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Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: SDP chief Chee Soon Juan apologises for candidate Gigene Wong's racial slur at rally
The SDP's Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC candidate Gigene Wong speaking next to party chief Chee Soon Juan at a rally in Sembawang on April 27. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan apologised to Singaporeans on April 27, after the party's Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC candidate Gigene Wong used a racial slur on her teammate Ariffin Sha. At the start of the party's rally at the field next to Sun Plaza in Sembawang, SDP chief Chee Soon Juan said: 'There are no ifs, no ands, no buts. The term that Gigene used was offensive and hurtful. And we are deeply sorry that she used it. He added that Dr Wong had expressed deep remorse, and the party had also given her a'stern warning and expressed in no uncertain terms that the SDP does not tolerate such behavior'. At the party's rally on April 26, Dr Wong, speaking in Mandarin, Hokkien and English, had referred to her running mate Ariffin Sha as 'keling kia', a derogatory term historically used to demean people of Indian descent. She also mispronounced his name several times, calling him 'elephant' instead of 'Ariffin'. Her remarks and faux pas at the rally at Evergreen Primary School had caused an uproar on social media over the weekend, leading her to issue two public apologies on Facebook. In his first remarks since the episode, Mr Ariffin, a legal executive, said he was shocked and at a loss for words when Dr Wong appallingly used the 'k-word'. He said he had sent a clip of the speech to a friend who could understand Hokkien to check if it might have been a 'misquote' but that it was not. Many people, including his mother, had messaged him after watching the rally, he added. 'The honest truth is that such remarks are not new. And no, it is not casual racism, because there's nothing casual about racism,' he said. 'I can accept that there was no malice (by Dr Wong), but intention is irrelevant when it comes to such matters…Honestly, it stings like hell, especially from someone close to you. What happened yesterday has no place in Singapore, let alone a rally stage' added Mr Ariffin, who is also the founder of alternative news site Wake Up Singapore. Dr Chee had explained that Dr Wong – a former businesswoman and now a full-time caregiver – did not know of the racially offensive term's negative connotation. 'This is, however, no excuse, and we want to express how deeply sorry we are, and we recognise the pain this episode has caused,' he added, saying sorry especially to those from the Indian community. SDP candidates took a bow in apology at the party's rally in Sembawang on April 27. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG Addressing the crowd after Dr Chee, Dr Wong described the episode as a 'difficult and necessary learning experience', adding that the offensive phrase was not in the original speech she had prepared. 'Although I honestly was not aware of the term and (how derogatory it is), this does not change the fact that using it was extremely disrespectful and harmful. 'I have been counseled by my party colleagues, and I'm deeply sorry for what I have said, and the pain and the anger that have caused. I humbly seek your forgiveness on this matter, and hope to be given another chance to make amends,' said Dr Wong. She said she had also apologised privately to Mr Ariffin. Acknowledging this, Mr Arffin said his running mate was under the impression that 'it was a neutral term that Hokkien speakers use to refer to Indians'. But he added that he was not going to justify her behavior or make any excuses for her. 'I just want to state that there is no room for racism in Singapore, intentional or otherwise,' he said. He also thanked Dr Chee, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah and the party's communications team for allowing him to address the issue directly, adding he was glad they did not ask him to 'laugh it off or shrug it off'. Taking the stage at the end of this segment, Dr Tambyah said the bottomline was that a mistake was made but that responsibility had been taken. 'These are the values of the SDP, we do not throw anyone under the bus. When we make a mistake we admit it, we admit we're wrong and we take the consequences,' he said. All SDP candidates at the rally then went on stage – including Dr Chee, Professor Tambyah and Dr Wong – and took a bow in apology. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Online Citizen
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Paul Tambyah questions Ho Ching's repost, warns against foreign interference in Singapore affairs
SINGAPORE: Speaking at a rally in Sembawang West SMC at Evergreen Primary School on 26 April 2025, Dr Paul Tambyah, chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), reiterated the party's firm opposition to any form of foreign interference in Singapore's elections. During his speech, Tambyah referenced a recent incident involving Ho Ching, spouse of former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Ho had shared an article by Polish blogger Michael Petraeus, known as 'Critical Spectator', which likened Chinese President Xi Jinping to a 'mafia boss'. Tambyah highlighted that the article, written by a foreigner living in Singapore, may influence foreign relations. He remarked that the issue only gained prominence because it was reposted by 'one of the most powerful women in the world,' referring to Ho Ching, whose salary remains undisclosed. While acknowledging that foreigners are free to express opinions about Singapore, Tambyah emphasised that they should not interfere in the country's domestic or foreign