
Casual racism is not okay and more people should understand this, says S'pore acting minister for Culture, Community and Youth
Responding to a student during a dialogue session on Saturday (July 12) at Republic Polytechnic, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said it is more important to let people know why casual racism is not acceptable.
The student had asked if casual racism should be tackled by implementing more policies in Singapore, or by a greater focus on engendering heightened sensitivity among Singaporeans.
Neo said: 'I personally really don't think that the way forward is to throw in more rules, more policies, more laws to catch people. I don't think that's the kind of Singapore we want to live in.
'Rather it's about building the understanding, getting more people to understand why casual racism is not okay, why it is not acceptable, and getting more people to subscribe to this idea that we need to be respectful of every single race, and we need to be careful of what we say.'
Students also raised other issues, such as the relevance of Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools and Singapore's Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others (CMIO) system of ethnic classification.
The dialogue session was part of the HarmonyWorks! Conference organised by racial harmony advocacy group OnePeople.sg.
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo at It's Giving Fest on July 12. - Photo: ST
Around 200 participants and facilitators attended the conference themed Hands Of Humanity, Shaping Our Future.
Most of the participants were students from post-secondary institutions, madrasahs and SAP schools.
Members from community groups like the People's Association also attended the conference, which is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the five community development councils and Mirxes, a biotechnology company.
The dialogue, which lasted for more than an hour, was held under Chatham House rules, which means that participants cannot be named in media reports.
One of the questions posed by a recent university graduate was about the CMIO model, and whether Neo saw the model evolving as Singapore becomes more multicultural and has more new citizens and interracial marriages.
Neo said he does not think the model is perfect, but that it was and is useful to drive integration efforts. He said that it has served Singapore well, adding that the model has to be continuously looked at.
'My own belief is that as long as we continue to hold to our fundamental and core belief that this is a place for all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion, everybody is treated equally, everybody has the same fair chance, then whatever model we use to make sure we have that common space actually is secondary.
'What is primary is this fundamental belief, and I'm sure the future generations of Singaporeans will be able to evolve and come up with a model that will allow this to happen.'
When asked about the relevance of SAP schools, Neo said that by and large, there is a desire for organisations and schools to be multicultural. But that there is a space for each group to also advocate for themselves, to push and strengthen the understanding of their own culture and practices.
This helps build diversity and makes Singapore strong as a nation, he said, adding that that is why there is space in Singapore for self-help groups and SAP schools.
However, he said SAP schools must not go off on their own and be involved only in the understanding of an individual mother tongue and strengthening of an individual culture, but should contribute to the common space, to add to the richness and diversity of Singapore.
Krisha Janelle Gopu joined the SG60 Flex Your Passion mentorship programme after she graduated from Singapore Polytechnic in March. - Photo: ST
Later in the day, Neo attended It's Giving Fest, an event held at *Scape to celebrate Singapore's 60th year of independence and the aspirations of young people.
Held across July 12 and 13, the event features live concerts and performances, short films, a flea market, a cosplay segment and food trucks, as well as interactive games designed by young people.
The films and songs showcased include works by 53 students from various institutes of higher learning.
The students had received guidance from seven industry professionals for four months as part of the SG60 Flex Your Passion mentorship programme.
Krisha Janelle Gopu, 21, joined the programme after she graduated from Singapore Polytechnic in March.
She worked as a producer on the 10-minute film Lion Heart, which is about a percussionist in a lion dance troupe who confronts self-doubt with the support of his troupe mates and those in the community.
Krisha, who will be going to the University of Stirling in Scotland in September to pursue film and media, said her mentor in the programme had provided her with support and resources.
Among other things, her mentor introduced her to a network of people in the industry, who included casting agents and experienced art development specialists.
'The experience of this mentorship programme helped me to grow more confident as a producer and gain experience in all aspects of production,' she said. - The Straits Times/ANN
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Focus Malaysia
an hour ago
- Focus Malaysia
Has PMX's diplomatic miscalculations trigger Donald Trump's tariff hike?
