THE NEED TO MAINTAIN :A STUDY OF THE MAINTENANCE OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY ACT (1979-1992)

Abstract

The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) was passed in 1990. Beyond Singapore and Turkey, no other country has a law along the lines of the MRHA. Yet since its enactment, the MRHA has not been publicly enforced. Why was there the need to legislate religious harmony in 1990? What was, and is the relevance of the MRHA in Singapore society? This thesis argues that the MRHA was a product of increasing global and local religious tensions, and just as importantly, the inadequacies of the existing legislation for the Government to address the rising tensions. The MRHA was an expression of the Government's reaction to a delicate religious and political environment in the 1980s. The MRHA was the Government's response to the need to maintain both religious harmony, and its socio-political prerogative in Singapore. This thesis contributes to existing scholarship by adding to our understanding of the religious environment of Singapore in the 1980s. Furthermore, by relating the religious environment to the crafting of legislation, this thesis also draws the links between the religious landscape and Government perspectives and responses in this climate.