Every time I fill out a form, the word "race" glares up at me from the sheet. There are always four categories to choose from. Chinese, Malay, Indian, or Other. There is no Singaporean.

 

         As someone of Indian ethnicity, I have no choice but to cross the box next to Indian, even though now I feel like an Other. The "Indian" box brands me as a foreigner in my own country, my appearance deciding the opportunities I receive, the decisions that are made for me, and my worth to the nation. 

 

         What appears to be a small administrative detail reflects a much larger issue: the continued division of Singaporeans by race. Through this op-ed, I argue that Singapore's racial categorization is holding us back from becoming the truly united nation we aspire to be.

 

         I am not writing this in criticism of our success and our history. As a citizen of Singapore, I am truly proud of how much we have achieved in creating a home for hundreds and thousands of ethnically diverse people. Our different cultures are the threads that weave together the unique fabric of our community. 

 

         Our racial identities should be recognized, but they cannot define our place in society.

 

         From my experience living in Singapore, the solution to this problem mostly has to do with a change of mindset. Singapore has a total resident population of 6.04 million (as of 2024), out of which 75.9% are of Chinese ethnicity, 15.0% are of Malay ethnicity, 7.5% are of Indian ethnicity, and 1.6% are classified as Other. The rankings of these ethnic groups are consistently maintained through the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), which is a limit to how many homes can be allocated to a particular race in a certain community. If an Indian or Malay family is looking for a home, they could be denied this not because of their financial situation - but merely because the limit of Indian and Malay people in that community has been reached. The Chinese majority and Malay/Indian minorities are distinct, and this gives the majority more opportunities than minorities who have the same aspirations.

 

         Although this policy and other racial quotas in Singapore have been set to ensure a fair mix of ethnicities in every place, these colonial-era categorisations are only deepening the divide in our society. The differences in ethnic populations get ingrained in our minds, forming the very mindset we need to change.

 

         According to a survey conducted by Channel News Asia (CNA) in 2021, 53.9% of respondents felt as though being the majority race is advantageous, with those between the age of 12 and 35, especially Malay and Indian respondents, more inclined to believe so. 

 

         And about three quarters of the respondents stated that each race's needs should be given equal priority. 

 

         Unsurprisingly, while 88.8% of the respondents said that political leaders should talk openly about racism, 58.6% also felt that this would create unnecessary tension. This links back to the mindset change. We have to acknowledge that the issue of racial bias in Singapore exists, and that we can all use our voice towards a better future. I know it is easier said than done, as the majority of Singaporeans still feel connected to the ethnic consideration that the government puts into their decisions. 

 

         My proposal to a solution is this. We have to engage with the people and educate them on how racial categorisation is preventing us from moving forwards as a country together. We have to take action against outdated policies by conducting a nationwide survey on whether Singaporean residents still agree with the boxes on our forms, or with policies such as the EIP.

If a significant number of Singaporeans no longer support these systems, then that presents an opportunity for meaningful racial reform. Moving away from rigid racial classifications would not only benefit minority groups, but strengthen Singapore as a whole. It would encourage people to see one another first as fellow Singaporeans rather than as members of separate racial groups, helping to build greater trust and social cohesion across society.

The Singapore Pledge claims that we are one united nation "regardless of race, language or religion" - yet only a third of respondents from CNA's survey believed that Singapore had achieved this, while 20% believed it never would. Significantly, these views were consistent across respondents of all races. If our own citizens doubt our ability to progress towards this ideal, then perhaps it is time to rethink the racial divide and consider whether the systems that categorise us are helping us move forward, or holding us back.

 

         Ending this ethnic categorisation isn't just something on paper - it has the power to make a change in our attitude and our society.

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         It is one step further to living "regardless of race".

Bibliography:​

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Demographics of Singapore. (2024). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 13, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Singapore#:~:text=Although%20Malays%20are%20recognised%20as,98.4%25%20of%20the%20citizen%20population.

 

Lim, V. (2022, April 2). Growing number of people in Singapore feel racism is an important problem: CNA-IPS study. Channel News Asia (CNA). Retrieved February 13, 2025, from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/racism-discrimination-singapore-survey-ips-2601276

 

Wong, P. T. (2024, August 2). ST Explains: What is the Ethnic Integration Policy and how does it work? The Straits Times. Retrieved February 13, 2025, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/st-explains-what-is-the-ethnic-integration-policy-and-how-does-it-work