CNA-IPS survey finds generational divide in views on existence of racial discrimination, dealing with racism

SINGAPORE — About a third (34 per cent) of Singaporeans and permanent residents believe racial discrimination no longer exists in the country, while a similar proportion (30 per cent) shared a polar opposite view. That is, they either believe racial discrimination will never be eradicated, or it may take 50 years or more.

These findings are from a joint survey conducted by regional news outlet CNA and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), and they are generally consistent across respondents of different races.

Some 2,000 people, aged 21 and above, were polled, among other topics, on how long they felt it may take before there is no longer racial discrimination in Singapore, and whether society has truly become, as the national pledge goes, “regardless of race, language, or religion”.

Those who said such an ideal is possible, but gave more optimistic time frames such as 10 years (9 per cent), 20 years (10 per cent) and 50 years (4 per cent) were generally in the minority, the survey found.

The survey also showed that there was a clear generational divide on whether society has eliminated racial discrimination. For instance, about two in five (around 40 per cent) of the respondents from each of the two oldest groups — 51 to 65 years old, and those above 65 — felt that Singapore has already achieved this.

In contrast, a much smaller proportion of the two younger age groups — 21 to 35 (28 per cent) and 36 to 50 (29 per cent) — felt this way.