7 days ago
Ex-NMP Calvin Cheng resolves differences with ex-SDP chairman after latter retracts comments
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Former NMP Calvin Cheng (right) and former SDP chairman Mohamed Jufrie Mahmood said they have resolved their differences amicably.
SINGAPORE – Former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng and former Singapore Democratic Party chairman Mohamed Jufrie Mahmood have resolved their differences amicably.
In separate Facebook posts on Aug 12, the two men said they met to talk after Mr Cheng sued Mr Jufrie for defamation and were able to agree to disagree.
In March, Mr Cheng made remarks about activists who had
turned up and caused a scene at a Meet-the-People Session in Chong Pang.
Mr Cheng had proposed sending them to Gaza as long as they did not return.
Mr Jufrie then claimed that Mr Cheng had a track record of anti-Muslim sentiment and supported genocide, among other comments.
In April, Mr Cheng then came out to say he was
deeply remorseful for his initial comments and that he should have been more sensitive.
He added that some other statements were wrongly attributed to him and that he had to take legal action as the untrue statements were damaging to him.
One of the people he took action against was Mr Jufrie.
On Aug 12, Mr Jufrie posted that both he and Mr Cheng have strong opinions about the situation in Gaza.
He said they agreed to meet and were able to have a pleasant discussion, after which he accepted that Mr Cheng is neither a racist nor an Islamophobe.
'While I thought Mr Cheng was insensitive, which he accepts, I now recognise that I was too harsh in some of my other comments,' said Mr Jufrie.
'In (the) light of our meeting and further information made available to me, we both agreed to resolve our differences amicably and the court case.'
He said he retracted his previous statements that criticised Mr Cheng's character and that implied he had committed criminal offences.
Mr Cheng posted a photo of the two men standing side by side and noted Mr Jufrie's retractions.
He said: 'Gaza is a divisive and emotive issue. But as Singaporeans, we can agree to disagree.
'We agreed we both want the best for Singapore.'
