Identity politics will damage society in the long run: Chee Hong Tat

Impact bigger on the minorities, who may face more restrictions, discrimination, disadvantages

- Chin Hui Shan

The Republic must guard against the rise of identity politics and prevent the mixing of race or religion with politics in order to uphold racial and religious harmony.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said this at a dialogue at the OnePeople.sg (OPSG)- Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Community Leaders' Conference 2025 on Oct 25, at the NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House.

He warned that identity politics might seem effective in the short term but damages the entire society in the long run, especially the minority communities. “If you have a political environment that encourages people to play identity politics, it will not stop with just one group appealing to one community.”

He added that others will follow by stirring different communities, leading to escalating divisions across society. “And soon you will have a society whereby, instead of this common space and a common identity that we want to work towards, and we want to enhance and deepen, you will end up with people just emphasising their differences.”

The event was attended by about 200 community and religious leaders, including OPSG members, self-help groups, Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) and grassroots leaders, youth, public servants, academics and educators.