________________________________________________________ Politics and Ethnicity

Politics and Ethnicity: Framing Racial

Discrimination in Singapore

JAMES GOMEZ

Abstract
Racial discrimination is a global phenomenon that the United Nations seeks to
eradicate. In contemporary Singapore, research shows that the basis for racial
discrimination is anchored in the role of ethnic identity and how it frames the
formulation of policies related to education, employment, housing, immigration
and politics. These policies have been formulated and implemented by the
People's Action Party (PAP) government that has been in power for over 50 years.
When confronted with its racially based policies, the PAP government insists
that it follows a tolerant approach towards different races and that it promotes
the idea of multiculturalism and meritocracy as a racial equalizer. However,
ethnic minorities in Singapore complain they are being discriminated against
daily on the basis of their race or religion. They argue that their views are often
not given airing in the local mainstream media and they are further prevented
from discussing these issues openly due to legislation restricting freedom of
expression and assembly on these matters. Given this background, the first
visit of a UN Rapporteur on racism to Singapore, at the invitation of the PAP
government in April 2010, allowed the city-state's race-based policies to be put in
an international spotlight. This study examines the visit of the UN Rapporteur,
his initial findings, government and civil society responses, and the significance
of this first UN mission. The paper locates its research on racial discrimination
in the context of Singapore's political framework and the United Nations' efforts
to eradicate racism. It argues that ultimately, policy changes in Singapore can
only take place as a result of politically challenging the PAP government.

Key words: ethnic identity, racial discrimination, public policy, Singapore, United
Nations

Introduction

...it is absolutely necessary in a free society that restrictions on public debate

or discourse and the protection of racial harmony are not implemented at
the detriment of fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression
and freedom of assembly (OHCHR 2010b).

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Mr Githu Muigai, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms

of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,
made these remarks at the end of his eight-day mission from 21 to 28
April 2010 to Singapore. He came to the city-state at the invitation of the
People's Action Party (PAP) government to dialogue with the authorities
and members of civil society and to gather 'first-hand information on
the main issues facing people living in Singapore in relation to racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance' (Office of
High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) 2010a).
On the same day that the UN Rapporteur released his preliminary
findings, the PAP government took issue with his call for greater
freedoms to discuss race-related issues. In a statement released just hours
after the one by the UN Rapporteur, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) made this point about freedom of expression and its concern
over balancing religious and racial harmony:
This balance is only for the Singapore government to determine because only
the Singapore government bears the responsibility should things go wrong.
The UN bears no such responsibility and we see no reason to take risks for
the sake of an abstract principle (Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) 2010).
This article analyzes the UN Rapporteur's week-long visit that covered
meetings with official government representatives and civil society, the
Rapporteur's initial findings and the PAP government and civil society
responses to those findings. The research for the study was undertaken
during the week of the UN Rapporteur's visit in Singapore, from 20
to 30 April 2010. Activities included a focus group meeting with Mr
Muigai as part of the Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD) delegation1 on
22 April 2010, attendance at the UN Rapporteur press conference on 28
April 2010, interaction with selected civil society groups and tracking
local media reports and online postings.
Themes surrounding ethnicity and nation-building in Singapore are
a well researched and published area of study. Most works focus on
nation-building and the management of ethnic relations in Singapore.
Over the last three decades these studies have appeared as single journal
articles or as chapters in collections that discuss nation-building and
ethnic relations in Southeast Asia. There also have been several reports
that look at the state of ethnic relations that are relevant for gauging
contemporary racial attitudes in Singapore (Lai 2002; Chin and Vasu
2007). However, the number of works that focus on the actual practice
of racial discrimination has been limited (Barr 2009; Barr and Skrbis
2008; Rahim 1998, 2009; Velayutham 2007).

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This study discusses racial discrimination in the context of Singapore's

political framework and the United Nations' efforts to eradicate racism.
The PAP-led Singapore government claims the city-state is a multiracial
society whereby each citizen is provided equal opportunities. Yet it
has not signed one of the first human rights treaties, the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(1966), nor is Singapore a signatory to the United Nations Amendment
to article 8 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination (1992). By analyzing the UN Special
Rapporteur's first mission to the city-state, this paper brings in the
international perspective to racism research as it relates to Singapore.

