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Nicole, Jeremy, Lee Hui, Terence, Hamzah

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Nicole, Jeremy, Lee Hui, Terence, Hamzah

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1) Key argument
Spore needs minority representation
Concerns with regards to meritocracy

2) Opinion
Why can't we discuss the possibility of a minority PM?
Why was meritocracy not discussed in the GRC system?
How successful has diversity education been given we vote along racial lines?

3) Proposal

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Is Singapore ready for a non-Chinese PM.

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In the third of three reports that explores the findings of a Channel NewsAsia-Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey on race relations, Channel NewsAsia examines how most Singaporeans prefer someone of the same race to hold the nation's highest positions.

In the third of three reports that explore the findings of a Channel NewsAsia-Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey on race relations, we examine how most Singaporeans prefer someone of the same race to hold the nation's highest positions, but how a majority would also accept someone of another race.

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SINGAPORE: If given a choice, most Singaporeans prefer someone of the same race as the nation's Prime Minister or President.

This was one of the findings in a nationwide survey of 2,000 citizens and permanent residents on their views on relations between the country's four major races. The survey was commissioned by Channel NewsAsia in partnership with the Institute of Policy Studies, and was one of the largest of its kind.

The survey, conducted between June and July this year, was done through a random sampling of dwelling types. Malay and Indian respondents were oversampled to ensure sufficient minority representation. Selected households completed a survey questionnaire then returned it to a surveyor at a stipulated time, to reduce the possibility of interviewer bias.

The results were then statistically weighted to ensure that the final sample resembled the national population in terms of racial composition, dwelling type and gender.

According to the survey, the vast majority of Chinese respondents - 98 per cent - would accept a Singaporean Chinese as Prime Minister, while 96 per cent preferred a Singaporean Chinese as President.

Malay respondents also overwhelmingly wanted a Singaporean Malay to be Prime Minister or President. A total of 93 per cent of Malays surveyed said they preferred a Singaporean Malay to be Prime Minister, while 94 per cent would accept a Malay as President.

Among Indian respondents, 89 per cent would accept a Singaporean Indian as Prime Minister and 92 per cent said the same for the role of the President.

The majority of respondents of all races were agreeable to a Singaporean Chinese in both positions, with more than 80 per cent of Malays, Indians and Others saying they would accept a Singaporean Chinese as Prime Minister and as President.

A majority of respondents, albeit a smaller number, also said they would accept a minority race in the positions - around 60 per cent of Chinese, 75 per cent of Malays and around 68 per cent of Others said yes to a Singaporean Indian Prime Minister or President. When it came to a Singaporean Malay Prime Minister or President, just over half of Chinese, around 70 per cent of Indians and about 80 per cent of Others said yes.

The older a respondent, the less likely he or she would accept someone of a different race to hold the nation's highest positions, the survey found.

Among Chinese respondents who were below 30 years old, more than 60 per cent would accept a Singaporean Malay as Prime Minister or President, while more than 70 per cent would accept a Singaporean Indian.

Among those over 60 years old, about 40 to 42 per cent would accept a Singaporean Malay, while between 45 and 50 per cent would accept a Singaporean Indian in the two positions.

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Most Singaporeans want someone of same race as Prime Minister, President: CNA-IPS survey

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In the third of three reports that explores the findings of a Channel NewsAsia-Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey on race relations, Channel NewsAsia examines how most Singaporeans prefer someone of the same race to hold the nation's highest positions.

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Hannah, Juwika, Anitha, Badariah, Ying Jie

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Hannah, Juwika, Anitha, Badariah, Ying Jie

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1) Key arguments
Singapore needs a minority president.
2) Opinion
no opinion.
3) Proposal
let nature take it course.

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i. Race and language is still a factor that people consider.
ii. not appropriate.

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Estee, Yanli, Nana, Yongsheng, Shaik, Ranice

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Estee, Yanli, Nana, Yongsheng, Shaik, Ranice

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1) Key arguments
Not necessary. The rationale behind a reserved election is unnecessary / ironic / adequate. The more the society call for a minority presidency, the more it further reflects the society's underlying racial divisions.

