Recent incidents about race are reminders of the racial undercurrents that still exist in society and Singaporeans have to constantly work to keep our unity intact, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Hence, Heng said that Singaporeans “should be prepared to discuss these (issues) frankly, but sensitively”.

He added that it is useful for Singaporeans to appreciate that various Singaporeans not only have different opinions on these issues, but also different ways to approach them.

Heng was speaking at the National University of Singapore's Distinguished Speaker Series on August 13, which commemorated the university's 115th year of founding.

Singapore's way of embracing diversity and living in harmony is not the natural order of things, and cannot be taken for granted, said Heng.

The deputy prime minister also said that the responses to the recent events about race show Singaporeans "care deeply about issues of race and religion".

Approaching issues with humility and forbearance

Speaking to the younger generation, Heng said that the youths have “a different lived experience” as well as challenges, compared to those before them.

"While you have not experienced the chaotic years, many of you are better educated, and more exposed to global events and trends. You have had opportunities to understand and discuss the difficult issues surrounding race and religion, not just locally but globally."

He also pointed out that young people of this generation tend to be more comfortable expressing their views on social media.

However, he cautioned that while such issues — with their different perspectives and views — must be discussed frankly, it must also be done sensitively with humility and forbearance:

"The humility to recognise that each of us have our biases and blind spots. Being mindful of our biases and correcting them is a constructive step towards progress.

Indeed, we should be firm in calling out transgressions when we see them, but also have the humility not to assume the worst of every action or comment.

We should exercise forbearance when engaging with such issues, given the deep and emotive undercurrents. Progress cannot be made by advocating loudly for a single viewpoint."

Heng added that this ability to handle differences with humility and forbearance “apply not just to our youths, but to all of us”.

Creative capacity and strong social compact also Singapore's strengths

Aside from Singapore's sense of unity, Heng also highlighted two other strengths that give Singapore an edge today — creative capacity and a strong social compact.

Creativity is demonstrated in Singapore's openness to the world, which is increasingly important as increasingly, companies are realising that opportunities are not confined by geography.

Heng pointed out how jobs can be performed remotely and many cities are beginning to market themselves as destinations for global remote workers, which is why Singapore is embarking on economic transformation and reskilling its workers.

With regard to our social compact, Heng said that everyone has a part to play in uplifting our low wage workers, engaging our elderly, and tackling mental health issues:

"Increasingly, this will have to go beyond Government measures and redistributive policies. Each of us will have a part to play and every effort counts. This is the only way we can strengthen our social compact, and build a better future for everyone."

Top image via PMO.