BONDING SINGAPORE

Singapore- Who are we?

Or are we…

Are we still….

What do you need to know?

• Challenges of a multi-ethnic society• Measures to manage diversity in society

Challenges facing a multi-ethnic society

Threats from external forces

Managing perceptions of

different religious groups

Managing perceptions of different racial

groups

What do you need to know?

• If challenges are managed well, you will see indicators of bonding such as

• Social cohesion• Unity• Increased understanding • Mutual respect• Peace & prosperity

Watch this video to find out why Singapore needs social cohesion!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p-iTl84lO4

Managing perceptions of different racial groups

• Policies introduced by the government could be interpreted differently by different racial groups.

• This could be due to influences by external forces like foreign country and the media.

• For example, PAP's resettlement programme in 1964 was mis-quoted as anti-Malay by some UMNO leaders and the Utusan Melayu, leading to misunderstanding and the race riot.

Managing perceptions of different racial groups

• Managing perceptions of different racial groups is an important challenge because

• it will ensure that the people understood the government considers the needs of all race.

• This leads to higher level of tolerance and efforts at co-existence, leading to peace and prosperity for the country.

Managing perceptions of different religious groups

• Issues could be interpreted differently by different religious groups.

• Issues which are seen initially as non-religious, can lead to reaction from religious groups.

• For example, the Maria Hertogh court proceeding and judgement was perceived by the Muslims as insensitive to the Muslim community.

Managing perceptions of different religious groups

• Managing perceptions of different religious groups is an important challenge because

• it will ensure that the people understood the government is fair and just to all religious groups.

• This leads to increased appreciation and support of government policies and decisions, leading to peace and prosperity for the country.

Threats from external forces

• External threats can have an effect on a country's peace.

• For example, international influence led to JI operations in Singapore leading to fund-raising, purchase of materials for making bombs and plans to bomb several places like the MOE building.

Threats from external forces

• Threats from external forces is an important challenge because

• it can lead to misunderstanding and tension in a country.

• However, when handled tactfully, it can also lead to people establishing greater bonding, leading to peace and prosperity.

Measures to manage diversity in society

Safeguarding interests of minority

groups

Building common space

Building a national identity

Measures to manage diversity in society

Building a national identity

Building a national identity

• Multi-racialism• Common practices• Bilingualism

What you need to know?

When national identity is built, you will see• Increased sense of belonging• Rootedness to nation• Feeling of one nation, one people, one

Singapore• Inculcation of national pride

What does this photograph show you about the relationship between the different races?

Multi-racialism

• No special rights is granted to any particular racial or religious group.

• Everyone is given equal opportunities to succeed.

Multi-racialism

• The policy of multi-racialism is an effective mean to achieve national identity because

• it leads to people feeling wanted and developing a sense of belonging to the nation.

Why is it important for us to sing the national anthem together daily?

Common practices

• Common practices in Singapore include singing the national anthem, taking the pledge and attending flag raising ceremony in schools.

Common practices

• Common practices are an effective means to achieve national identity because

• they inculcate loyalty and national pride among the people.

• Doing things together allow them to feel for the nation as one, leading to increased sense of belonging and rootedness to the nation.

Why is bilingualism important?

Bilingualism

• By the policy of bilingualism, students learn their own Mother Tongue and English in schools.

• While the Mother Tongue allows the students to appreciate the culture, English allows them to have a common language to communicate with one another.

Bilingualism

Bilingualism is an effective mean to achieve national identity because •the use of English allows for increased communication among the people of various races. •This allows for more contact and interaction, allowing the people to feel as one nation and establishing a national identity.

Measures to manage diversity in society

Building common space

Building common space

• Grassroots organizing events and programmes• Opportunities offered by educational

institutions• Common living space provided by public

housing• Activities conducted by IRCCs and HCs• Shared experience through NS

What you need to know?

• Common space allows for• Increased bonding• Increased camaraderie• Increased interaction and understanding• Mutual respect• Peaceful co-existence

Shared experience through NS

• National Service provides opportunity for people of various races and religions to go through military training together.

• Able-bodied male 18 years and above will be required to go through National Service.

Shared experience through NS

National Service is an effective common space to manage ethnic diversity because •it allows Singaporeans to put aside their differences and work towards completing the national service together. •This establish greater camaraderie and bonding among the people.

Activities conducted by IRCCs and HCs

• The IRCCs carry out activities such as visits to places of worship for the community.

• The HCs plans such inter-ethnic activities at the workplace.

Activities conducted by IRCCs and HCs

The activities by IRCCs and HCs are effective common space to manage ethnic diversity because •the activities develop stronger bonds among Singaporeans and allow people to appreciate one another.•This in turn lead to peaceful co-existence.

Common living space provided by public housing

• The ethnic integration policy of 1989 puts a limit on the proportion of races in every neighbourhood and block.

• This has created a common living space of various races and religions.

Common living space provided by public housing

Common living space at public housing is an effective common space to manage ethnic diversity because •it provides opportunities for people from different ethnic groups to interact. •This leads to better understanding of each other and peaceful co-existence.

Opportunities offered by educational institutions

• Education institutions are open to every Singaporean, regardless of race, language or religion.

• CCA programmes in schools involve students of various races and religions.

Opportunities offered by educational institutions

Opportunities offered by education institutions is an effective common space to manage ethnic diversity because •students get opportunities to work closely with and understand one another. •This develops greater teamwork and bonding among them.

Grassroots organizing events and programmes

• For example, a homestay programme which allows for stay opportunities with a host family of another ethnic group is organised for students.

Grassroots organizing events and programmes

Grassroots organising events and programmes is an effective common space to manage ethnic diversity because •it allows the participants to gain a better understanding of the cultures and customs of other races. •This leads to mutual respect and strong friendship

Measures to manage diversity in society

Safeguarding interests of minority

groups

Safeguarding interests of minority groups

• Self-help groups• Minority representation

What you need to know?

• Minority representation helps ensure-issues related to minority groups are represented properly-that Singaporeans are able to compete on equal footing-minorities receive help to improve social and economic status

Self-help groups

• Self-help groups like SINDA play an important role in helping members of their community who are less fortunate to get aid in their studies and training for their jobs.

Self-help groups

Self-help groups safeguard the interest of minorities because •it helps Singaporeans to cope and compete with one another on equal footing. •This allows the minorities to improve their social and economic positions in the society and taking up good positions in jobs and society. •This way they are able to safeguard their interest.

Minority representation

• The policy of minority representation gives minority groups a say in the government.

• This has led to the Presidential Council of Minority Rights and the GRC which ensure needs of the minorities are looked into, and the minorities are represented in the government.

Minority representation

Minority representation leads to safeguarding of minority interest because •it ensures that the issues related to minorities are discussed and correctly represented in the government.•This way, the interest of the minorities are safeguarded.