1 hr ago
Singapore vows action against racist posts over floods, Air India
Singaporean officials are investigating hurtful racist comments posted online.
The comments were about a deadly flood disaster in Nepal and about Air India.
Some comments targeted Indians and Singaporeans who were missing after the floods.
Minister K Shanmugam said people should not be allowed to hide behind anonymous accounts.
Officials may ask social media companies to remove posts that break their rules.
More than 1,000 people had died in Nepal, and nine Singaporeans were still missing.
Singapore Airlines is connected to Air India through its investment and through Temasek Holdings.
The government says racism must not become normal because Singapore has people from different races and religions.
Singapore police are investigating racist and xenophobic online comments about Nepal-Tibet floods and Air India.
Senior Minister K Shanmugam called the comments “shameful” and “totally unacceptable.”
Authorities may ask social media platforms to remove posts that breach their guidelines.
Nine Singaporeans remained missing after the August 26 flash floods, which killed more than 1,000 people in Nepal.
Critics have questioned whether Singaporean taxpayers should indirectly support Air India’s costly turnaround through Singapore Airlines and Temasek Holdings.
- Who
- Singapore police, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and Senior Minister K Shanmugam are responding to online comments; the comments targeted Indians and Singaporeans.
- What
- Authorities are investigating and seeking the removal of racist and xenophobic online posts linked to the Nepal-Tibet floods and criticism of Air India.
- Where
- The investigation concerns online posts in Singapore about the disaster near the Nepal-Tibet border.
- When
- The announcement was made on Saturday; the floods were triggered on August 26.
- Why
- Officials said the comments were unacceptable and could damage Singapore’s multiracial and multi-religious social harmony.
Authorities’ position
Critics’ position
Response to racist comments
Authorities’ position
Authorities say the comments are shameful and unacceptable, should be investigated, and may need to be removed by social media platforms.
Critics’ position
The article does not provide a defense of the comments; it reports that some media outlets removed particularly offensive posts.
Air India investment
Authorities’ position
The government linked criticism of Singapore Airlines’ Air India investment to anti-Indian and racist online abuse and warned against normalising racism.
Critics’ position
Critics and opposition leaders question whether Singaporean taxpayer funds should indirectly support Air India’s prolonged and costly turnaround while the airline suffers heavy financial losses.
Key facts
- Missing Singaporeans
- Nine Singaporeans remained unaccounted for after the Nepal flash floods.
- Flood deaths
- More than 1,000 people had died in Nepal, according to the report.
- Flood trigger
- An ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered the flash floods on August 26.
- Foreign nationals missing
- At least 589 foreign nationals remained missing as of Saturday.
- Relief fundraising
- The Singapore Red Cross raised more than SGD 3 million for relief efforts in Nepal.
- Air India ownership link
- Singapore Airlines is majority-owned by Temasek Holdings, a Singapore government-owned investment firm.
- Population composition
- Singapore has more than six million people; ethnic Chinese make up about 75%, Malays about 15%, and Indians about 9%.
Quotes
K Shanmugam
Singapore Senior Minister and Home Affairs Minister
“I've decided to call out these people because you see what is happening in other countries. First, a minority says these nasty things; slowly it becomes normalised; then it becomes mainstream”
telegraphindia.com
“These people should be unmasked and dealt with, rather than be allowed to hide behind online anonymity”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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