The issues of hate speech, race and religion will be discussed in Parliament early next month, according to Law and Home Affairs Minister of Singapore K Shanmugam yesterday.
The Minister was speaking to the media after his speech at the 15th Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) retreat.
Emphasising the need for having a proper debate on these issues, Shanmugam said, “It is important for people to look at the different facets of these issues and decide, as a society, where the lines of acceptability are.”
The Home Minister pointed out that such positions have been put across years ago but this should be revisited.
“I think it is important that a comprehensive position is put forward for debate (in Parliament). So that society can see where we are, and each generation has got to decide on its own. (These positions) are not cast in stone,” he said.
“What is the right level, what is the right approach (towards these issues) has got to be decided by debate; that’s the right approach,” Shanmugam said, adding he plans to have a motion introduced in April.
Shanmugam’s observations came on the heels of the deadly shooting in Christchurch city of New Zealand which left 50 worshippers at two mosques dead and dozens injured.
Earlier, during his speech at the retreat, Shanmugam said organisations like Religious Rehabilitation Group are useful as they help tackle misguided and violent ideologies and provide access to a legitimate source of religious knowledge.
He also exhorted other segments of society to do their part to fight hate speech.