UN Special Rapporteur on Racism

According to the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination, the term 'racial discrimination' means
any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour,
descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of
nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal
footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic,
social, cultural or any other field of public life (United Nations 1966).
In 1993 the UN Commission on Human Rights appointed a Special
Rapporteur to examine incidents and related governmental measures
on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia
and related intolerance. In cases of racism and racial discrimination, the
Rapporteur is required to make representations to the respective states.
Hence, for nearly two decades the UN has been undertaking missions
to various countries to assess the state of racial discrimination and to
publish reports, which are often disputed by the countries reviewed.
As part of the mandate to investigate racism, the Rapporteur carries
out 'fact-finding' visits to two countries a year and also presents a
'country-report' to the UN Human Rights Council and the General
Assembly (OHCHR 2007a). These visits are initiated at the invitation
of the government of the respective countries. Sometimes such
assessment missions are taken unofficially at the invitation of non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), as was the case in Japan when
the former Rapporteur Doude Diene undertook trips in 2005 and 2006
at the invitation of the International Movement Against All Forms of
Discrimination and Racism (Johnston 2006). Such visits include utilizing
the available resources of information and evaluating the mass media

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to get authentic information and reports of allegations against the

government and obtaining the government's reaction.
Apart from the country reports, the Rapporteur is required to submit
annual or thematic reports to the Human Rights Council and interim
reports to the General Assembly. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur
exchanges views with other mechanisms and treaty bodies in the UN
system so as to enhance their effectiveness and mutual cooperation. The
field missions give the Rapporteur the opportunity to collect first-hand
information. But these missions are not only meant to be investigative;
they are also instigated to identify and recognize the measures already
adopted by the respective governments to fight racism and race-related
discrimination (OHCHR 2007b).
Additionally, whenever information surfaces indicating that the rights
or interests of minorities in a country are being violated, the Rapporteur
communicates the facts in the form of an 'allegation letter' or 'urgent
appeal' to the respective government. This is kept confidential until it gets
published in the annual report, which is submitted to the Commission
on Human Rights (OHCHR 2007c). The Rapporteur's appeal to the
respective government is intended to get the case investigated so as to
help in identifying the contemporary forms of racial discrimination.
Adhering to the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights, the
Rapporteur can only ask the government to keep the UN updated on
the investigation. In practice, states have often resisted or challenged
the findings of the Special Rapporteur and this continues to be an issue
in the fight against global racial discrimination.
Supplementing this process, in 2001 the World Conference against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance took
place in Durban, South Africa and resulted in the Durban Declaration
and Programme of Action. In 2009, the Durban Review Conference, titled
the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), also known as Durban
II, took place at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. In
both meetings leading countries such as the US and those from Europe
and Israel did not participate in the meetings or sent only junior del-
egations, citing the presence of anti-Semitism and a proposal for laws
against blasphemy as reasons. Racism continues to be a problem many
governments are reluctant to directly address because of the associated
political consequences.
Against this contested background of UN efforts to combat racism, Mr
Githu Muigai was appointed Special Rapporteur on racism and racial
discrimination in 2008. He is the third mandate holder since its inception

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in 1993. Muigai is a Kenyan national and a lawyer, an associate professor

at the University of Nairobi and senior partner in Mohammed Muigai
Advocates in Kenya. Before visiting Singapore he had been to Germany
and United Arab Emirates on similar missions. The visit of Mr Muigai
was the first visit by a UN Special Rapporteur to Singapore.

UN Rapporteur on Racism Visits Singapore

The UN team of Mr Githu Muigai, the UN Special Rapporteur, and Ms
Anh Thu Duong, the Associate Human Rights Officer, Special Proce-
dures Division, OHCHR in Geneva, arrived in Singapore on 20 April
2010. Prior to the mission, Ms Anh had been writing to different agen-
cies, groups and individuals to set up meetings in Singapore. In order
to facilitate the information gathering, the OHCHR representatives
in particular contacted civil society organizations active in the area of
racial intolerance and minority communities to assist them in gather-
ing the details regarding ground realities before the arrival of the UN
Rapporteur.2
On the first day of his visit, Mr Muigai met the Minister for the En-
vironment and Water Resources who is also the Minister-in-charge of
Muslim Affairs, Mr Yaacob Ibrahim. As reported in the local mainstream
daily, the two officials discussed the enhanced living style of people in
Singapore and how the system recognizes their potential and allows
them to rise, irrespective of their ethnic background. Mr Ibrahim also
highlighted the government's commitment to meritocracy and mul-
tiracialism (The Straits Times, 22 April 2010). At the official level, Mr
Muigai was also scheduled to meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Mr George Yeo, Minister for Community Development, Youth and
Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Law and Second Minister
for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugan and Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong
(The Straits Times, 20 April 2010). He also received briefings from govern-
ment ministries, the Courts and the Presidential Council for Minority
Rights. Mr Muigai also met various religious leaders and leaders of
ethnic self-help groups. These meetings were widely publicized in the
local mainstream media (The Straits Times, 23 April 2010).
Mr Muigai also met with representatives of civil society,3 including
community members, academics, lawyers and private individuals. Most
of these meetings were conducted privately with very little coverage
in the mainstream media. Some groups, such as the Think Centre and
the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), reported their meetings on

