I CONCUR with Mr Ho Kwon Ping's suggestion to abandon the CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Others) stereotypes ("S'pore must 'embrace diversity as its strength' "; April 10).
This classification is linked to the philosophy of multiracialism. It has also guided Singapore's nation building, especially in education, housing, defence, and social and family policies.
However, it has resulted in the presumption of fixed and rigid boundaries.
Each ethnic group is imagined by the state and the people as homogeneous and unified. It is the way social identity is reported and recognised.
Race is essentialised in various institutional forms, and each race is identified with a language, a culture and a religion.
Many Singaporeans identify strongly with their own racial, cultural and religious groups.
While this is to be expected, a national spirit based on such manifestations glaringly exposes the differences between the communities, as well as adds distance between the various groups, and accentuates the racial stereotypes.
Mr Ho was right to say that Singaporeans should be treated
as individuals of different socio-ethnic identities, and not compartmentalised into categories.
We should de-emphasise our Chinese-ness, Malay-ness or Indian-ness, and work together to stress similarities and forge an identity that is more integrative and cohesive.
V. Subramaniam (Dr)
