Why Singapore is A Great Place to Study Global Citizenship

Multiple Ethnic Groups Have A Hand in Shaping Modern Singapore 

Indians  

Although Singapore has had Indian traders passing through for centuries, it wasn’t until the colonial era that the Indian community's presence truly began to make a significant impact. With the British East India Company establishing a foothold in Southeast Asia, which began in 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading post, waves of Indians were brought in as laborers, soldiers, and civil servants  

Chinese  

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, China experienced economic instability, political turmoil, famine, and overpopulation, particularly in the southern provinces. Singapore, on the other hand, was emerging as a bustling trading port and a gateway to Southeast Asia. Chinese immigrants saw Singapore as a land of economic opportunities, where they could engage in trade, labor on plantations, work in industries, or start businesses. 

Malay 

Singapore's proximity to the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian Archipelago has led to centuries of interactions and cultural exchange between the Malay world and the island. Malay traders, fishermen, and seafarers have been visiting Singapore's shores for trade and maritime activities long before the colonial period. Later, the relative stability and governance provided by British colonial rule made Singapore an attractive destination for Malayans fleeing unrest in their home regions. 

Peranakans  

The Peranakans, also known as the Straits Chinese or Baba-Nyonya, are a unique cultural community in Singapore. Their origins can be traced back to the 15th and 16th centuries when Chinese traders and merchants began arriving in the region for trade purposes. Many of these early Chinese settlers intermarried with local Malay and Indonesian women, forming new languages, architectural styles and cuisine.  

Eurasians  

The presence of Eurasians in Singapore can be traced back to the early 16th century when European traders, particularly the Portuguese, arrived in the region. These early European settlers intermarried with local Malay, Chinese, and Indian women, giving rise to the Eurasian community. Eurasians in Singapore developed a distinctive culture, language, and identity that was influenced by both European and Asian traditions. Their language, called Kristang or Cristão, is a creole language that developed from Portuguese and Malay and is still spoken by some members of the community. 

Multiple ethnic groups have a hand in shaping modern Singapore 

Singapore Put Laws That Enforce Racial & Religious Harmony Top Down 

Sedition Act

The Sedition Act is a law that prohibits acts that promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different racial or religious groups in Singapore. It criminalizes speech, writings, or actions that could incite racial or religious tensions or create divisions within society. 

TLDR - Don't say or do anything that might be racist or cause racism. Punishment? Fines and/or prison up to 3 years.  

Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA)

The MRHA aims to safeguard religious harmony by preventing and managing conflicts between religious groups. It empowers the government to take measures against individuals or groups that undermine religious harmony or engage in activities that could cause disharmony between religious communities. 

TLDR – religions can’t fight or be rude to each other. Punishment? Restraining orders, fines, or prison.  

Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP)

The Ethnic Integration Policy is a public housing policy that ensures a balanced racial mix in public housing estates. It aims to prevent the formation of racial enclaves and promotes the integration of different ethnic groups in residential areas. 

TLDR – can't have or encourage for only one race in a compound. Punishment? Fines, or you might get kicked out of your homes.  

Group Representation Constituency (GRC) System

The GRC system in Singapore mandates that each electoral constituency must include candidates from different racial backgrounds. This policy encourages political parties to field candidates from various ethnic groups, fostering inclusivity and minority representation in the political landscape. 

TLDR – government people have to be multi-racial. Punishment? No formal punishment 

Presidential Council for Minority Rights (PCMR)

The PCMR ensures that laws passed by Parliament do not discriminate against any racial or religious group. It reviews proposed legislation to assess its impact on minority communities before it is enacted into law. 

TLDR – you can’t pass any laws that are racist or discriminatory. Punishment? Need to redo the law.  

One of the reasons why Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia was due to racial tensions. In fact, the race riots leading up to the splitting of Singapore from Malaysia saw death, mayhem, and widespread destruction. It is understandable that the Singaporean government takes racism and racial tension very seriously and has enacted strict measures to prevent anything similar from happening again.  

We ask students during their time in Singapore, what laws would they enact, if they were in power, to promote harmony?  

The Different Main Religions Are Celebrated Equally 

Singapore recognizes public holidays for major religious festivals of various faiths, including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This allows followers of different religions to observe their significant occasions without hindrance. (Each religion gets 2 of their festivals as national public holidays so it doesn’t amount to that many in the end sadly!).  

In Singapore, it is common to see a Mosque, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist shrine, and a Catholic church in close proximity to each other (for example in the well-known Telok Ayer area). This is purposeful zoning on the Singaporean government’s part.  

It’s a good chance for us to speak to students about how urban planning and how we design our neighborhoods can promote peace instead of conflict.  

Singapore is a financial hub of the world  

Due to the fluency of English, a very corporate tax-friendly environment, and a high-tech environment, Singapore is a massive financial and business hub for the world. Global top companies from Google to Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, FedEx, JP Morgan, etc... all have massive offices set up in Singapore.  

We are able to arrange business visits with groups of older students from time to time. 

There are multiple national languages and one does not take precedence over the other  

The four official languages of Singapore are Malay, Tamil, English, and Mandarin. On all signage in public places, you will see all of the languages. Additionally, all court and legal documents are printed in four languages (That’s a lot of printing!).

Every child is taught 2 languages at school as a base: English and their choice of one of the 3 other languages. This results in many Singaporeans being tri-lingual or even quatri-lingual by the time they have graduated high school!  

The Food!!  

You can only imagine Singapore being such a diverse place that the variety of food is astounding. At the hawker centers, which is where most Singaporeans grab their lunch and dinners there is always a jaw-dropping selection available at very reasonable prices! 

Rest assured any students going to Singapore with us will never go hungry! They’ll come back home as global gastronomic experts!