Singapore people are more likely to want the government to take more ownership of racial and religious problems, according to results from a study conducted by , the Institute of Policy Studies ( IPS) next year.
The IPS report, which was released on Tuesday ( Feb 4), claimed “near unanimous agreement” from 93.9 percent of respondents that the government had worked hard to improve racial and religious harmony.
Titled Faultlines in Singapore: Perceptions and control with a emphasis on race and religion, the statement is based on the next generation of a poll on competition, religion and language. Similar studies were completed in 2013 and 2018.
According to IPS, the most recent survey was conducted from April to August of last year and involved a nationally representative example of 4, 000 Singapore people.
Respondents were asked a range of questions, including about government involvement in five faultlines - , race, religion, immigration, socioeconomic status and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) concerns- and consequences of mismanaging such issues.
In 2018, 27.3 percent of respondents wished that the state would be more involved in racial problems. That number increased to 30.5 per cent next year.
For religious problems, 23.2 per cent of respondents in 2018 wanted the government to be more concerned. Also, the number increased to 28.4 per cent next month.
In both 2018 and 2024, around two-thirds of respondents believed the president’s involvement was enough.
The proportion of respondents who thought the level of government participation was ample rose from 2018 to 2024 in terms of social standing and immigration issues.
There was a similar fall in those who argued for greater government role. In 2018, 45.3 per share felt the state should be more concerned in social distinctions, compared with 38 per cent of respondents in 2024. For emigration, the figure dropped from 47.1 per share to 38.2 per cent.
For LGBT problems, 33.2 per cent want the government to be more concerned, down from 39.1 per share in 2018.
IPS and , non-profit entity OnePeople. A research on racial and religious cooperation was released on Monday by SRG.
According to IPS, the study revealed that there was a powerful backer for legislation outcomes that would promote racial harmony. ” In particular, over nine in 10 respondents ( in 2018 and 2024 ) felt that it is important to have a racial mix in each housing estate and to provide culturally sensitive help to the less well-off in different communities”.
Additionally, more than 80 % of respondents said it is crucial for immigration policy to keep the population’s cultural makeup.
Respondents were also asked for their views on the , Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others ( CMIO ) model in Singapore, and 44.9 per cent said in 2024 that it should be kept, up from 34.5 per cent in 2018.
Only 5.9 per share of last year’s respondents wanted it to be removed, while 24.8 per cent said the categories may be expanded. More than 20 % of respondents said they were unsure what should be done with the CMIO type.
CONSEQUENCES OF Misuse FAULTLINES
A majority of Singaporeans believe that failing to properly handle problems involving race and religion may have serious consequences.
About eight in 10 respondents believe there are” major societal effects” if issues related to race, church, immigration, social standing and Transgender concerns are mishandled, IPS said.
The questionnaire asked respondents whether the improper handling of these troubles would have no effects or whether it would possess such negative effects as:
- Fear or trust among areas
- Polarisation
- Anger against certain neighborhoods
- diminished sense of belonging or nationwide identity
- Authorities believe level dropping
- Violence
With 49 % and 48 % of respondents believing that anger would be a result, they were seen to be most likely to cause anger against specific areas if handled incorrectly.
Around one-third of responders also claimed that handling racial and religious issues could lead to crime.
For immigration, social standing and Transgender problems, around 40 per cent of respondents said indignation would be a result if mismanaged, while fewer than 20 per cent said it could lead to crime.