{
  "id": 6211298,
  "title": "Commentary: ‘Shameful’ racist comments after Nepal disaster should never become normal in Singapore",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/commentary-shameful-racist-comments-after-nepal-disaster-should-never",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T01:44:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Singapore",
    "slug": "cna-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/racist-comments-nepal-disaster-singapore-6367311"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Most Singaporeans reject the notion that race dictates who belongs. However, the dangerous mindset emerges when a minority's hateful views go unchecked, warn Mathew Mathews, Teo Kay Key and Melvin Tay from the Institute of Policy Studies. During this time of crisis, as families anxiously awaited news about nine Singaporeans missing after Nepal's floods, some malicious individuals on social media questioned their identities based on their names and photos. These comments went beyond mere concern and descended into outright racism. Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Manpower and Culture, Community and Youth, and Alex Yam, Member of Parliament, swiftly denounced these remarks. They emphasized that singling out someone's race to question their Singaporean identity is a form of racism. Senior Minister K Shanmugam expressed strong disapproval, calling some comments \"shameful, nasty and totally unacceptable\" and stating that the police were investigating them. However, he also stressed that the responsible individuals were a small group that shouldn't be allowed to \"poison the entire well\" of community relations. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and other political figures have also spoken out, urging Singaporeans not to allow such hateful views to normalize. It is crucial to distinguish the extreme voices on social media from the broader consensus of Singaporeans. Despite the extreme views, our research consistently shows that most Singaporeans accept multiracialism and are comfortable living and working alongside people of different races. Being born and residing in Singapore is appreciated by many, but it is not the sole defining factor. In a recent IPS-CNA survey, the most frequent response to the question \"What does it mean to be Singaporean?\" was pride in or a sense of belonging to the country (24.5%). Multiculturalism or multiracialism followed closely (23.8%), and then came being born and residing in Singapore (17.2%). While birthplace holds significance for some individuals, it is not the prevailing definition of Singaporean identity. The broader consensus is that Singaporeans can embrace diversity while expecting newcomers to make a genuine effort towards integration. We should not mistake the most offensive voices on social media for the voice of Singapore. However, dismissing these views simply because they represent a minority is equally problematic. The comments made during this disaster reveal that citizenship can be formally granted by the state yet socially rejected by fellow citizens. It is deeply troubling that a name and photo were enough for some online users to make false assumptions about individuals' citizenship. In the aftermath of the floods, some Singaporeans were unfairly judged based on their ethnicity, while the true situation was far different. The husband of one of the missing individuals, Ms Shalinny Deavy Elan Sozan, clarified his family's long-standing ties to Singapore and highlighted her own contributions to the community. These facts directly contradicted the assumptions made about her, but they should never have been necessary in the first place. The deeper issue is that some people are deemed to belong by default, while others have to prove their identity repeatedly. This dynamic has been observed during previous crises as well, such as the COVID-19 pandemic when individuals of Indian background faced racial hostility. The diversity of Singaporeans, including Indian citizens, migrant workers, foreign-born professionals, newly naturalized citizens, and Singaporean-born individuals, was evident.",
  "summary": "Most Singaporeans reject the idea that race decides who belongs. But hateful views held by a minority become dangerous the moment the majority stops objecting to them, say Mathew Mathews, Teo Kay Key and Melvin Tay from the Institute of Policy Studies.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Unchecked hateful views from a minority can erode social cohesion by making certain groups feel they must constantly prove their identity, undermining the broader consensus on multiracialism in Singapore.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Nepal disaster: Malaysian families seek answers over search areas, DNA samples",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/nepal-disaster-malaysian-families-seek-answers-over-search-areas-dna",
        "published": "2026-09-08T00:10:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Commentary: ‘Shameful’ racist comments after Nepal disaster should never become normal in Singapore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/commentary-shameful-racist-comments-after-nepal-disaster-should-never-6215066",
        "published": "2026-09-08T01:44:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}