Tharman on race and the reserved Elected President

Is the reserved Elected Presidency for the Malay Community an indication that Singapore has regressed as a society despite growing up reciting the Pledge that has the words “regardless of race, language or religion”?

This question was posed by a student to DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Majulah lecture held NTU.

DPM Tharman said:

“Speaking as a citizen, I really feel proud that Mdm Halimah is our President. That we have a Malay president after 47 years. And a woman.

"It is understandable that questions are raised on the reserved election. It is also understandable that most people, including myself and I’m sure most people here, would have preferred a contest."

He said, "It is encouraging that people want race to matter less in the future. It is encouraging because it shows that we value what we say in our pledge,"

"But the ASPIRATION for race not to count is something that needs working towards.

"It cannot just be a pledge, it cannot be just an incantation. Sometimes it requires a conscious act of the state."

"If along the way you see decades after decades, that you don’t have a Malay president, I think that what we say loses its meaning. That’s the reality."

"The reality of the matter is, not just in Singapore but anywhere else, including the most mature democracies that everything else (about a candidate) being equal, race, ethnicity, religion, matters."

He cited an editorial by Malaysian publication Mingguan Malaysia, on how it was unimaginable that Singapore had a Malay president when 75 per cent of its population was Chinese.

"An insightful piece, because they are not great fans of Singapore. But they decided to write an editorial commending what happened... But we are not a special people. We have to work to be different and continue on this journey."

MAINTAINING MULTICULTURALISM REQUIRES 'CONTINUOUS WORK'

Mr Tharman said that the starting point in Singapore is a cohesive society but it requires "continuous work" to maintain multiculturalism.

“It requires conscious action, conscious acts of the State, which work if they are supported by people," he said.

SENSITIVITIES OF GROWING UP AS A MINORITY

Mr Tharman said:

"Never forget, that growing up as a minority is different from growing up as a majority. It is different. Never pretend that it’s the same. It requires extra action, extra empathy, and that sense of sharing the same boat together."