Businesses have a role to promote multiculturalism and cohesion, say panellists at S'pore conference

Straits Times

4 days ago

(From right) Venerable Napan Thawornbanjob, Banyan Group founder Ho Kwon Ping and Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash at a plenary session during the International Conference on Cohesive Societies on June 26. The panel was moderated by Professor Mona Siddiqui. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Businesses have a role to promote multiculturalism and cohesion, say panellists at S'pore conference
SINGAPORE - Businesses have a role to play in promoting multiculturalism and this cannot be the responsibility of the Government alone, said panellists on June 26, the last day of the International Conference on Cohesive Societies.
Mr Ho Kwon Ping, founder and executive chairman of hospitality company Banyan Group, cited how US businesses dropped DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policies after US President Donald Trump issued executive orders limiting such programmes within federal agencies and among contractors.
Speaking during a plenary session on the third and final day of the conference held at Raffles City Convention Centre, Mr Ho questioned how many businesses in Singapore would still promote multiculturalism if the government of the day does not take the lead on it.
'Multiculturalism must be a value that we deeply believe in,' he said, adding that the onus falls on the majority race or culture to promote true multiculturalism which goes beyond co-existence.
Mr Ho said Banyan Group employs 15,000 associates of 96 nationalities across 25 countries.
He said the company sends diverse groups of people, or 'task forces', to the opening of a new hotel. 'We go out of our way to put task forces that are there not just because of their different skills, but because of their different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.'
He said consumers should keep companies accountable to their DEI policies, which should be taught in business schools.
Fellow speaker Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower, cited the Singapore Government's three main pillars to ensure a multicultural society: the Ethnic Integration Policy in public housing, the use of the English language as a lingua franca alongside mother tongue languages, as well as national service.
Agreeing with Mr Ho, he said multiculturalism should be a goal that businesses and civil society, including religious organisations, take on.
He cited how religious leaders from the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh communities banded together after the stabbing of a priest at St Joseph's Church in Bukit Timah in November 2024, condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with the Catholic community here.
Mr Dinesh said Singapore should double its efforts in promoting multiculturalism, as cohesion is important for a small country like Singapore. 'Naturally, there will be many forces that will pull us apart, perhaps now more than ever, given what's happening in the West, given the influence of social media; and therefore, we should double our efforts,' he said.
There are initial signs of unity in Singapore, he added, but divisive forces could potentially pull apart people if differences in race, religion, language and culture are triggered and not managed well.
Mr Ho also raised the growing issue of class divides. He has seen income inequality widen and the 'social ethos' shift in a 'worrying' direction in Singapore, with many young tycoons here flaunting their wealth, he said.
'I don't think any of us believe in a communist society where everyone has equal wealth and equal income, but we must be a society that does not promote the flaunting of that social divisiveness,' he said.
Similarly, Mr Dinesh said Singapore should pay attention to tackling inequality as the nation grows as a financial hub, attracting money from different parts of the world.
'If that is not balanced sufficiently, if society reacts in a certain way, then it will be an issue of haves versus have-nots,' he said.
Speaking to the media after the plenary session, Mr Dinesh said external forces such as the 'rivalry among the great powers leading to inflation and higher cost of living' could exacerbate economic differences within countries.
'We should address those issues by policy levers to make sure that income divides within Singapore are kept to a reasonable amount,' he said.
He added that more should be done to engage young people who 'increasingly feel disconnected' and may not have the benefit of hindsight.
Deliberate steps need to be taken to address their concerns about housing affordability and job security in the age of artificial intelligence, he said.
The panel's moderator, Professor Mona Siddiqui, professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies at the University of Edinburgh, asked why people are not more committed to multiculturalism.
Mr Ho said one hurdle is the fear of the unknown. He suggested that travelling to neighbouring countries can help young Singaporeans who are typically more familiar with Western cultures understand Asean cultures better.
The panel's third speaker, Venerable Napan Thawornbanjob, chair of the Institute of Buddhist Management for Happiness and Peace and secretary-general of Religions for Peace Thailand, said interfaith dialogues allow people to act on their curiosity and learn about other cultures.
He highlighted the importance of forging friendships between religions, and of reaching out to educate people on religions through the media.
He also emphasised the need for open-mindedness to reject the hate speech that broke out after conflicts in Thailand's southern border, citing his opportunities to interact with Muslim religious leaders and politicians.
'If we want to win this war, we need to adjust our way of thinking, our way of communication and our way of action, and especially how we collaborate.'
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