
*. 9ood1ill 0ommittees 1ere formed to help foster stronger bonds among the
people from different races & religions
%. 0ommittee members 1ent from house to house to spread the message of
li,ing peacefully 1ith one another
)xplanation5 hat started off as political disagreements led to ethnic
dissension. The threat of being treated as a second class citi,en leading to
unfair treatment6 led to unhappiness. This e"entuall! led to "iolence in the
form of riots.
(b) Managing perceptions of different religious groups
+ifferences in religious beliefs & practices created tension among the people in
Singapore in the past.
Past experience
. The /aria :ertogh riots in !'(
- /aria :ertogh 1as the daughter of a +utch couple
- The couple 1as imprisoned by the ?apanese
- They placed /aria in the care of a /alay lady8 .minah
- /aria 1as raised as a /uslim & married a /alay teacher at the age of %
- :er parents 1anted /aria back
- . court trial follo1ed
C
- Trial pro,oked unhappiness among the /uslim community
- The court decided to gi,e custody to the :ertoghs
- /uslims felt that court 1as unfair
- Sparked off anger to1ards the >uropean & >urasian communities
- 6iots follo1ed
- 9o,ernment placed a *#-hour curfe1 for t1o 1eeks
- @ritish & /alayan troops & the Singapore police 1ere called in to maintain
peace
)xplanation5 2eligious beliefs and practices that are different ha"e led to
the "arious religious groups to contend 7ith another groups- practices.
This ma! lead to disagreements as the rules of a particular religion being
imposed upon people of another faith. 3ence6 this 7ill lead to unhappiness
among the people in the countr! and there 7ill be disunit! and social
cohesion 7ill be 7ea8.
3. Threats from external forces
Singapore needs to handle threats like transnational terrorism carefully.
Transnational terrorism refers to acts of ,iolence 1hich are global in terms of
aims8 organi;ation and impact.
Past experience
. *((
$ Singapore e<perienced the threat of transnational terrorism
- ?emaah Aslamiyah (?A) arrests in Singapore since *((
- %# ?A members 1ere arrested under the Anternal Security .ct
- /embers 1ere in,ol,ed in terrorist-related acti,ities from *((-*((*
- .cti,ities included fund-raising & the purchase of material for making
bombs
- Targeted at the 7S embassy & some go,ernment buildings like the /3>
*. *(('
- another ?A member 1as arrested
- he 1as trained in handling 1eapons & making bombs
h! Singapore is a target for terrorist acti"ities
. Singapore is an open and cosmopolitan society that plays host to many
foreign establishments8 some of 1hich are attracti,e targets to terrorists.
*. We maintain a firm anti-terrorism stance.
6eactions in Singapore
. -olitical & religious leaders in Singapore called for people to remain calm
*. They also called for racial & religious harmony
!
%. /uslim leaders condemned the ?A group in a united ,oice & emphasi;ed that
it did not ha,e the support of the /uslim community
#. /i<ed reactions among the people in Singapore to the arrests
# sho1ed an urgent need that social cohesion (togetherness) 1as not
affected by the ?A arrests
# sho1ed that it 1as crucial to ensure that the different racial & religious
groups in Singapore li,e & 1ork harmoniously 1ith one another
)xplanation5 The possible relation that people ma! dra7 because of the
terrorist groups being associated 7ith the Muslim communit! is great. This
ma! lead to distrust of the Muslims b! people of other religions 7hich
could destro! social cohesion in Singapore due to distrust.
Can ethnic di"ersit! be managed$
What are the measures to foster social cohesion in multi-ethnic Singapore?
%. Building a national identit!
a. Multi#racialism
- promotes eBuality among the races
- no special rights granted to any particular racial or religious group
- e,eryone has eBual opportunities to succeed8 regardless of their
background (meritocrac!)
- fa,ouring a certain racial or religious group is prohibited by the
0onstitutation
- a sense of national identity as Singaporeans is creating
)xplanation5 This ensures that e"er!one in Singapore6 regardless of
ethnicit!6 7ill be treated e9uall! and accorded the same opportunit!. This
builds social cohesion and unit! among Singaporeans and thus6 seeing
themsel"es as Singaporeans6 there is unit! among the people.
b. Common practices actions that Singaporeans carr! out together
- singing the national anthem
- taking the pledge
- attending the flag-raising ceremony
These actions help to
- foster national identity
(
- inculcate loyalty
- inculcate national pride to1ards Singapore
)xplanation5 ith the people in Singapore ha"ing e"ents and practices that
are shared6 it increases the bond among them thereb! resulting in tighter
social cohesion as the! all see themsel"es as Singaporeans regardless of
race and religion.
C. Bilingualism
- introduced in schools in !""