2) Opinion
We strongly agree with Dr Tan

3) Proposal
More improvements needed.

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1. Read the assigned article(s).
2. Create a pad for your group & title it with your group members' names.
3. Respond to the relevant questions.

Question task:

Task - Note down:
i)  the author's key arguments.
ii) your group's opinion on whether reserved election is an appropriate way to ensure fair equal representation in Singapore.
ii) proposal of other strategies, pro-active or remedial, in ensuring fair equal representation in Singapore.

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Why Singapore needs a minority president from time to time

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Why Singapore needs a minority president from time to time

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In the last 50 years, the Government has promoted religious and racial harmony through education, housing and many other policies, but we are not yet completely race-blind.

After Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away, I visited Tanjong Pagar.

Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah, who helped Mr Lee look after his residents, accompanied me. She had served there for many years and speaks Cantonese fluently. But one of the residents told me: "PM, please send us a bilingual minister."

These sentiments are present not just at Tanjong Pagar. There are voters of every race in every constituency who feel this way.

Actually, similar sentiments are present in every multiracial society. It's human nature.

We feel more comfortable interacting and working with people who share the same culture, language and ethnicity as we do. We accept each other more readily.

Ms Indranee with Mr Lee Kuan Yew on the election campaign trail in 2006. She helped him look after his residents in
Tanjong Pagar, serving there for many years and speaking Cantonese fluently. But one of the residents later told PM
Lee Hsien Loong: "PM, please send us a bilingual minister." ST FILE PHOTO

Therefore, during elections, voters often wonder - or they would have thought of it - if candidates are able to communicate with them in their mother tongue.

"Can I speak directly to him and engage him comfortably? Does he understand me, where I am coming from - my culture and faith?"

So, in Singapore, language and race do play a role in elections.

All things being equal, a minority candidate contesting in a Chinese-majority constituency is at a disadvantage, and in Singapore, every constituency is majority Chinese. This is why we have group representation constituencies (GRCs), to ensure that there will always be minority MPs in Parliament. Let's be honest with ourselves and deal with this squarely.

For a non-Chinese to become an MP, it is not easy. For a non-Chinese to be elected president is even harder. Hence, I proposed changes to the elected president scheme in January, to make sure that, from time to time, we will have a non-Chinese president.

Since the announcement, I have heard some feedback. People have said: "Since Singapore is multiracial, and we say 'regardless of race, language or religion', why is there a need to make provisions for minorities? Why not let the elections run their natural course?"

Some may feel that since we are a majority-Chinese country, when a Chinese president is elected, it is all right. I understand these feelings, but we need to face up to the reality of our multiracial context. Under the current system of contested national elections for president, we may not have a non-Chinese president for a long time. If so, this will weaken the sense of national identity among minorities, and affect our unity.

This is serious for it concerns our social cohesion, our multiracial society and our future.

It is important that we have a Malay, Indian or other races as president from time to time.

The president as head of state is the unifying symbol for all Singaporeans, and must be able to unite all Singaporeans. Our former president, Mr (S R) Nathan, is a shining example of this.

Mr Nathan is Indian but, as president, he looked after the interests of all Singaporeans. He proactively reached out to all races and got to know them well. I hope the Chinese community will support the constitutional changes we may propose so that if we have a good minority presidential candidate, he can become the president, and represent all Singaporeans.
*Excerpt from English translation of speech in Mandarin.

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Why Singapore needs a minority president from time to time

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In the last 50 years, the Government has promoted religious and racial harmony through education, housing and many other policies, but we are not yet completely race-blind. After Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away, I visited Tanjong Pagar. Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah, who helped Mr Lee look after his residents, accompanied me.

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Reserved election: Boost for multiracialism?

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Singapore is on the threshold of the most significant re-engineering to its constitutional architecture since the introduction of the Elected Presidency (EP) in 1991. With the Constitutional Commission's work completed, the task now falls on the Government to secure the buy-in for the