affairs. His remarks raised questions about whether Ho's sharing of the article implied endorsement of its harsh criticisms of Xi Jinping. By the morning of 23 April, checks revealed that Ho's repost was no longer accessible on her page. Prior to this, it had attracted over 1,500 comments and been shared more than 400 times, reflecting significant public engagement. Separately, at a press conference on 26 April, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong responded to a question on foreign interference. He outlined the government's general criteria for assessing foreign interference risks but did not specifically address whether entities such as Critical Spectator, which publicly comment on political matters, pose concerns for the upcoming General Election (GE2025). Call for dismantling of CMIO classification Tambyah expressed support for ending identity politics in his rally speech. He strongly advocated for scrapping Singapore's CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Others) racial classification system, calling it outdated and exclusionary. Tambyah pointed out that CMIO was introduced by colonial authorities to divide the population. He noted that the system marginalises communities such as the Arabs, Armenians, and Jews, who have contributed significantly to Singapore's history. He argued that ethnic-based self-help groups perpetuate divisions and lead to resource duplication. Tambyah urged the government to 'walk the talk' by eliminating racial classifications that no longer reflect Singapore's diverse society, where inter-racial marriages are common. Tambyah cited Cherian George, Professor of Media Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University, who asserted that Singapore's real fault lines are between rulers and the ruled, rather than between different ethnic or religious groups. Tambyah observed that these divisions were entrenched during both the colonial and People's Action Party (PAP) eras. Criticism of PAP's stance on minimum wage Turning to economic issues, Tambyah criticised the PAP for its resistance to implementing a universal minimum wage. He countered remarks by Siow, a PAP candidate for Chua Chu Kang GRC, who claimed that calls for a minimum wage of S$2,250 were more political than practical. Siow had argued that the PAP's Progressive Wage Model, targeting specific sectors, was more effective. Separately, Gan Siow Huang, PAP candidate for Marymount, dismissed alternative parties' minimum wage proposals as simplistic and impractical. Tambyah defends the living wage approach In response, Tambyah questioned why the PAP preferred complex solutions over straightforward guarantees. He asserted that a universal living wage ensures basic necessities for families, supports fair competition with foreigners, and protects migrant workers from exploitation. Tambyah cited the example of a bus company offering starting salaries of S$5,000, which drew over 1,300 Singaporean applicants for 20 to 30 positions. This, he said, disproves the stereotype that Singaporeans are unwilling to work but highlights the demand for fair wages. Tambyah noted that fears about mass unemployment due to minimum wage policies were unfounded, given that the PAP's Progressive Wage Model functions similarly to a minimum wage without causing economic collapse.
CNA
27-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: SDP's Gigene Wong apologises twice for using racial slur to describe own party candidate at rally
SINGAPORE: Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Gigene Wong has issued two separate apologies after she used a racial slur to describe fellow candidate Ariffin Sha during a rally at Evergreen Primary School on Saturday (Apr 26) night. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Dr Wong, 59, apologised for using a term that was "offensive towards our Indian community", adding that she was "not aware of the real meaning behind it". "My sincere apologies!" she said. In a second Facebook post on Sunday morning, Dr Wong again apologised for the comment, saying it "disrespected" Mr Ariffin. "I also understand that it offended the Indian community. I have been counselled by my party members about the word and now I understand it is offensive," she added. "My comments were very hurtful and unacceptable. I am fully responsible for them. My original vetted speech did not include the comment I said which happened impromptu. There is no excuse and I am sorry for all the pain and anger that I caused." During her rally speech, Dr Wong, who spoke in a mix of Mandarin, English and Hokkien, used the term "keling kia" to describe Mr Ariffin, and labelled the 27-year-old as the party's "future Pritam Singh" as he talks well. "Keling kia" is a derogatory term in Hokkien that is used to describe Indians. Dr Wong and Mr Ariffin are part of SDP's slate contesting Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, along with SDP's organising secretary Jufri Salim and theatre director Alec Tok. SDP is fielding 11 candidates across four constituencies in the upcoming polls on May 3 - Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Sembawang GRC, Sembawang West SMC and Bukit Panjang SMC. Eight people spoke at the rally at Evergreen Primary School, which is located in Sembawang West SMC, including SDP chairman Paul Tambyah and SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan. Mr Ariffin, who was not one of the speakers on Saturday night, is the founder of alternative news outlet Wake Up Singapore. This is Mr Ariffin's electoral debut, though he was the assistant secretary-general of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) before he reportedly resigned in 2020, while Dr Wong was the Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) candidate in Hong Kah North SMC in 2020.
