2022: Defined marriage as between man and woman

The majority in our society, including the Malay/Muslim community, value and wish to uphold the traditional view of family, where marriage is between a man and a woman, with children raised in such a family setting.

The Government is fully supportive of this. Our position on marriage and family is clear, and this has consistently been reflected in our policies and legislation. The conventional definition of marriage is set out in our laws – in the Women’s Charter and the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA). Many of Singapore’s policies are based on that definition, including adoption, housing, education, and media.

https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=bill-607

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2022: Supported the constitutional amendment

With the Constitutional amendment, the Government is taking steps to protect the definition of marriage and related laws and policies from constitutional challenges. This would ensure that any changes to the definition of marriage can only be debated and decided through Parliament, and not through the Courts.  

https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=bill-607

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2022: Supported the repeal of Section 377A

If we look at the various challenges mounted against Section 377A over the years, we can expect similar challenges to the definition of marriage and laws and policies based on this definition.

https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=bill-607

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2022: No changes to sex education, media, marriage, family

Some also shared their fears – that the repeal of Section 377A would open the floodgates for same-sex marriage and same-sex family formation, normalising LGBT discourse in our society, and lead to knock-on effects pertaining to sex education in schools, normalising the portrayal of LGBT relationships in the media, and so on.

I would like to reassure the community that there will be no change to the Government’s position on marriage and family.

The Government has no plans to change the definition of marriage to include same-sex marriages. Similarly, policies relying on the current definition of marriage will remain unchanged. This has also been echoed by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong that this Government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage, nor the policies that rely on this definition.

https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=bill-607

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2022: Government will respect religious freedom

Second, some are concerned that the push for LGBT rights would infringe on religious freedom.

I would like to clarify that the repeal will not affect the religious freedom of the Malay/Muslim community which will continue to be constitutionally protected.

Malay/Muslim community leaders and asatizah can continue to preach freely on Islamic beliefs about homosexuality, including doing so online to engage more youths on the matter, as long as it is done respectfully, and does not cross redlines of inciting violence or hate towards others. The community should also take reference from Mufti's guidance.

https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=bill-607

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2019: University classrooms are not for activism

First, as an academic myself, I agree with the Member that, in the classroom, activism is incompatible with the role of an academic, if one is to be able to critically assess issues from different perspectives. This is not to say that academics should only be constrained to writing papers for publications. Academics are strongly encouraged to translate their work into real world impact, be it through technological innovations or public policy recommendations. This is also not to say that all classes need to be about open-ended inquiry. There is significant space for applied learning and teaching of practical skills. But these should be guided by the objectives of education and learning and the acquisition of competencies that prepare students for work. Academics can hold their own views on various issues but they should not mobilise support for partisan causes in the course of teaching and mentoring students.

Second, our universities should provide a space where different ideas and perspectives are explored and objectively and rigorously debated. Indeed, a key attribute of liberalism is a spirit of tolerance, openness and acceptance that different people may have different views. Our educational institutions play a vital role in nurturing students into adults who are open-minded and can critically assess ideas, beliefs and policies put before them. And, likewise, be prepared for their own ideas and actions to be assessed, all in an objective and respectful manner.

https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=matter-adj-1219

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2019: Universities must respect our local context

Third, as Minister Ong Ye Kung said earlier, our Universities, being based in Singapore, must operate within Singapore's laws and recognise our particular social and cultural context, like everyone else.

https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=matter-adj-1219