‘Race will always be a fault line’: Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong warns against hatred after anti-Indian abuse

Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned on September 6 that racial divisions will persist in the society, condemning the racist abuse directed at the Indian community following the Nepal flood tragedy. In a Facebook post, Lee emphasized that race and religion will always be fault lines in society, despite decades of efforts to promote tolerance and mutual respect.

He called the hateful remarks "deeply troubling" and stressed that moments of tragedy should foster compassion and solidarity, urging Singaporeans to stand by one another regardless of race, language, or religion. Lee emphasized that leaders must speak up forcefully and condemn divisive sentiments, adding that the response should go beyond hoping such sentiments fade away.

His comments followed Senior Minister K Shanmugam's statement that police were investigating racist and xenophobic online posts connected to the Nepal floods and Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India. Shanmugam described some comments as "shameful, nasty, and totally unacceptable," including references to snakes, curry, prata, and black magic.

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information would also ask social media platforms to remove comments violating their guidelines. The abuse also extended to Temasek chief executive Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, with libellous claims that he would favor Air India due to his Indian ethnicity. Lee highlighted previous moments of racial tension in Singapore, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2025 general election, underscoring that racial harmony cannot be taken for granted. He encouraged Singaporeans to live up to the ideals of the National Pledge.