Kenneth Tiong condemns racism, says Air India questions 'purely commercial'

Kenneth Tiong, a Workers' Party MP, has clarified his criticisms of Air India, stating that his concerns were purely commercial in nature. He condemned racist comments surrounding the subject, describing them as "shameful, nasty, and totally unacceptable."

Tiong's comments came to light following a social media post on August 26, where he expressed his stance on the matter. He stated that he would not support nor expect any future use of Singapore's state-owned investment company, Temasek, to prop up Air India via Singapore Airlines. Tiong emphasized that no one, Singaporeans included, owed Air India a living.

In response to Senior Minister and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam's questioning of the intent behind Tiong's social media post, Shanmugam condemned racist online comments as shameful and unacceptable. He urged Tiong to provide clarity on his intentions and to examine the facts presented, questioning whether his concerns were responsible.

Shanmugam also highlighted that Tiong is entitled to his views and the right to question SIA and Temasek Holdings, the majority shareholder of SIA. However, he stressed that these views and any ministerial or MP opinions should not dictate the commercial judgment of SIA's management and board of directors.

When asked about his response to Shanmugam's comments, Tiong affirmed that he agreed that racism had no place in society. He condemned racist comments about Singaporeans missing in Nepal as shameful and any attacks on individuals' motives based on their ethnicity without reservation. Tiong reiterated that anyone who takes the oath of citizenship becomes part of the Singaporean family and nation, and any attempt to create a division between native-born and naturalized citizens is morally wrong.

Tiong elaborated on his commercial concerns regarding the Air India deal. He pointed out that Air India had lost over S$3.5 billion in 2025, with SIA bearing over S$800 million of the loss. The airline is now seeking an additional S$1.5 billion (S$1.9 billion) from its shareholders to fund a turnaround that could take up to 10 years. Tiong questioned the long-term implications of such investments and the potential burden on Singaporeans if the deal went wrong, particularly in terms of tax implications and quality of life.