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their own or on other websites. Think Centre, regarded as Singapore's

oldest registered political society, met the UN team and handed them
a report covering a variety of issues that affect Singaporeans. Some of
the issues covered included maintenance of the Religious Harmony Act,
ethnic quotas for home ownership of public housing, and the Sedition
Act and Undesirable Publications Act (FORUM-ASIA 2010). The SDP
chose to highlight the discrimination faced by minority communities in
Singapore. In particular, the SDP emphasized the marginalization and
discrimination faced by the Malay Muslim community in Singapore
(Shamin 2010).
The meeting with the NGO Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD) re-
ceived some local media coverage and was reported extensively online
by alternative media. The meeting was a result of prior arrangements
with the Special Procedures Division at the OHCHR. A group of SFD
members submitted an extensive report to the rapporteur to acquaint
him with the prevailing situation related to race and ethnicity issues
in Singapore. The report attempted to bring the UN official's notice to
the existing racism in Singapore in the guise of multiculturalism and
meritocracy (SFD 2010b). Furthermore, SFD representatives pointed
out that public policy in Singapore is influenced by race and this has
adversely resulted in the consciousness of an individual's racial iden-
tity. Specifically, the SFD report stated that the inclusion of one's race
on the Singaporean Identity Card has accentuated racial categorization,
which has largely contributed to racial discrimination among various
ethnic groups.
Mr Muigai's visit raised high expectations among the civil society
members as it provided them an opportunity to communicate the day-
to-day issues of racial discrimination felt at the grassroots level. The
PAP government representatives, on the other hand, were emphasizing
its 'best practice model' and how racial harmony has been achieved in
Singapore through its policy of meritocracy.

UN Special Rapporteur's Press Release

At the end of his visit on 28 April 2010, Mr Muigai held a press confer-
ence at a local hotel. There he acknowledged some of the initiatives taken
by Singapore to maintain racial harmony. He noted the work done to
maintain social harmony by the National Integration Council, National
Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony, The People's
Association, One People, and the Inter Racial and Religious Confidence

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Circles (OHCHR 2010b). Expressing appreciation to the Singapore

Government for its 'cooperation and openness' in the organization of
his visit, Mr Muigai reiterated that he came without any preconceived
notions. He also reaffirmed the agenda for his visit, which was to get a
better understanding of Singaporean society, to conduct constructive
dialogue with the government representatives and civil society partners,
to identify the 'best practices' followed by the Singapore government
that could be held up as a model for the international community, and
above all, preparation of an objective report.
After the above opening remarks, Mr Muigai went into the more
substantial part of his comments. He began by noting that there were
restrictions on free speech preventing open discussion on issues related
to race and religion. He stressed the importance and necessity of public
debates and discourse in a free society, adding that racial harmony can-
not be achieved by compromising these fundamental rights. He sug-
gested that these legal restrictions be re-examined so as to provide space
for the different ethnic groups to exchange ideas and to find solutions
for issues creating problems (OHCHR 2010b). He said that as a result of
these restrictions, blind spots to some of the government policies have
arisen and these are contributing to racial and other discrimination.
He then spent the remaining part of his press conference highlighting
specific blind spots in some of the PAP government's policies.
He started out by citing the issue of race on Singapore citizens' identity
cards. He said that including race on the identity cards accentuated racial
difference that contributed to racially based policies, which then led to
racial discrimination. As multiculturalism and inter-racial marriages
increase, it has also created confusion over accessing self-help groups
that are organized on ethnic lines. Group Representation Constituencies
(GRC) were purportedly created to make sure that minorities receive
equal political representation, but in actual practice, the Rapporteur
noted, they have ingrained the status of the minority community in
Singapore and furthered their institutionalization (OHCHR 2010b).
He therefore recommended eliminating race from national identity
documents. After this overarching recommendation, Mr Muigai went
on to make comments and recommendations on the ethnic dimensions
of policies related to education, employment, housing, immigration
and politics.
On the housing issue, the Rapporteur picked up on the 1989 Ethnic
Integration Policy and urged more flexibility in the existing ethnic quotas
in each state-subsidized apartment block and neighbourhood. He further

