Workers’ Party (WP)’s chief and Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh, said in a lengthy Facebook post that bigotry should be called out even if they are said in a private setting.
His post was shared in response to the viral incident where a Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer, Tan Boon Lee, who made racist remarks towards an interracial couple in Singapore, saying that the Indian man was preying on Chinese girls.
Hard truths
Singh mentioned that Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, also had his concerns about interracial relationships in his 2011 book Hard Truths, saying that if his daughter wished to marry a black African, he would tell her that she’s mad.
However, in the same book, Lee also identified “inter-marriages” as being an example of how some racial communities can integrate better than others.
Singh said:
“It would seem that Mr Lee had both public and private views about inter-racial marriages and these turned on the context of his observations about specific aspects of Singapore society.”
Singh also said that attitudes on race do change, and that reservations can give way to acceptance over time.
He added that parents become more accepting of interracial relationships when they “see the happiness in their children’s eyes”.
Racist man crossed the line
Singh then described the incident with the racist lecturer as being a “serious and fatal misjudgement” and that he crossed a line.
Singh said:
“Bigoted views, even if privately held, have a nasty habit of showing themselves up opportunistically in day-to-day circumstances.”
“It would be important for those who host such private views to reflect deeply on how these can hurt themselves and more importantly, those around them.”
“When it comes to racism – there can be no ifs or buts.”
Call out bigoted views
Singh then added:
“As a multi-racial and increasingly multi-cultural, but most importantly – secular society – the public space is a shared space which is for all Singaporeans – regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation etc to participate actively in.”
“We are of course entitled to our private views – but should we not as a society call out bigoted private views with a view to make the public space safer and accommodative for all?
“Doing so would be a learning opportunity to self-reflect, unpack our preconceived notions and in doing so, determine what sort of society we aspire to be.”
Silver lining
The incident has shown that Singaporeans are able to recognise what is wrong and condemn it, with Singh calling it a silver lining.
“That many of all ages and persuasions have done so in response to Mr Tan’s racist diatribe, in a determined, yet restrained manner, represents a silver lining.”
“The swift backlash from the public and politicians of all stripes have also shown that such views are not acceptable in the Singapore of today, even if we continue to live with the comfortable truth that they persist.”
WP will work to eradicate bigotry and racism
Singh also maintained that his party with work to eradicate racism and bigotry.
“Going forward, my colleagues in the Workers’ Party and I will appeal for greater understanding and mutual respect from all, even as we work to promote efforts to eradicate the bigotry and racism that many Singaporeans – both young and old – seek to consign to history.”
Images source: Dave Park Ash and Pritam Singh on Facebook