New Singapore racial harmony law to take effect Sep 15; inaugural presidential council appointed
The new law introduces a restraining order regime for those involved in communicating, producing or distributing content that prejudices the maintenance of racial harmony here.
Singapore's new Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act 2025 comes into effect on September 15, 2023. The law aims to strengthen the country's legal framework to protect racial harmony. It introduces a restraining order regime for individuals involved in content that threatens racial harmony. Additionally, a Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony (PCRRH) is established, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam naming Choo Han Teck as its chairman.
The council will advise the president on restraining orders and matters affecting racial or religious harmony. The Act also empowers the home affairs minister to make restraining orders against those promoting discriminatory content. Some existing race-related offences will be updated, and a Community Remedial Initiative allows individuals to take remedial action after engaging in racially harmful conduct.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
