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SINGAPORE — While the Republic has managed to avoid the sort of backlash against minorities that the populism sweeping some Western countries has wrought, it would be dangerous to assume such things could never happen here, warned Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam yesterday.
He called on religious leaders to play a role, not just in promoting their respective religions but in advocating and working at enlarging the common space. They should push back against polarisation and champion the cause of integration and interaction, rather than create greater differences, he added.
Mr Shanmugam noted that, given the stark racial demographics in Singapore, majoritarianism could easily take hold unless the Government and the majority continue to commit to not engage in racial politics.
He cited rising religious extremism, “disconcerting” trends in the region such as mass demonstrations in Indonesia with somewhat religious undertones, and polarisation as three factors that could threaten the Government’s approach to “keep as large a common space as possible”.
On polarisation, he said some segments within minorities or the majority may push for certain issues.
Speaking at a symposium organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies centering on religion, conflict and peacebuilding, Mr Shanmugam noted that he was not originally scheduled to speak.
“But events around the world give cause for pause and reflection,” he said, referring to the political surprises around the world last year and what appears to be a change of course by the United States under its new President, Mr Donald Trump.
Leaders in some Western countries have had to adjust to anti-immigrant sentiments of their electorates by calling on immigrants to “behave normally or go away”, but such a reaction can go too far and empower extremist forces on all sides, said Mr Shanmugam.
Although Singapore can easily face a similar situation with 85 per cent of the population that is non-Muslim and 74 per cent of the population that is Chinese, it has so far avoided such a backlash against minorities.
Mr Shanmugam, who is also Law Minister, said this is because of three core principles of equality of opportunities, accepting differences among communities and celebrating diversity, and preserving a large common space.
The Government is activist in its approach, such as through its ethnic integration policy in public housing estates that has prevented ghettos from forming. Laws are also in place that penalise individuals who make offensive remarks about other religious and racial groups.
“We have our share of religious leaders who make offensive remarks about other religions — ISD (Internal Security Department) will talk to them. We had a pastor on YouTube who said Buddhism is a superstitious religion, and he went on to make other remarks … We talked to him, he apologised, and no more such remarks. Everybody understands and everybody accepts this,” Mr Shanmugam said.