Singapore President urges safeguarding of religious, racial harmony as world enters turbulent phase

As social divisions harden and ethnic tensions rise in the world, Singapore must “zealously” guard its racial and religious harmony which remains the “foundation” of the city state, said Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

“What makes Singapore exceptional is our unity – built not despite our diversity, but by embracing it, and finding richness in our different cultures,” said Mr Tharman. “This unity can never be taken for granted. We must guard it zealously, especially our racial and religious harmony which remains the foundation of our society.”

Mr Tharman, who was elected President of the Republic in 2023, was delivering his inaugural address at the opening of Parliament on Sept 5. The speech, drafted by the government, aims to set out its priorities over its next five-year term. 

Mr Tharman noted that Singapore recently celebrated its landmark 60 th anniversary amidst a critical period in world history.

“In many parts of the world, social divisions are hardening. Ethnic tensions in particular are rising, and the basic understandings that underpin stable, multicultural societies are being eroded,” he said.

“We should resist any temptation to use race or religion for political gain, or to view national issues through such lenses,” he added, noting that the Southeast Asian nation -- which has a mix of Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians and other ethnicities -- had experienced racial unrest in its history.

“Instead, we must continue to nurture what makes us distinctively Singaporean: the ability to accept our varied identities, to take a respectful interest in each other's cultures, and to build common ground through shared experiences,” he said, pointing out how several Singaporeans have crossed cultural boundaries to learn the music and dance of other races.

Turning to the global political situation, he observed that public trust in governments and other institutions “is eroding almost everywhere”.

“Many political systems are paralysed by gridlock, or preoccupied with immediate issues while larger, long-term challenges are neglected,” he said. Singapore has defied this trend because “we have cultivated a different ethos of governance and politics.”

Singaporeans “have valued stewardship over expediency, enduring responsibility over transient gain”, he said. “And we have been able to do so because we have built trust, both between government and the people, and amongst citizens themselves.”

“This trust has allowed us to make hard choices when needed and to plan for the future beyond current electoral cycles,” said Mr Tharman. “It is the reason Singapore has avoided the dysfunction that has bedevilled so many other countries.”

Mr Tharman also observed that the rules and norms that helped keep the peace and enabled rising living standards globally are losing force. “Acts of aggression, coercion or unreasonable demands are now more readily tolerated and even appeased,” he said.

In addition, the rivalry between the two largest world powers, America and China, “will continue to intensify as both manoeuvre for advantage across economic, technological and military domains,” he said.

In the face of these and other instabilities, Singapore will play a constructive role “to shape a fair and stable global order,” said Mr Tharman. “We will contribute to deeper ASEAN integration, support reforms to ensure effective multilateralism at the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation, and deepen our partnerships with like-minded nations.”

As the nation looks to write the next chapter of its history, Mr Tharman urged Singaporeans to “stay firm in our resolve, yet open to change; confident in our future, yet humble about our place in the world; proud of our diversity yet united as one people. This is how we will build a better Singapore.”

Members of Parliament will debate the President’s address from Sept 22-26.

Christopher Khoo is a Singapore-based freelance journalist and educator.