Singapore has moved to tackle a wave of racist and xenophobic comments targeting Indians online following the Nepal floods and controversy surrounding Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned that racial prejudice must never be allowed to become normalised. He said unchecked online abuse could increase mistrust between communities and threaten Singapore’s multiracial harmony.
Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said police were investigating what he described as deeply offensive racist comments. Authorities have also asked social media platforms to remove content that violates their rules.
The backlash emerged after the Nepal floods left several Singaporeans missing, with some online users posting derogatory comments based on their perceived ethnicity. A separate wave of abuse followed discussions over Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India.
Shanmugam also rejected claims that Temasek-linked executives could favour Air India because of their Indian heritage, calling such arguments racist and unacceptable.
Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans to respond firmly to racial hatred and stand with disaster victims regardless of race, religion or language.
The government’s response highlights Singapore’s long-standing emphasis on maintaining racial and religious harmony in its multicultural society.