Singapore’s Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act 2025 and the accompanying Constitution (Amendment) Act 2025 come into force on 15 September 2026, in what is the most substantial change to the country’s racial harmony laws in decades. Both were passed by Parliament on 4 February 2025, and Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs set out the commencement arrangements on Monday, NewsFirst reported.
A new Presidential Council
A Presidential Council for Racial and Religious Harmony (PCRRH) replaces the existing Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and begins an inaugural three-year term on 15 September. It will draw members from Singapore’s major racial and religious communities alongside people distinguished in public service or community relations.
The council will recommend to the President on restraining orders made under the new Act or under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990, and will report to the Minister or Parliament on matters referred to it.
Constitutional amendments give the President discretion to refuse an appointment to the council where the President does not concur with the advice of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.
Restraining orders
The Act allows the Minister for Home Affairs to issue restraining orders against people involved in communicating, producing or distributing content that prejudices racial harmony. An order takes effect as soon as a copy is given to the person, and failure to comply is an offence. Where the council’s recommendation and the Cabinet’s advice differ, the President may confirm, cancel or vary the order.
Offences moved out of the Penal Code
Sections 298 and 298A of the Penal Code 1871 are repealed and superseded by sections 39 and 40 of the new Act, covering conduct that incites enmity, hatred, ill-will, hostility, contempt or ridicule against a racial group; that insults, vilifies, denigrates, threatens or abuses a person on the basis of race; or that urges violence on the basis of race. Defences carried over from the religious harmony law cover private or domestic conduct and good-faith identification of matters in order to have them removed.
A Community Remedial Initiative allows someone who has engaged in conduct prejudicial to racial harmony to take remedial action; the Public Prosecutor may weigh satisfactory completion when deciding whether to bring charges. It will not be offered in egregious cases such as incitement of violence.
Foreign influence
Designated race-based entities face safeguards already applied to religious groups: disclosure of foreign and anonymous donations, foreign affiliations and leadership composition, plus leadership restrictions. The Ministry says it will engage those entities before designating them, with a first reporting obligation in April 2028. The Minister may also issue foreign influence restraining orders against specific entities.
Not reported
The report does not say what penalties attach to the new offences or to breaching a restraining order, how many entities are expected to be designated, or whether any transitional provisions apply to conduct before 15 September. It does not carry comment from critics of the legislation, and does not address what the changes mean for Sri Lankan nationals living and working in Singapore.
The account is drawn from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ own statement.
