Police interview 5 over racist comments on Nepal flood tragedy, SIA's Air India investment

A total of five individuals, aged between 29 and 66, have been identified and interviewed by the police over racist, anti-Indian comments on social media following the deadly Aug 26 floods at the Nepal-Tibet border and Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India.

In its statement, police said that they are "investigating certain comments" made in relation to the two matters, adding that they will continue to investigate and identify those responsible for the online comments.

"The Police take a serious view of conduct that may wound racial feelings or incite hostility and ill will between different racial groups."

A police spokesperson added that they are unable to comment further on the specifics of individual cases amid ongoing investigations.

On Sept 5, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said he had asked the police to look into racist and xenophobic online comments about the Nepal-Tibet disaster and Singapore Airlines' (SIA) investment in Air India .

"I will say this — the comments are shameful, nasty, totally unacceptable," said Shanmugam then, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs.

The following day, both Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong weighed in on the matter.

PM Wong said such views do not represent Singapore and cautioned that they cannot be dismissed as harmless online chatter as if unchecked, it can become normalised, deepen mistrust between communities, and pull Singaporeans apart.

Pointing to the racist comments made about the nine missing Singaporeans, and the recent anti-Indian abuse that followed Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India, he cautioned against using "seemingly legitimate arguments" as a cover for prejudice.

"We should be clear about the distinction. We can and should have robust debates.

"But we should never use seemingly legitimate arguments as a cover to fuel prejudice against any community or hostility towards foreigners."

SM Lee said it is "deeply troubling" to see racist comments and hateful remarks directed at the Indian community in the wake of the tragedy.

He added that even as Singapore strives for inter-racial tolerance and respect, human beings are by nature not race blind.

"Singapore will always be vulnerable to these visceral and divisive pulls. Race and religion will always be a fault line in our society."

SM Lee stated that this is why the country must continue to work hard to strengthen its cohesion and protect its racial harmony.

在尼泊尔-西藏边境发生致命洪水（8 月 26 日）以及新加坡航空公司投资印度航空之后，警方已确认并讯问了五名年龄在 29 岁至 66 岁之间的人士，他们因在社交媒体上发表种族主义、反印度言论而受到调查。

警方在声明中表示，他们正在“调查与这两起事件相关的某些评论”，并补充说，他们将继续调查并查明对这些网络评论负有责任的人。

“警方严肃对待任何可能伤害种族感情或煽动不同种族群体之间敌意和恶意行为。”

警方发言人补充说，由于调查仍在进行中，他们无法对个案的具体细节发表更多评论。

9月5日，高级部长尚穆根表示，他已要求警方调查有关尼泊尔-西藏灾难和新加坡航空公司（SIA）投资印度航空的种族主义和仇外网络评论。

“我要说的是——这些言论令人羞耻、卑鄙、完全不可接受，”当时的尚穆根说道，他同时也是国家安全统筹部长和内政部长。

第二天，总理黄循财和国务资政李显龙都对此事发表了看法。

黄总理表示，这种观点并不代表新加坡，并警告说，不能将其视为无害的网络闲聊而置之不理，因为如果不加以制止，这种言论可能会变得正常化，加深社区之间的不信任，并分裂新加坡人。

他指出，有人对失踪的九名新加坡人发表了种族主义言论，以及新加坡航空公司投资印度航空后最近出现的反印度言论，并警告人们不要用“看似合理的论点”来掩盖偏见。

我们应该明确二者的区别。我们可以而且应该展开激烈的辩论。

“但我们绝不应该利用看似合理的理由来掩盖对任何群体的偏见或对外国人的敌意。”

李显龙表示，在悲剧发生后，看到针对印度社区的种族主义言论和仇恨言论，他感到“非常不安”。

他补充说，尽管新加坡努力实现种族间的宽容和尊重，但人类本质上并非种族盲视。

“新加坡始终容易受到这些根深蒂固且具有分裂性的因素的影响。种族和宗教永远是我们社会的一条断层线。”

李显龙总理表示，正因如此，国家必须继续努力加强国家凝聚力，维护种族和谐。