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added that though this policy was initiated to prevent the emergence of
specific ethnic majority neighbourhoods, with the passage of time this
policy has caused inconvenience to the people of minority communities
who wish to buy or re-sell their accommodation. Mr. Muigai pointed out
that education programmes in Singapore are well in place to promote
tolerance and respect among various communities. But referring to the
free national education programme for Malay students he noted that at
present the system does not take into account the disadvantage caused
by the historical inequalities in the Malay community. Turning to the
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools, Mr Muigai pointed out that in
practice they favour Chinese culture and Mandarin language and add
to the marginalization of minorities (OHCHR 2010b).
Regarding policies related to local employment, the Rapporteur
pointed to language discrimination against Indian and Malay com-
munities in the employment sector. He also added that the Malay
community is underrepresented in senior positions at key institutions,
which is not reflective of the ethnic diversity in Singapore. In rela-
tion to the employment of foreign workers, the Rapporteur noted the
Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) 'approved source country' policy for
recruiting workers. This, Mr Muigai argued, can perpetuate negative
stereotypes against migrant workers of a specific country (OHCHR
2010b). This could also lead to cases of hidden favouritism in the em-
ployment system. Related to the issue of foreign workers was that of
the PAP government's immigration policy. Mr Muigai noted that there
was resentment in Singapore over the recent waves of immigrants and
encouraged the government to formulate immigration-related policies
in a more open and transparent manner.
On the legal and institutional front, Mr Muigai raised the issue that
Singapore has yet to sign the International Convention on the Elimina-
tion of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the International Convention on
the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
He requested that the government comply with these international
conventions. Mr Muigai also pointed to the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action as well as the Outcome Document of the Durban
Review Conference as useful frameworks for the PAP government to
engage (OHCHR 2010b). He encouraged the government to review
the Presidential Council for Minority Rights (PCMR) so as to make it
independent and to give it power to consider any public policy on its

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own initiative. To sum up his discussion on legal issues affecting minor-

ity groups, Mr Muigai suggested that the government take measures
in legal terms to eliminate and prohibit discrimination on the basis of
ethnic identity and county of origin.
His press statement had a mixed tone. On one hand it acknowledged
the government policies and regulations for maintaining racial and
religious harmony. Mr Muigai noted the cohabitation and interaction
of people of diverse ethnic, religious and cultural identities. He found
that Singapore as a society, despite the religious riots of a few decades
earlier, was an example of peaceful coexistence of the different ethnic
groups. On the other hand, the Rapporteur felt more freedoms were now
appropriate to discuss contemporary challenges of racial discrimina-
tion facing Singapore society. He suggested that current legislation be
relaxed or modified and new legislation be implemented. He urged the
PAP government to take reformative actions to bring about an overall
harmonious society. His suggestions for corrective actions reflected the
inputs he received at meetings with civil society groups and individu-
als. This allowed voices, apart from the government's, to be reflected
in his initial findings.

PAP Government and Civil Society Responses to the UN

Rapporteur
If we are to understand the responses to the UN Special Rapporteur's
first mission's initial findings, it is instructive to go to the beginning of
the Rapporteur's visit when both the Singapore government and the
UN issued their press releases. The statement issued by the UN Office
of the High Commissioner of Human Rights stated that Mr Muigai, in
addition to speaking with government officials, would also consult non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), community members, academics
and other people working on issues of racial discrimination (OCHCR
2010a).
A Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) statement issued the
same day regarding Mr Muigai's visit and reported the next day had
a different slant: 'Singapore welcomes the opportunity to share with
the UN, through Mr Muigai, our experiences and efforts at combating
racism and racial discrimination and our policies to encourage racial
and religious tolerance and harmony' (The Straits Times, 20 April 2010).
This set the stage for the different set of responses to the UN Special
Rapporteur's initial findings.

