{
  "id": 5967415,
  "title": "Singapore must never allow prejudice against any community to become accepted or normalised: PM Wong",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/singapore-must-never-allow-prejudice-against-any-community-to-become-5967415",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T11:49:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Business Times - Singapore",
    "slug": "the-business-times-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-must-never-allow-prejudice-against-any-community-become-accepted-or-normalised-pm-wong"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized that Singapore must never permit prejudice against any community to become accepted or normalized. In a Facebook post on September 6, Wong stressed that the Republic has thrived because it consistently rejects divisions based on race or religion, instead recognizing fellow citizens as Singaporeans. He urged Singaporeans to uphold the ideals of the National Pledge, which promotes unity regardless of race, language, or religion.\n\nWong acknowledged that there will always be individuals seeking to exploit Singapore's differences, but how the country responds is up to the citizens. While not every hateful online comment can be stopped, Singapore can reject such views and refuse to give them legitimacy by not allowing them to gain more space. He addressed anti-Indian comments emerging online following devastating floods in Nepal, where nine Singaporeans remain missing. Similar comments had also surfaced concerning Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India.\n\nWong stressed that while Singapore can engage in robust debates, seemingly legitimate arguments should not be used to fuel prejudice against any community or hostility towards foreigners. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between legitimate discourse and prejudiced behavior. If left unchecked, prejudice can become normalized, deepen mistrust between communities, and pull Singapore apart.\n\nHe discussed these issues with his Cabinet colleagues, and Senior Minister K Shanmugam spoke about the problem on September 5. Shanmugam told the media that the police are investigating the racist and xenophobic comments, describing them as \"shameful, nasty, and totally unacceptable\" with references to various stereotypes. The Ministry of Digital Development and Information will also urge platforms to remove such comments, as they violate guidelines.\n\nSenior Minister Lee Hsien Loong also spoke out against these comments on September 6, calling them deeply troubling and urging Singaporeans to reject hatred. Wong noted that online comments targeting foreigners and racism are not new, with such sentiments stirred during the Covid-19 pandemic and debates over economic agreements. He also mentioned that such views resurfaced during the 2025 General Election when attempts were made to intertwine race and religion in politics. Wong stressed that Singapore's identity must remain open and inclusive, with anyone who embraces the nation's values and way of life being part of the country.",
  "summary": "He was addressing anti-Indian comments that have emerged online following the devastating floods in Nepal",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Singapore must never allow prejudice against any community to become accepted or normalised: PM Wong",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/singapore-must-never-allow-prejudice-against-any-community-to-become",
        "published": "2026-09-06T09:14:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}