IT wasn't supposed to go up. After months of diplomatic back-and-forth, the Madani government had hoped the US would roll back its steep 24% tariff on Malaysian exports that was first announced in April. Instead, Washington did the opposite by raising the tariff to 25%. For a country that lives and breathes exports – from semiconductors to palm oil – that extra blow is more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. It could mean billions in losses, potential layoffs and vanishing investor confidence. And this time, it feels personal. The tariff hike reads less like a routine trade measure but more like a geopolitical message: Malaysia is being punished. So what triggered this tariff spanking? Could it be that in Washington's eyes, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim misread the room? Cosying up to the wrong crowd Malaysia, once proud of its non-aligned posture, now looks like it's picking sides. And not the side the US is on. Anwar has been eager to position Malaysia within the BRICS orbit – a bloc made up of America's chief adversaries: China, Russia, Iran and others. He has visited Russia not once but twice. He even invited Russian president Vladimir Putin to the ASEAN Summit despite the international arrest warrant hanging over the Russian leader for war crimes in Ukraine. Anwar has also been warming up to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Bilateral visits, public praise and talk of deeper integration have raised eyebrows in Washington. Add to that of Anwar's vocal push for de-dollarisation and his hardline pro-Palestine stance, one gets a foreign policy that looks increasingly anti-West. Whether Anwar sees it that way or not does not matter. Trump's team possibly does. Malaysia isn't 'neutral' anymore We used to walk a careful line. As a small nation and founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and part of the Third World Network, Malaysia knew how to stay friendly with everyone without provoking anyone. Now, under Anwar, we're shifting into risky territory. And the US has taken notice. The tariff hike is possibly a clear sign that Washington is re-calibrating its view of Malaysia – from trusted partner to potential strategic irritant. That's why countries like Vietnam were spared but Malaysia wasn't. And here's the kicker: regional leaders like Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto, Singapore's Lawrence Wong, the Philippines' Ferdinand Marcos Jr and even suspemded Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra have all had phone calls with Donald Trump. Anwar hasn't even managed a single call. High cost of power politics indulgence This isn't about ideology. It's about consequences. Every time Anwar plays geopolitical chess, it's everyday Malaysians who absorb the fallout. The fact is, exporters get squeezed by tariffs, factory workers risk retrenchment, prices rise as importers scramble to stay competitive and foreign investors hold back, unsure where we stand. This is the quiet damage of a foreign policy that wants to punch above its weight. At the end of the day, Malaysians are left to become pawns and collateral. Anwar may be trying to carve a reputation as a global leader coming in with guns blazing. But the bill is arriving at our doorstep. Even at the 24% tariff rate level, it's ordinary Malaysians who will be hit hard, let alone 25% or more. Because when a small country tries to act like a big power, it needs to remember one thing: the schoolyard bully punches back. And now, with that tariff gut-punch, the bully has just getting warmed up with everyday Malaysians bracing themselves to getting hit for the slightest of mis-step. – July 14, 2025 Main image credit: Bernama


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Philippines asserts arbitral win at Beijing forum
MANILA: Representatives from the Philippine Embassy in China attended a July 10 forum in Beijing where they reaffirmed the 'legal authority' of the 2016 arbitral ruling in favour of the Philippines' exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). In a statement on Sunday (July 13), the embassy said the forum organised by a Chinese think tank was held two days before the ninth anniversary of the landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where the Philippines brought its case against China in 2013. The forum 'claimed to bring together scholars, legal experts, and policymakers to engage in in-depth discussions on the historical and legal dimensions of the South China Sea,' the embassy said. But embassy representatives who attended that gathering noted the 'predominant criticism of the [arbitral] award and of Philippine policy and actions in the [South China Sea] region.' The embassy is headed by Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz, a veteran journalist who had reported extensively on Beijing. During an opportunity for an intervention, the Filipino officials asserted before that audience that the ruling, along with its annexes, 'proves the validity and legality of Philippine claims and they are available for everyone to study and read.' They also rejected the notion that the Philippines was the 'troublemaker' in the South China Sea and was refusing to engage in proper dialogue with China. 