Live statuteSupportedSGRacial hatred
s.298A
Penal Code 1871
- Target
- Promoting enmity between racial groups, or acts prejudicial to racial harmony that disturb public tranquillity
- Test
- Knowing promotion or attempted promotion, on grounds of race, of disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different racial groups; or an act known to be prejudicial to harmony that disturbs or is likely to disturb public tranquillity.
- Max
- 3 years, or fine, or both
Whoever — (a) by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, knowingly promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of race, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will between different racial groups; or (b) commits any act which he knows is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquility, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both.
Official English, Singapore Statutes Online, Penal Code 1871 s.298A as amended by Act 31 of 2019 (in force 1 November 2022). Religion-related limbs were moved to the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990.
Cite · Penal Code 1871 (2020 Rev Ed), s.298A · as of 2026-09-05
- Do not treat s.298A as Israel §24.
- Overlay. Not a listed-speech / independent-praise terrorism crime.
- From 1 November 2022 the section is race-only. Religious enmity lives in the MRHA.