Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli has said that remarks by former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng that he would pay to send certain individuals from Singapore to Gaza if they do not return are unacceptable and deeply hurtful.
Left unaddressed, such statements can divide society and lead to a loss of trust among Singaporeans, Mr Masagos said on April 9.
During a Berita Harian podcast interview, the minister said Mr Cheng's criticism of two social activists was hurtful to Malay/Muslims here, given that the community holds respect and good manners in high regard.
The way the former NMP had framed his comments had crossed a line, said Mr Masagos, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development.
Mr Cheng made the comments in a March 13 Facebook post about activists from a group called Monday of Palestine Solidarity, which had asked people concerned about the issue of Palestine to raise the matter with their MPs. On March 12, some activists from the group disrupted the Meet-the-People session of Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.
In his post, Mr Cheng offered to pay to relocate the activists, so long as they do not return to Singapore. Among other things, he asked the activists to "take a slow hike" to Gaza.
Mr Masagos said many people, especially within the Malay/Muslim community, felt angry and dismissed by the comments, and he understood why.
"It's not just about disagreement, it's about the message it sends, that some Singaporeans somehow do not belong if they speak up," he said in a Facebook post after the podcast recording, which Berita Harian reported on. "That is not something we can accept."
Singapore values and protects its social harmony dearly, given the decades of effort taken to build it up, said the minister.
"That trust can be easily shaken by careless words," he added. "We must all be mindful of the negative impact we may cause to our social cohesion, especially when we are in a position of influence."
No one has the right to suggest that another Singaporean should leave the country because of a different view, added Mr Masagos.
"We all have a stake here. No one - Malay, Chinese, Indian, regardless of background - is a 'pendatang'," he said. "This is home for all of us."
The Malay word pendatang refers to an outsider or foreigner, and has been used to suggest someone does not belong in Singapore.
Mr Cheng's Facebook post drew a rebuke from many, including ministers such as Mr Masagos and Mr Shanmugam.
On April 6, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) issued a statement that called Mr Cheng's comments "deeply troubling", as they ridiculed and alienated fellow Singaporeans, many of whom had expressed empathy and solidarity in response to humanitarian suffering.
In response, Mr Cheng said in a Facebook post on April 7 that his earlier comments were directed at a group of people which included non-Muslims, and reiterated that those comments mentioned neither race nor religion.
Mr Masagos said during the podcast interview that the frustrations felt by many in the community are valid, but urged Malay/Muslims here to respond with the values of adab, or graciousness, which are a sign of strength and wisdom, and not weakness.
"Our traditions teach us that respect and kindness are the foundation of a strong, united community. Let's hold on to that - responding with strength and grace, not division," he said.
