What is the Community Remedial Initiative?

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The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) was enacted in 1990 to provide for powers to maintain religious harmony in Singapore. Following close consultations with religious leaders, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) introduced amendments to the MRHA to strengthen ability to safeguard against threats to our religious harmony. If someone has hurt the feelings of another religious community, the Community Remedial Initiative (CRI) allows them to make amends to the affected community and learn more about our multi-religious society. Under the CRI, the Minister for Home Affairs may offer a person who has wounded the feelings of another religious community an opportunity to perform activities to help him better understand the affected religious community, and mend ties with them. The CRI is not mandatory. The alleged offender can refuse to take up this offer, and the non-completion or refusal of the CRI will not be a criminal offence. At the same time, if the offender agrees to complete the remedial actions and does so, the Minister undertakes not to refer this case for criminal prosecution. However, the CRI will not be available for serious offences - criminal prosecution will be recommended to signal that such conduct will not be tolerated in Singapore. Please visit https://www.mha.gov.sg/what-we-do/managing-security-threats/maintaining-racial-and-religious-harmony/ for more information.

What is the Community Remedial Initiative?

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