New law takes effect on 15 Sept, will strengthen S’pore’s ability to preserve racial harmony: MHA
Under a new law, restraining orders (ROs) can be issued to people responsible for content that prejudices the maintenance of racial harmony in Singapore.
In a press release on Monday (14 Sept), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reminded the public that the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act 2025 takes effect on Tuesday (15 Sept).
Restraining orders take immediate effect once served
The new Act, which was passed by Parliament on 4 Feb 2025, empowers the Home Affairs Minister to issue ROs to those involved in the communication, production or distribution of such offending content.
It takes immediate effect once a copy of the RO is served on the person.
Failure to comply with the RO is an offence, MHA said, adding:
These powers allow the Government to take swift and pre-emptive action against offensive content that can spread rapidly and may cause irreparable harm to social cohesion.
New Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony established
The Act also establishes a new Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony (PCRRH), which starts its first three-year term on Tuesday.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has appointed former Supreme Court judge Choo Han Teck as its chairman.
Source: NUS Law on Facebook
Its members, which comprise representatives from major racial and religious communities as well as those who have distinguished themselves in public service or community relations, are:
- Venerable Seck Kwang Phing
- Cardinal William Goh Seng Chye
- Mr M Rajaram
- Mufti of Singapore Nazirudin Mohd Nasir
- Bishop Emeritus Wee Boon Hup
- Mr Surjit Singh s/o Wazir Singh
- Associate Professor Lee Cheuk Yin
- Professor Lily Kong
- Ms Juthika Ramanathan
The PCRRH will be able to consider and make recommendations to the President on ROs, among other duties. The President may confirm, cancel, or vary an RO if the PCRRH’s recommendation and the Cabinet’s advice differ.
New remedial programme for alleged offenders to make amends
Another introduction by the Act is the Community Remedial Initiative (CRI), in which individuals can take remedial action for engaging in conduct is prejudicial to the maintenance of racial harmony.
The programme gives the alleged offender a chance to “learn from and make amends” for his racist conduct, MHA said. This will thereby soothe communal tensions and repair ties between the communities.
Prosecutors may consider whether an alleged offender has completed the CRI in a satisfactory manner when deciding whether to prosecute them under the Act.
However, the CRI will not be offered for “egregious” cases such as those involving incitement of violence or conduct that “severely undermines” social cohesion.
Such cases will still be considered for criminal prosecution, MHA said, adding:
This sends the right signal that such conduct will not be tolerated.
Safeguards against foreign influence introduced for race-based entities
The Act will additionally introduce safeguards against foreign influence for “race-based entities” — with more than 300 entities designated as such, including clan associations.
One of the safeguards is a requirement to disclose donations from foreign and anonymous sources, as well as foreign affiliations and leadership composition. Another requires the entity to comply with leadership restrictions.
The entities’ first reporting obligation is in April 2028, with MHA to guide them on the reporting requirements before that.
The Home Affairs Minister will also be able to issue foreign influence ROs to specific entities “to pre-empt, prevent, or reduce” foreign influence that may undermine racial harmony and threaten public peace and order.
These ROs will be subject to the same safeguards as the ROs issued for racial content.
New law protects racial harmony with dedicated legislation: MHA
In its statement, MHA said the new Act “consolidates and strengthens” Singapore’s legal framework to protect racial harmony in a dedicated piece of legislation.
It will also help ensure Singapore remains a “cohesive and harmonious multiracial society” by strengthening our ability to:
- Preserve racial harmony
- Respond effectively to emerging threats
- Safeguard our multicultural society against malicious foreign influence
Source: Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore via Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook
It refers closely from the existing Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA), which also provides for powers to issue ROs, albeit against content that threatens religious harmony.
The MRHA also applies safeguards to religious groups to comply with leadership restrictions and to declare foreign funding and affiliations.
Also read: S’pore To Introduce New Racial Harmony Law, Will Include Softer Approach Towards Offenders
S’pore To Introduce New Racial Harmony Law, Will Include Softer Approach Towards Offenders
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Featured image from MS News.