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The MFA was focused on defending the PAP government's 'best

practices' and policies, which it felt was well in place to maintain racial
harmony within the city-state. The tone of the MFA response was harsh
and it did not agree with any of the Rapporteur's findings. The MFA
statement not only disagreed with Mr Muigai's findings overall, it also
added that it would wait for the final report to respond further (MFA
2010). The MFA rejected all of Mr Muigai's suggestions, which gave the
impression that perhaps the PAP government had only invited him to
highlight and reaffirm the practices they considered 'best practices' so
that they could be shared with the international community.
The main strategy in the MFA press release was to personalize
the civil society findings of the Rapporteur and to attack Mr Muigai
personally or negate his findings. The MFA release also used the words
of the Special Rapporteur against him, for instance on the suggestion
to remove race from Singaporean identity cards, the MFA press release
mentioned that the presence of different races in Singapore could not
be denied and that Mr Muigai had reportedly confirmed in an earlier
meeting that there is no 'correct approach to this issue' (MFA 2010). On
the issue of the marginalization of the Malays, the MFA responded by
saying that 'great progress has been made in the last decades', which
Mr Muigai himself was reported in the media to have acknowledged.
The MFA release further stated that even the president of the Islamic
Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), Mr Mohd Alami Musa, in his
meeting with Mr Muigai, reflected 'a sense of pride' and rejected the
need for any 'special provisions' for the Malay community.
The MFA also 'emphatically' disagreed with the Rapporteur's
suggestion to bring flexibility to the Sedition Act and the Penal Code
so as to allow freedom of expression by citizens on ethnic issues. The
MFA response stated that such issues are sensitive and it is the PAP
government's responsibility to maintain a balance between 'free speech
and racial harmony' (MFA 2010). The MFA response obliquely hinted
at the UN as being only a recommendatory body without any power
to dictate terms. At the same time it asserted the position of the PAP
government as being a responsible and accountable one. The tone of
the MFA statement also indicated that the PAP government would
not be interested in complying with any of the proposed human rights
conventions, stating it would only accede to them if it finds some
'substantial value' in doing so.
The release of the MFA statement hours after the Rapportuer's press
conference was to negate and reduce the full impact of Mr Muigai's

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initial findings. The MFA seemed more interested in defending the

PAP government's official position and in no way appeared interested
in accepting any of the suggestions and recommendations. The
MFA instead asserted that given the ground realities of the city-state
and the distribution of ethnic communities, the steps taken by the
government were appropriate for Singapore. According to the MFA,
the PAP government's measures to ensure racial harmony have been
successful and without problems. The MFA statement showed no
flexibility in accepting any criticism of existing policies and practices.
In fact, it seemed to take no meaningful interest in the suggestions of
the Rapporteur.
Other the hand, the civil society response was different. Singaporeans
for Democracy also issued a press release on the same day to state
that it would establish a racial discrimination monitoring committee
that would run with immediate effect and would operate until the
Rapporteur’s report was issued (SFD 2010a). Further, it took the
Rapporteur's recommendation on race identification on identity cards
and turned it into a Facebook page advocacy project that had 300
members4 joining in 24 hours (The Online Citizen 2010). SFD decided
to focus on the issue of race identification as a key policy issue and tried
to generate attention around it. This online project was set up as part
of SFD's efforts to monitor the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on
racism; the Rapporteur will present his findings on Singapore before
the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (in June 2011) and the UN
General Assembly in New York (in November 2011).

Significance of the UN's First Mission to Singapore

The value of the UN Rapporteur's first mission to Singapore was in
pointing out the blind spots in the PAP government's racially based
policies. It puts these policy blind spots under an international spotlight
through the auspices of the UN. Although most of the issues have
been identified and highlighted in the past by civil society groups
and in academic analysis, the independence of the UN mission lends
credibility to the issues. The PAP government can no longer try to ignore
the problems highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur within the
UN framework without being subjected to some level of international
criticism and on public record.
But based on the response of the PAP government to the UN Special
Rapporteur's initial findings, observers can predict how Singapore

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government officials will respond to the Rapporteur's final report. The

