Singapore Passes Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act to Strengthen Social Cohesion

The new law introduces safeguards against racial disharmony and foreign influence, while emphasizing that legal measures alone cannot foster unity.

Singapore's Parliament unanimously passed the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, consolidating existing laws and introducing new measures to address racial issues.
The Act establishes a Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony to expand oversight and provide recommendations on restraining orders issued under the law.
Legal provisions include a restraining order regime for individuals spreading racially divisive content and the option for offenders to undergo community remedial programs instead of prosecution.
Safeguards against foreign influence require race-based entities to disclose foreign donations and affiliations to prevent malicious interference in Singapore's social fabric.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam emphasized that fostering racial harmony requires long-term societal frameworks and policies beyond legal enforcement.