On Friday, 21st July, a heartbreaking incident occurred at an HDB block in Yishun, Singapore, where a police officer was found motionless at the foot of the building. Tragically, the officer succumbed to his injuries, sending shockwaves throughout the nation.
However, what made this incident even more significant were the allegations of racial discrimination and toxic workplace practices by the deceased, who penned a lengthy facebook post exposing his alleged tormentors before his death.
Amidst the grief and sorrow surrounding the officer’s passing, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam took it upon himself to visit the wake of the deceased officer to address the concerns and provide support to the grieving family.
The Minister’s Visit: A Gesture of Support
On Sunday, 23rd July, Minister K. Shanmugam was seen at Block 393 Yishun Avenue 6, where the funeral of the deceased police officer, Sergeant Uvaraja S/O Gopal, was held.
Mr. Shanmugam’s presence at the wake was not only in his capacity as a Member of Parliament for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) but also to support the family during this difficult time. He was accompanied by Mr. Derrick Goh, who represents Sgt. Uvaraja’s constituency.
It is a customary practice for Members of Parliament to attend the wakes of residents within their respective constituencies as a way of showing their empathy and concern for the people they represent.
Providing Closure and Clarity
During his visit to the wake, Mr. Shanmugam expressed his desire to bring closure to the family members of Sgt. Uvaraja. He acknowledged that the family was unaware of certain aspects of the late officer’s situation, which led to the minister taking the time to explain these matters to them.
By doing so, he hoped to provide the family with a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding their Sgt Uvaraja’s passing.
Mr. Shanmugam assured the family that after the funeral, the authorities would provide them with support and further explanations regarding the issues they would have to face, but declined to reveal to the media what he spoke about with the family out of respect.
Thorough Investigation of Allegations
Addressing the serious allegations made by Sgt. Uvaraja, Mr. Shanmugam reiterated that the claims would be subjected to a thorough investigation. As the minister responsible for the SPF under his Home Affairs portfolio, he emphasized the importance of taking such matters seriously.
He pointed out that approximately 40% of police officers in Singapore are from minority races and the the police acknowledges that failure to investigate allegations like these meticulously could lead to a loss of public trust in the police force, and that they will get to the bottom of the matter.