‘Downright heartless’: PAP MP Alex Yam calls out commenters for cruel remarks toward missing Singaporeans in Nepal
'I would hate to think that this is what we have become — that even when lives may have been lost, we still cannot put aside race and resentment for one moment,' he wrote in a Facebook post. This article ( ‘Downright heartless’: PAP MP Alex Yam calls out commenters for cruel remarks toward missing Singaporeans in Nepal ) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News .
Singapore's Marsiling–Yew Tee Member of Parliament, Alex Yam, expressed outrage over online comments made towards Singaporeans who are among the thousands missing after Nepal’s devastating flash floods on August 26. In a Facebook and Instagram post on Monday, Mr Yam highlighted the names of the nine missing Singaporeans, emphasizing their identity as "Nine of our own."
While mourning the tragic loss, Mr Yam noted that cruel comments were directed at the missing individuals, questioning their Singaporean identity. These comments ranged from doubts about their appearance or names to suggesting that Singapore should import more people, or worse, hoping they would remain stranded or die. Mr Yam sternly condemned such remarks, stating that, "Seriously??
People are missing. Their families are waiting, hoping, praying. And somehow, for some people, this becomes an opportunity to decide who is Singaporean enough?" He argued against politicizing the tragedy, urging people to show compassion and uphold their humanity during this crisis. Mr Yam expressed his hope that commenters responsible for the insensitive remarks would be identified as trolls, and that Singaporeans would rise above race and resentment during such a difficult time.
He ended his post with a prayer for the safe return of the missing, emphasizing that before race, nationality, or politics, there are families desperately hoping for the safe return of their loved ones.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
