Mengkaji dengan Hati: Research with Care

At Orang Laut SG, we believe that ethical, community-first approaches to collaboration with the Orang Pulau have immense potential to uplift the community and amplify their voices. After more than five years of working with and advocating alongside Orang Pulau communities in Singapore, we have seen both meaningful partnerships and instances where extractive practices caused harm to the organisation and the community. In some cases, there is little to no recognition for the time taken and the knowledge and expertise shared by our community members.

Hence, Orang Laut SG intend to offer a foundation for our partners—researchers, media organisations, policymakers and more—to understand community perspectives, foster open dialogue, and set clear expectations to build equitable partnerships that support community needs. Shaped by focus group discussions with the community and experts in 2024, this Ethical Toolkit contains principles of ethical engagement that guide present and future collaborators in building just, generative and equitable partnerships with the Orang Pulau community and beyond. 

This launch event is organised to share the project's outcomes and recognise the contributions of the Orang Pulau community members, many of whom are intangible cultural heritage practitioners, as well as past and present partners of Orang Laut SG. 

We hope this toolkit can also serve as a resource and aid for our partners in fostering meaningful and respectful engagement with other vulnerable communities that they work with in Singapore. 

This toolkit was developed in collaboration with Chia Jie Lin, a researcher from the University of Hawaii, and with the contribution of other experts, professionals and researchers such as Dr Vivienne Wee.

📍 National Library Building, Level 5

📆 25 February 2026, 6:30-8:30 PM

*Food and drinks will be provided. Sign up via the link in our bio to secure your spot. Seats are limited!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

National Library / Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore, Singapore

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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