Are we ready to talk about race?

We, the citizens of Singapore,
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion…

Multiculturalism is arguably the X-factor of Singapore’s admired country brand. But while the island republic’s open­ness to the world is undoubted, its ethnic cohesiveness at home came under scrutiny amidst the stresses of pandemic times. In 2021, the government announced moves to establish new legislation for a Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act.

This thought-provoking collection of 23 essays by writers – including Nazry Bahrawi, Viswa Sadasivan, Kenneth Paul Tan, Poh Yong Han and Margaret Thomas – reflects on Singapore’s progress, since independence in 1965, to integrate its component communities into one society and nation. Insights are drawn from diverse perspectives – Malay, Indian, Eurasian, Peranakan, Chinese and others. Lessons from the past are analysed, and the evolving challenges of the present candidly assessed.

“One United People” – a quotation from Singapore’s National Pledge – is a timely reminder that racial harmony is never a reachable destination, but an ongoing journey, an aspiration that every citizen and resident can contribute to every day.

Koh Buck Song works as a writer, editor and consultant in branding, communications strategy and corporate social responsibility in Singapore. His publications include several collections of poetry, literary anthologies, and numerous books on aspects of Singapore ranging from urban development to foreign investment promotion. His seminal book on Singapore's country brand, Brand Singapore, was published by Marshall Cavendish in 2011 (third edition 2020), and translated into Chinese and published in China in 2012.

Contributors include (in order of appearance): Saleemah Ismail, Nazry Bahrawi, Matilda Gabrielpillai, Braema Mathi, Viswa Sadasivan, Kannan Chandran, Kirpal Singh, Margaret Thomas, Alexius Pereira, Kenneth Paul Tan, Tan Chee Lay, Tan Dan Feng, Linda Chee, Joyce Lim, Billy Steven Tay, Audrey Wong, Poh Yong Han, Dana Lam, Kua Ee Heok, Laurence Lien, Colin Goh

This thought-provoking collection of 23 essays by writers – including Nazry Bahrawi, Viswa Sadasivan, Kenneth Paul Tan, Poh Yong Han and Margaret Thomas – reflects on Singapore’s progress, since independence in 1965, to integrate its component communities into one society and nation. Insights are drawn from diverse perspectives – Malay, Indian, Eurasian, Peranakan, Chinese and others. Lessons from the past are analysed, and the evolving challenges of the present candidly assessed.