- students had to learn >nglish & /other Tongue
- >nglish is used as the language linking the different ethnic groups
- /other Tongue is used to impart moral ,alues & cultural traditions of each
race
)xplanation5 This demonstrates that all mother tongues are e9uall!
important and is uni9ue to each ethnic group. ith the introduction of
)nglish as the common language that all share6 it becomes the lin8
language 7hich promotes interaction among the "arious ethnic group.
Thus6 there 7ill promote understanding and thereb!6 increasing the bond of
the people as Singaporeans.
'. Safeguarding the interests of the minorit! groups
a. Minorit! representation
- policy gi,es minority groups a say in go,ernance
- safeguards the interests of the minority groups
Exa!ples of ho" representation of the !inorit# groups is achie$e%
b. The +residential Council of Minorit! rights (+CM2)
- consists of members from minority racial & religious groups
- ensures that no racial or religious group is disad,antaged as a result of a
la1 that is passed in parliament
c. The :roup 2epresentation Constituenc! (:2C)
- ensures that at least one of the candidates in the team contesting in the
9eneral >lection is from the minority racial communities such as /alay8
Andian or >urasian
- ensures that the minority racial groups are represented in the -arliament
- ensures that the needs & concerns of the minority groups are made
kno1n to the go,ernment
-
)xplanation5 ith these measures6 it ensures that no minorit! group-s
concerns are being o"erloo8ed and that e"er!one 7ill be gi"en e9ual
opportunit! to excel based on meritocrac! rather than on ethnicit! or

religion. Thus6 this 7ill bind the people of Singapore tighter together
thereb! promoting social cohesion.
d. Self#help groups
i. 0hinese +e,elopment .ssistance 0ouncil (0+.0)
ii. Singapore Andian +e,elopment .ssociation (SA=+.)
iii. /endaki
i,. >uropean .ssociation
Roles of self&help groups
i. help the less fortunate members of their community to get aid in their
studies & training for their )obs
ii gi,e moral support to members of their o1n community
iii help Singaporeans to cope & compete 1ith one another on an eBual
footing
i, help the people from the minority groups to impro,e their social &
economic positions in the society
, ?oint pro)ects like the )oint tuition programme of the self-help groups allo1
students from the different ethnic groups to attend the same tuition classes
in tuition centres run by 0+.08 /endaki & SA=+..
)xplanation5 ith these6 none of the ethnic group 7ill be left behind as
ade9uate help has been rendered to ensure that e"er! group has an e9ual
opportunit! to excel. Thus6 this binds the people of Singapore tighter
together thereb! promoting social cohesion.
3. (e"eloping common space
0ommon space refers to the time & place that people come together.
0ommon space
- pro,ides opportunities for Singaporeans to interact
- pro,ides opportunities for Singaporeans from the different races to
deepen their understanding of one another
a. )"ents * +rogrammes organi,ed b! grassroots organi,ations eg the
+eople-s .ssociation
- home ,isit
- home stay opportunity 1ith a host family from another ethnic group
b. /pportunities offered b! educational institutions
- educational institutions are open to e,ery Singaporean
- students from different races & religions study together
- 00.s help to promote closer bonds among youth from all races
- Students learn to appreciate one another4s talents & respect one another
c. Common li"ing space pro"ided b! public housing
- !C(s
*
- Too many people from the same racial group li,ed in the same housing
estate
- This could pre,ent social bonding among the people from different ethnic
9roups
- !C! - >thnic integration policy 1as introduced
- puts a limit on the proportion of races in e,ery neighbourhood and block
- ensures an e,en distribution of the different races in all the housing
estates
- ensures interaction of people from different ethnic groups
)xplanation5 ith common spaces pro"ided6 people of different ethnic
group as 7ell as religion can interact and build a greater understanding
bet7een the different groups thereb! promoting social cohesion.
0. .cti"ities conducted b! 1nter#2acial Confidence Circles (12CCs) *
3armon! Circles (3Cs)
12CCs
- introduced in ?an *((*
- to pro,ide the common space to foster greater inter-racial
understanding
- organi;ed ,isits to places of 1orship
3Cs
- carried out inter-racial & inter-religious acti,ities
- acti,ities help to build confidence & friendship among people
)xplanation5 These acti"ities conducted b! the t7o organisations help to
de"elop a deeper understanding of the beliefs6 cultures and traditions of
the other groups. This promotes tolerance and appreciation and thereb!
binds the people together as the! get to participate in acti"ities of other
groups. Thus6 this promotes bonding among the people in Singapore.
5. Shared experience through 4ational Ser"ice
- going through military training during =.S. help to strengthen the bond
among the men
)xplanation5 B! going through communal li"ing and tough training for '
!ears6 it de"elops camaraderie. Thus6 this 7ill bind the people of Singapore
tighter together thereb! promoting social cohesion and understanding
among Singaporeans of different ethnicit! and religious beliefs.
1mportance of ethnic di"ersit!
. Security and peace
*. >conomic progress
%