Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Singapore Leaders Condemn Racist Posts Tied to Nepal Floods
Singaporean leaders are upset about racist comments posted online.
The comments were connected to deadly floods in Nepal and arguments about Air India.
Some posts targeted Indians and Singaporeans who were missing after the floods.
Police are investigating the comments.
Officials may ask social media companies to remove posts that break their rules.
Senior Minister K Shanmugam said people should not hide behind anonymous accounts.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said racism must not become accepted in Singapore.
Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also urged people to stand together across racial and religious groups.
Critics separately questioned Singapore Airlines’ investment in financially troubled Air India.
Singapore police are investigating racist and xenophobic comments linked to Nepal-Tibet floods and Singapore Airlines’ Air India investment.
Senior Minister K Shanmugam called the comments “shameful” and “totally unacceptable,” while Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said prejudice must not become normalised.
Authorities may ask social media platforms to remove posts that breach their guidelines, and Shanmugam said offenders should not hide behind anonymity.
Nine Singaporeans remained missing after August 26 floods that killed more than 1,000 people in Nepal, with at least 589 foreign nationals also missing.
Critics questioned whether Singaporean taxpayers should indirectly support Air India’s costly turnaround through Singapore Airlines and Temasek Holdings.
- Who
- Singapore police, Senior Minister K Shanmugam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information are responding to the posts.
- What
- Authorities are investigating racist and xenophobic online comments and may seek removal of posts that violate platform rules.
- When
- Shanmugam announced the police investigation on Saturday, and Wong and Lee commented on Sunday; the floods began on August 26.
- Where
- The comments appeared online in Singapore and concerned floods near the Nepal-Tibet border.
- Why
- Officials said unchecked racism could become normalised, damage social harmony, and deepen mistrust between communities.
Authorities’ Position
Critics’ Position
Response to racist posts
Authorities’ Position
Singapore leaders say the comments are unacceptable, should be investigated, and must not be allowed to become normalised or harm social cohesion.
Critics’ Position
The reports provide no substantive defense of the racist comments, although some media outlets removed particularly offensive posts.
Air India investment
Authorities’ Position
Authorities say criticism of Singapore Airlines’ Air India investment was accompanied by anti-Indian abuse and should not be used to fuel racial hostility.
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 losses.
Online accountability
Authorities’ Position
Shanmugam said those responsible should be identified and dealt with rather than protected by online anonymity.
Critics’ Position
The reports do not identify a competing position on whether the commenters should be unmasked.
- Missing Singaporeans
- Nine Singaporeans remained unaccounted for after the Nepal floods.
- Flood deaths
- More than 1,000 people had died in Nepal, according to the reports.
- Flood cause and date
- An ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered floods on August 26.
- Missing foreign nationals
- 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.
- Corporate relationship
- Singapore Airlines is majority-owned by Temasek Holdings, a Singapore government-owned investment firm.
- Singapore demographics
- Singapore has more than six million people; about 75% are Chinese, 15% Malay, and 9% Indian.
