IPS-RSIS Forum on Race and Racism in Singapore

Recent racist incidents draw attention to the state of Singapore’s multiracialism and social cohesion. It is necessary to better understand how we can sustain dialogue on race beyond the trigger events; how we might enable constructive discussions about race across social segments; and whether we should arrive at a collective consensus on what is considered acceptable or unacceptable behaviour in relation to race.

The IPS-RSIS Forum on Race and Racism in Singapore aims to discuss issues of race and racism in Singapore from multiple angles.

The keynote speaker at the event will be Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Finance. Invited panellists will include academics and practitioners experienced in the public discourse on race and racism in Singapore.

Click here for the programme and speakers’ biographical notes.


Opening Speech & Dialogue with Minister

Downloads
• Event Summary: IPS-RSIS Forum on Race and Racism in Singapore


Media Coverage
• 8世界. 2021. 黄循财：种族主义仍存在 多数族群须对少数族群需求敏感. 6 月 25 日.
• 8世界. 2021. 黄循财：政府决策经过审慎考虑以确保各族群都受到保护. 6 月 25 日.
• 8世界. 2021. 毕丹星： “黄循财有关集选区制度的言论无法让人信服”. 6 月 27 日.
• Berita Harian. 2021. Keadaan beransur baik berbanding dahulu, namun perkauman masih wujud: Lawrence Wong. 26 June.
• Berita Harian. 2021. Pemerintah pantau kes perkauman, komited dasar lindungi kaum minoriti. 26 June.
• Berita Harian. 2021. Lawrence: Usaha bina masyarakat berbilang kaum masih berterusan. 27 June.
• Berita Mediacorp. 2021. Tegur tingkah laku perkauman tapi jangan cepat bersangka buruk, nasihat Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• Berita Mediacorp. 2021. Masyarakat majoriti Cina mesti lebih 'sensitif, peka' kepada keperluan minoriti. 25 June.
• Berita Mediacorp. 2021. Guru main peranan utama didik pelajar tentang perkauman. 26 June.
• CNA. 2021. Singapore right to be concerned about racist incidents as there is 'always a risk' of regression on race issues: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• CNA. 2021. 'Take the extra step' to make minorities feel comfortable, says Lawrence Wong in speech discussing racism in Singapore. 25 June.
• CNA. 2021. Minorities bear 'direct and real' financial burden from Ethnic Integration Policy for public housing: Pritam Singh. 27 June.
• Mothership. 2021. S'pore govt will continue to 'engage widely' & update its policies on race: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• Mothership. 2021. We publish differing opinion pieces, including on race, to exchange views: Zaobao editor. 25 June.
• Mothership. 2021. Lawrence Wong on 'Chinese privilege' in S'pore, why we need GRCs, & importance of mutual compromise. 26 June.
• Mothership. 2021. Pritam Singh points out pros & cons of what Lawrence Wong said about race & racism. 27 June.
• Oriental Daily News. 2021. 新国财长：种族主义仍存在 多数族群须对少数族群需求敏感. 6 月 26 日.
• PropertyGuru. 2021. Ethnic Integration Policy for public housing—a ‘direct and real’ financial burden for minorities. 28 June.
• See Hua Daily News. 2021. 新国财长坦言 新加坡仍存在种族主义问题. 6 月 26 日.
• Shin Min. 2021. 黄循财：应诚实面对各族群感受. 6 月 26 日.
• Shin Min. 2021. 期待新加坡迎来非华族总理. 6 月 26 日.
• Shin Min. 2021. 黄循财：多数族群 须体谅少数族群需求. 6 月 27 日.
• Sin Chew Daily. 2021. 狮城财长：特选学校确保新加坡拥有华英双语双文化年轻一代 . 6 月 26 日.
• Sin Chew Daily. 2021. 狮城财长：促进种族和谐与对话的模式应不断更新. 6 月 27 日.
• South China Morning Post. 2021. Singapore’s majority-Chinese population should do more to address racism: minister. 25 June.
• Tamil Murasu. 2021. சிறுபான்மையினரின் உணர்வுகளை மதிப்பது முக்கியம். 25 June.
• Tamil Murasu. 2021. பன்முகத்தன்மையோடு கூடிய இன நல்லிணக்கம்: அமைச்சர். 26 June.
• Tamil Seithi. 2021. சிறுபான்மையினர் மனமகிழ்வுடன் இருக்க இன்னும் கூடுதல் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவும் - சீன சமூகத்துக்கு அமைச்சர் வோங் வேண்டுகோள். 25 June.
• The Independent Singapore. 2021. Pritam Singh to Lawrence Wong, “GRC scheme continues to be routinely abused at the altar of politics”. 25 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. Policies like GRC system still needed as S'pore is not immune to racial discrimination: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. Should online 'safe spaces' that discuss race be more open or more closed?. 25 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. S'pore has to keep working to improve multiracial society, majority should be sensitive to minorities' needs: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. S'pore's multiracial model does not require any community to give up its heritage, traditions: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. Zaobao provides platform for exchange of views on race: Editor. 25 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. Race dialogues should deepen cross-cultural understanding Care should be taken to approach matter in ways that avoid causing defensiveness: Lawrence Wong. 26 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. S'pore should work hard to change attitudes of race bias for PM: Lawrence Wong. 26 June.
• The Straits Times. 2021. Minister's speech on race sends right signal but some policies worth second look: Pritam Singh. 27 June.
• TODAY. 2021. ‘Chinese privilege’ a borrowed label but important to discuss and set in Singapore’s context, experts say. 25 June.
• TODAY. 2021. Call out racist behaviours but do so without assuming the worst in people: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• TODAY. 2021. Tackling racism: Chinese majority must ‘do its part to be sensitive, conscious’ to needs of minorities, says Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• TODAY. 2021. Teachers play key role in educating students to identify racism: Panel. 25 June.
• Wanbao. 2021. 想当总理者必须 先获得选民支持. 6 月 27 日.
• Yahoo! News. 2021. Harder to be a minority than a majority in multi-racial society: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• Yahoo! News. 2021. Nobody 'more pleased’ than PAP if GRC system is no longer needed: Lawrence Wong. 25 June.
• Zaobao. 2021. 黄循财：促进种族和谐与对话的模式应不断更新. 6 月 25 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 黄循财：避免无意间造成伤害 多数族群须对少数族群需求保持敏感. 6 月 26 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 总编辑吴新迪：为读者提供交流平台《联合早报》出发点是为促进真诚讨 论. 6 月 26 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 学者：有特殊历史意涵 西方概念不能直接套用在本地. 6 月 26 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 黄循财：为促进种族和谐 国人应诚实面对与解决种族主义问题. 6 月 26 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 黄循财阐明政府对种族和谐政策立场. 6 月 26 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 财政部长黄循财录制华语视频谈种族融合. 6 月 27 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 毕丹星：黄循财维护集选区制的解释无法让人信服. 6 月 27 日.
• Zaobao. 2021. 黄循财：多元种族主义和断层问题. 6 月 28 日.
• 红蚂蚁. 2021. 黄循财：占多数的华人，应多尽力让少数族群安心. 6 月 25 日.
• 今日头条. 2021. 新加坡部长：族群歧视因疫情压力显现；华人社群并非铁板一块. 6 月 27 日.
• 网络公民. 2021. 毕丹星：集选区制度契合行动党的政治需求. 6 月 27 日.