Singapore's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, generated significant public discussion in 2011 with comments on Muslim integration published in his book, "Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going." The remarks, which suggested challenges in the integration of the Muslim community, prompted reactions from various segments of Singaporean society. A tweet from "NLKY!" highlighted these historical statements, drawing renewed attention to the long-standing national discourse on race and religion.
In the book, Lee Kuan Yew stated, "I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration — friends, intermarriages and so on — than Muslims." He further urged Muslims to "be less strict on Islamic observances" to aid the nation-building process. Earlier, in a 1999 forum, he also alluded to concerns about placing "a Malay officer who's very religious and who has family ties in Malaysia in charge of a machine-gun unit," citing potential conflicts of loyalty.
These statements elicited strong reactions, particularly from the Malay-Muslim community. Then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong publicly stated that his views differed from his father's, emphasizing the value and contributions of the Malay-Muslim community to Singapore's harmony. Lee Kuan Yew later clarified his position, acknowledging that his earlier comments might have been "out of date" and recognizing the significant efforts made by Muslims in Singapore to integrate with other communities.
Singapore has long pursued a multiracial approach, codified in policies like the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) for public housing, which aims to prevent ethnic enclaves. The Constitution recognizes the special position of Malays as the indigenous people, and institutions like the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and Mendaki support the community's development and integration. These frameworks are designed to foster a cohesive multiracial and multi-religious society.
Despite historical reservations, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has progressively integrated Malay-Muslims into all ranks and vocations, with universal conscription for Malays fully implemented since 1985. This demonstrates the government's commitment to building a national identity that transcends ethnic and religious lines. The ongoing dialogue surrounding Lee Kuan Yew's remarks underscores Singapore's continuous effort to balance diverse identities within a unified national fabric.