'Shameful, nasty, totally unacceptable': SM Shanmugam calls out racist comments on S'poreans missing in Nepal & SIA-Air India issue

Senior Minister K Shanmugam spoke out against racist online comments regarding missing Singaporeans in the Nepal floods and Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India. He deemed such remarks shameful, nasty, and totally unacceptable, and ordered social media platforms to remove them, while also asking the police to investigate.

Shanmugam criticized the growing trend of such comments, particularly against Indians in Singapore, and called for the unmasking and punishment of those responsible, rather than allowing them to hide behind anonymity. He emphasized the importance of maintaining Singapore's social harmony and unity, warning that tolerance of such racist views could lead to their normalization, mainstreaming, and the acceptance of violence against different races and religions.

Shanmugam also responded to Workers' Party MP Kenneth Tiong's criticism of SIA's investment in Air India, stating that Singaporeans are entitled to their views but should not interfere with Temasek Holdings' commercial judgment.