Singapore law to protect racial harmony to take effect from Sept 15

Beginning Tuesday (Sept 15), a person who communicates, produces or distributes content that threatens the maintenance of racial harmony in Singapore could be issued with restraining orders (ROs) against such racial contents.

The Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, passed by Parliament on Feb 4 last year, will come into effect on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday.

Under the new law, the Minister for Home Affairs is empowered to make such ROs, which will immediately apply once issued.

A racial content RO may prohibit a person from communicating or distributing specified information or material; addressing a specified audience on a specified subject, and/or require a person to remove specified information or material is no longer available to the general public in Singapore.

It may also bar a person from printing, editing, assisting, or contributing to a specified publication; and from holding office in an editorial board or a committee of a specified publication.

In a 2025 statement, MHA had highlighted that offensive content can "go viral very quickly".

It added in its recent statement that levers, such as RO, allows the government to take "swift and pre-emptive" action against offensive content before they cause "irreparable harm" to social cohesion.

Failure to comply with the RO is an offence. 

The President will have the discretion to confirm, cancel, or vary an RO if the new Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony's (PCRRH) recommendation and the Cabinet's advice differ.

Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony

The new council replaces the existing Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and will begin its inaugural three-year term on Sept 15.

It will comprise representatives from Singapore's major racial and religious communities, and persons who have distinguished themselves in public service or community relations, MHA said.

Two of its key roles include: considering and making recommendations to the President on ROs made under the Act, or the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990; and, considering and reporting to the Minister or Parliament on matters affecting the maintenance of racial or religious harmony in Singapore, that are referred to it by the minister or Parliament.

The President's Office said in a separate statement that the PCRHH will be led by retired Supreme Court judge Choo Han Teck.

Race-based entities, community remedial initiative

The Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act also allows the Minister for Home Affairs to offer a community remedial programme for persons involved in a matter which prejudices the maintenance of racial harmony.

Once successfully completed, it can be taken into account on whether formal charges should proceed.

"This gives an alleged offender the opportunity to learn from and make amends for his racist conduct, thereby soothing communal tensions and repairing ties between the communities," said MHA.

The programme will not be offered for egregious cases, such as those involving incitement of violence or conduct that severely undermines social cohesion.

The government can also impose a restraining order to stop race-based entities from accepting donations from a foreign principal, prohibit anonymous donations or require the entity to return or dispose of donations.

The ministry said this helps to pre-empt, prevent, or reduce foreign influence that may undermine racial harmony and present a threat to public peace and order in Singapore.

MHA added that it will engage these race-based entities before they are designated.

They will also be guided on the reporting requirements, ahead of their first reporting obligation in April 2028.

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editor@asiaone.com