'We disagree with the notion that the Philippines is not willing to engage with China. In fact, even with the arbitral award, the Philippines has continued to make efforts to keep lines of communication open, maintain proper dialogue, and engage positively with China as well as other claimant states, both bilaterally and regionally, within the context of our legally settled claims in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and international law,' they told the forum. 'We hope China's actions demonstrate genuine willingness to engage and to produce constructive and positive outcomes,' they said. The Hague ruling also dismissed China's nine-dash-line claim as having no legal basis, noting that Unclos 'superseded any maritime entitlements based on historic rights in excess of the limits imposed' by that international treaty. Meanwhile US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on July 12, the anniversary of the landmark ruling, urging Beijing 'to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling and to cease its dangerous and destabilising conduct' in the South China Sea. He also called out China for its continued defiance of the ruling, its assertion of 'unlawful and expansive maritime claims,' and aggression against its neighbours. 'Beijing's expansive claims directly infringe on the sovereign rights and jurisdictions of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, and undermine peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,' Rubio said on Saturday. He pointed out that the 2016 arbitral ruling was a 'significant milestone and useful basis' to resolve disputes over the South China Sea. He said the United States supports a 'free and open Indo-Pacific,' as it aims to maintain peace and stability and prioritize freedom from maritime disputes. 'We seek to preserve peace and stability, uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, maintain the free flow of trade, and oppose coercion to settle maritime disputes,' Rubio said. Foreign Secretary Teresa Lazaro on Friday also expressed concern over China's continuing rejection of the ruling, emphasising that it 'persists with illegal, coercive, and aggressive actions under cover of a revisionist, self-serving interpretation and application of international law, particularly Unclos.' She said the government continues to assert the sovereign rights of the Philippines, uphold international law and utilise the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea as well as the bilateral consular consultations mechanism with China to maintain dialogue and diplomacy at appropriate official levels. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN


Daily Express
4 hours ago
- Daily Express
GRS must have nothing to do with Umno: LDP
Published on: Monday, July 14, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 14, 2025 Text Size: Chin said that if negotiations fail, both coalitions may contest independently in a friendly match with government formation discussions taking place post-election. Kota Kinabalu: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has called on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to steer clear of any electoral alliance with Barisan Nasional-Umno in the coming 17th state election. LDP president Datuk Chin Su Phin pointed out the importance of maintaining good relations with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, regardless of the state election outcome. 'It is imperative that the coalition or party that wins has an amicable relationship with its federal counterparts,' Chin said following a unanimous decision by the LDP Supreme Council, Sunday. He said the GRS is likely to negotiate seat distribution with PH for the state polls, but pointed out that the federal coalition must have genuine commitment to working with GRS. He suggested PH limit itself to contesting no more than 20 seats. Chin said that if negotiations fail, both coalitions may contest independently in a friendly match with government formation discussions taking place post-election. He expressed particular concern about DAP's ambitions to contest six to eight Chinese-majority seats, saying this could squeeze out Chinese-based component parties within GRS. Addressing Chinese voters specifically, Chin cautioned against supporting Parti Warisan despite strong local party sentiment in Chinese-majority constituencies. He said Warisan's limited appeal beyond Chinese voters particularly among the Kadazandusun community and in Malay seats makes it unlikely to form government even if it wins all six Chinese-majority seats. 'If Warisan fails to form the State Government, Chinese voters will inevitably be labelled as the opposition,' he said, urging the community to exercise wisdom in their voting decisions. He called for continued GRS governance, citing political stability and economic growth under the current administration, adding that the government changes typically result in policy shifts that deter investment and hinder economic progress for two to three years. The LDP Supreme Council also approved a motion to freeze the Pantai Manis division during the meeting. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia