Race and religion still central in shaping social fabric, says Janil

Continued efforts to boost harmony crucial and remain an ongoing process

- Yogita Anbuchezhian

Race and religion remain central in shaping Singapore's social fabric and continued efforts to advance harmony in these domains are crucial, said Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary.

Speaking at a youth dialogue organised by Tamil Murasu's Illaiya Thalaimurai platform and OnePeople.sg on Sept 28, he noted that while Singapore has made significant progress over the years, expectations of what constitutes racial harmony have also evolved.

"Today, microaggressions and racial stereotypes are taken far more seriously than they were five or 10 years ago," he said.

This shift, he added, reflects a constructive trajectory in Singaporeans' approach to building harmony.

Still, Dr Janil, who also serves as chairman of OnePeople.sg, cautioned that while the "goal posts have shifted, the game is still the same".

"In 2025, we cannot pretend that race and religion are no longer issues affecting social cohesion, even as we continue to strive towards it," he said.

Both, he stressed, continue to be "real sources of difference" that shape everyday interactions, and maintaining racial and religious harmony in society remains an ongoing process.