PAP government is likely to maintain that they are the best judge of
how to maintain the balance between freedom of expression and racial
harmony. If the initial governmental response is anything to go by,
it is likely to reject the bulk of the suggestions on the basis that they
are not feasible in Singapore. It is apparent from the government's
response to Mr Muigai's suggestions that the government holds a strong
ideological position about the value of meritocracy and is not prepared
to acknowledge the existence of policy blind spots or agree to policy
revisions. Any concession to look into a policy change following the
Rapporteur's final report will be more of a public relations exercise to
appease the UN community and international media, rather than a real
effort to reassess policy.
The UN Special Rapporteur's visit also brought to the attention of
Singapore's civil society the UN mechanisms through which local
groups could have their views recorded. Although the Rapporteur met
with civil society groups on an individual basis, there was little cross
communication or prior coordination between the different groups in
Singapore. It would have been better if civil society groups had met
together prior to the Rapporteur's visit to prepare some form of joint
report with the additional option of submitting individual reports where
appropriate. In spite of this shortcoming, the visit has increased interest
among local civil society groups in UN mechanisms and awareness of
their ability to contribute inputs into the different processes. Hence,
several groups in late 2010 cooperated to formulate joint reports for
submission to the Universal Periodic Review where Singapore is up
for review in 2011.5
Apart from the media releases immediately prior to the Rapporteur's
visit, there was little or no other pre-publicity about the important first
mission to Singapore. Publicity was kept to a minimum, ensuring that
the visit would remain a low-key affair. But the UN Rapporteur's visit
created some local attention in the mainstream media and much more
in the new media landscape. There was considerable enthusiasm in
discussing the UN Special Rapporteur's visit and its possible impact. For
instance, when the media reports began to emerge and some civil society
groups began to publicize their own meetings with the Rapporteur,
online users were active in sharing their opinions. The majority of the
web commentary questioned the government's stand and argued instead
that there was everyday racism in Singapore. The internet commentaries
showed that the PAP government that controls the media can no longer

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frame and control the discussion of race-related issues. The discourse on

the internet helped to show that the PAP government's 'racial harmony'
is a myth, created by government-controlled media (Journalism SG
2010).
Finally it has to be acknowledged that while the UN mission is helpful
in putting the international spotlight on some of the policy blind spots
discussed above, in reality policy changes in Singapore can only be im-
plemented through political reform. For this to happen there has to be a
political challenge to the PAP government to carry out policy changes
that seek to address some of the issues related to racial discrimination
in Singapore. Without a political challenge to the PAP government it
is unlikely there will be significant policy shifts in the city-state in the
near to medium term.

Conclusion
Many of the recommendations made by Mr Muigai, the UN Special
Rapporteur on racism, are not new. These have been raised over the
years by opposition parties and civil society groups and have been dis-
cussed extensively in published academic works. As seen by the PAP
government's response to the Rapporteur's initial recommendations, it
is expected that Singapore officials at the UN meetings will be seeking
to respond similarly to Mr Muigai's final report before the UN Human
Rights Council in Geneva (in June 2011) and the UN General Assembly
in New York (in November 2011). Even though the PAP government
actively disagreed with the initial recommendations and will likely do
so of the final report, the value of these policy suggestions lies in their
appearing in a UN report and in an international domain. While in Sin-
gapore the PAP government may try to control and frame the issue of
racial discrimination via its influence over the local mainstream media,
it cannot do the same in an international setting. Researchers working
on issues of racial discrimination need to include this international
dimension in future studies. While the UN may put these issues under
an international spotlight, researchers also need to understand that
ultimately changes to these policies can only take place by politically
challenging the PAP government.

James Gomez is presently Deputy Associate Dean (International) and Head of

Public Relations, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences
at Monash University in Australia. ([email protected])

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NOTES
1 The author is also the founding Executive-Director of Singaporeans for Democracy
(http://sfd.sg).
2 Email to Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD) on 14 April 2010.
3 Here the term civil society refers to those groups registered with the Registrar of
Societies in Singapore whose activities are aimed to be independent of the PAP
government. For a fuller discussion of civil society in Singapore see also Lyons and
Gomez (2005).
4 At the time of writing the Facebook group had nearly 1000 members.
5 Groups such as Maurah and Think Centre, in 2010, convened separate joint civil
society meetings to find ways to draft joint submissions to the Universal Periodic
Review process. Singaporeans for Democracy was a contributing member to both
these groups.

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