(a) Read the articles below:
1. “Woman who made comments about race charged with public nuisance, acting against racial harmony”. (Channel News Asia, 18 June 2021).
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/tan-beow-hiong-video-race-chargedpublic-nuisance-15039146 cid=fbcna&fbclid=IwAR1kamAbOsIsNbaDcD9tv7uZDI6wgPyQrPBF9zloC0ia6UIXK-BaSyk0qA
2. “Police investigating viral video of woman banging a gong while the neighbor was performing prayer ritual”. (Today Online, 10 June 2021).
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/police-investigating-viral-video-woman-banginggong-while-neighbour-was-performing-prayer
3. “Woman seen without a mask in viral videos asks court for ‘immunity as a citizen’ due to ‘past SAF cases”. (Today Online, 15 June 2021).
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/woman-seen-without-mask-viral-videos-asks-courtimmunity-citizen-due-past-saf-cases#mdcrecs_s
4. “Racial preferences cross the line into racism when overt and imposed on others, says Shanmugam”. (The Straits Times, 10 June 2021).
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/racial-preferences-cross-the-line-into-racismwhen-overt-and-imposed-on-others
The articles above show how various infringements have been made that seem to undermine Singapore’s multiracial, multicultural social fabric and social order; and the state’s response to these infringements. How would the sociological imagination help you make sense of the situations here and the state’s response to these? Given your knowledge of the various sociological perspectives, explain why some others may have differing views.
Your essay should apply relevant theories and concepts from the course. You can include insights from your broader understanding of the issue in Singapore. Further research may be needed to support your argument.