Different races and religions co-exist peacefully in Singapore, but fault lines are starting to show as the world at large grapples with the challenges of multiculturalism. How can one address these sensitive issues as people talk more openly about them?

This episode’s guests are Low Sze Wee, CEO of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre; and singer-songwriter Jamiel Said, a singer, performer, and composer of an award-winning love song in Malay and Chinese, called Ku Mahu 在乎 .

Together they discuss what multiculturalism means in Singapore today, whether the country can or should become a true melting pot, and how we can enable an open and civil dialogue about race issues.

Find out more about multiculturalism and race in Singapore:
The Straits Times (1 September 2020): Rethinking approach to policies and politics in a time of change
IPS Commons (19 August 2020): Why Singapore needs new ways to tackle racism more effectively
Channel NewsAsia (27 August 2020): Heart of the Matter: The conversation on race and multiculturalism younger Singaporeans want
CNA – IPS Survey on Race Relations (August 2016)
IPS Survey on Race, Religion and Language (2013 – 2014)

About our guests:

Low Sze Wee

Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Since April 2018, Low Sze Wee has been Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. He is an award-winning curator with management experience.

He was previously Director (Curatorial, Collections and Education) at the National Gallery Singapore and involved in strategic arts planning and policy in the former Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

Sze Wee is the first Singaporean to be selected as a Fellow for the Clore Leadership Programme in 2013. He was a practising lawyer prior to his transition into the arts and cultural sector.

Jamiel Said

Singer-songwriter

Jamiel is an established singer-songwriter, producer and content creator from Singapore. He is the creative director of Melody Central, a team of musicians that provides live music, DJ and emcee services for weddings.

In 2019, the song Ku Mahu 在乎 (I Want to Care in a mix of Malay and Chinese) won the SCCC Xchange Award at SG:SW I Write the Songs songwriting competition, which aims to encourage compositions with strong multi-ethnic elements. It was composed by Jamiel, with lyrics by him and Lim Wei Bin.

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Find out more about the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), a research centre of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Follow IPS on Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram to keep updated on upcoming events and discussions.

On Diversity is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Deputy Director Ong Soh Chin chats with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making, and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.

More from On Diversity:
Episode 1: The Cancelled and the Woke with career journalist Lydia Lim and poet and writer Theophilus Kwek
Episode 2: Reclaiming Dementia with Dr Chen Shiling, dementia physician, and Johnson Soh, founder of SanCare Asia 

Different races and religions co-exist peacefully in Singapore, but fault lines are starting to show as the world at large grapples with the challenges of multiculturalism. How can one address these sensitive issues as people talk more openly about them?
This episode&rsquo;s guests are Low Sze Wee, CEO of the <a href="https://singaporeccc.org.sg/">Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre</a>; and singer-songwriter Jamiel Said, a singer, performer, and composer of an award-winning love song in Malay and Chinese, called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbvf3SKyh44">Ku Mahu 在乎</a> .
Together they discuss what multiculturalism means in Singapore today, whether the country can or should become a true melting pot, and how we can enable an open and civil dialogue about race issues.
Find out more about multiculturalism and race in Singapore:
<ul>
<li>The Straits Times (1 September 2020): <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/rethinking-approach-to-policies-and-politics-in-a-time-of-change">Rethinking approach to policies and politics in a time of change</a></li>
<li>IPS Commons (19 August 2020): <a href="https://ipscommons.sg/why-singapore-needs-new-ways-to-tackle-racism-more-effectively/">Why Singapore needs new ways to tackle racism more effectively</a></li>
<li>Channel NewsAsia (27 August 2020): <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/podcasts/heart-of-the-matter/race-diversity-multiculturalism-singapore-ethnicity-conversation-13059238">Heart of the Matter: The conversation on race and multiculturalism younger Singaporeans want</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/docs/default-source/ips/CNA-IPS-survey-on-race-relations_190816.pdf">CNA &ndash; IPS Survey on Race Relations (August 2016)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/ips/events/details/singapore-perspectives-2014-differences">IPS Survey on Race, Religion and Language (2013 &ndash; 2014)</a></li>
</ul>
About our guests:
Low Sze Wee
Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Since April 2018, Low Sze Wee has been Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. He is an award-winning curator with management experience.
He was previously Director (Curatorial, Collections and Education) at the National Gallery Singapore and involved in strategic arts planning and policy in the former Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.
Sze Wee is the first Singaporean to be selected as a Fellow for the Clore Leadership Programme in 2013. He was a practising lawyer prior to his transition into the arts and cultural sector.
Jamiel Said
Singer-songwriter
Jamiel is an established singer-songwriter, producer and content creator from Singapore. He is the creative director of Melody Central, a team of musicians that provides live music, DJ and emcee services for weddings.
In 2019, the song Ku Mahu 在乎 (I Want to Care in a mix of Malay and Chinese) won the SCCC Xchange Award at SG:SW I Write the Songs songwriting competition, which aims to encourage compositions with strong multi-ethnic elements. It was composed by Jamiel, with lyrics by him and Lim Wei Bin.
_____
Find out more about the <a href="https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/ips">Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)</a>, a research centre of the <a href="https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/">Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy</a>.
Follow IPS on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-of-policy-studies-lee-kuan-yew-school-of-public-policy/">Linkedin</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=136982159795537&amp;ref=br_rs">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ips_sg/">Instagram</a> to keep updated on upcoming events and discussions.
On Diversity is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS&rsquo; Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Deputy Director Ong Soh Chin chats with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making, and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.
More from On Diversity:
<ul>
<li>Episode 1: The Cancelled and the Woke with career journalist Lydia Lim and poet and writer Theophilus Kwek</li>
<li>Episode 2: Reclaiming Dementia with Dr Chen Shiling, dementia physician, and Johnson Soh, founder of SanCare Asia&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme.

In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.

On Diversity features new episodes every week.

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme.
In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society.
On Diversity features new episodes every week.

IPS On Diversity Podcast

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society. On Diversity features new episodes every week.

"On Diversity" is a podcast series of new insights and fresh discussions, inspired by IPS’ Managing Diversities research programme. In each episode, IPS Associate Director Liang Kaixin will chat with guests to explore what diversity means to them, the changes they are making and the changes they hope to see in an increasingly fragmented society. On Diversity features new episodes every week.

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