Unsecularisation of the State

The discussion in class about the unsecularisation of the state, and the revival of religion as a basis for identity and commitment, reminded me of an article in TODAY sometime back, in particular, about the status of the Malays in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF):

Perhaps the most controversial claim by the US soldier was that "official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret" and those of the race are "systematically kept out" of sensitive areas.

"Mr Walsh claims that this has two major consequences: It "limits the involvement of the ethnic group most inclined to join the military" and it feeds the "perception of a second-class status among Malays, a fact which terrorist recruiters have taken advantage of before, and they may do so again" — referring to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members arrested in Singapore for plotting terrorist attacks.

Addressing this charge, Col Lim said: "The writer's prescription for ethnic integration in the SAF seriously underestimates the challenges of building ethnic and religious harmony in Singapore"

"Singapore has made much progress in ethnic and religious in Singapore does not gloss over the fact that there is yet more to be done and addresses these challenges directly and openly."

Stressing that integration in the SAF would proceed in tandem with nation-building, Col Lim added that there are a good number of Malay SAF officers, some with higher degrees, whose studies were sponsored by the SAF, and whether a Malay SAF officer makes it to a higher appointment depends solely on merit.

In fact, Malay officers have risen through the ranks and held senior appointments.

"We have Malay pilots, commandos and air defence personnel. Those who have shown the potential to take on higher appointments in the SAF are given every opportunity to do so. Malay officers in the SAF hold key appointments such as Commanding Officer," said Col Lim.

"In fact, the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist and officer training is similar to the proportion for eligible non-Malays."

In fact, it may not be as secretive as it seem. Current Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew made a controversial speech on it many years back(taken from one of the comments on Mr. Wang's blog):

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19 September 1999
The Straits Times

Reality is race bonds exist - SM.


THE community self-help group approach works the best for Singapore, given the realities today, said Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The reality is that while Singapore has made progress in integrating the different races, certain emotional bonds are instinctive and cannot be removed overnight.

"When a Malay leader goes down to a Malay parent and says 'Look, you've got to do something about your child's mathematics... we're running these evening classes so that you can catch up', I think the response will be different if a Chinese community leader were to do that," he said.

There would be "automatic bristling" and the Malay parent would say, "Why do you think I am that weak?"

"Because the realities are such, we have found that these community-based self-help organisations work best because the motivation is there, the empathy is there, the trust is there." Asked by a polytechnic student if Singapore could overcome this and become a nation, Mr Lee said: "Yes, I think so, over a long period of time and selectively. We must not make an error.

"If, for instance, you put in a Malay officer who's very religious and who has family ties in Malaysia in charge of a machine gun unit, that's a very tricky business.

"We've got to know his background. I'm saying these things because they are real, and if I didn't think that, and I think even if today the Prime Minister doesn't think carefully about this, we could have a tragedy."

"So, these are problems which, as poly students, you're colour-blind to, but when you face life in reality, it's a different proposition."

Mr Lee said Singaporeans must continue to build social cohesion, and accept and trust one another. It is easy to acknowledge others, he said. "But to trust each other, say 'Will you look after my child while I'm away", that's a different level of confidence.

"We must eventually be able to feel as one united people," said Mr Lee in a speech at the Singapore 21 forum, in which he spoke on future challenges for Singapore in the knowledge-based economy.

The society must aim at more socialising between the different groups, whether in private or at community activities.

Progress will depend on how comfortable the young feel about one another.

"The more they socialise, the stronger the mosaic of our national cohesion," he said.

He noted that some letter-writers to The Straits Times had taken issue with community-based self-help organisations and asked why there was not a single statutory board for all races.

"That's a rational, idealistic approach but we've tried it, it doesn't work," he said.

He also noted that race riots occurred here only 30 years ago.

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Let us revisit one of the links put up by Daniel earlier on:

The Charade of Meritocracy (on alleged discrimination against non-Chinese in Singapore).

“The discrimination against Malays has been discussed in parliament and the media, and is justified by the assertion that the loyalty of Malays cannot be assumed, both because they are Muslim and because they have a racial and ethnic affinity with the Malays in Malaysia and Indonesia. Current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has historically been a vocal defender of this policy.”

In justifying this hitherto covert discrimnatory policy, Minister Lee Hsien loong noted in 1987 that, "If there is a conflict...we don't want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may come in conflict with his emotions for his religion...they will be two very strong destructive forces in opposite directions"

Other articles you can read up on:

A question of loyalty: the Malays in Singapore

S'pore politicians hit Habibie 'racists' comment

Malay leadership: Interest, protection and their imposition