Stories you might’ve missed, May 4

Goh Chok Tong on netizen’s request to delete his Hari Raya greetings: ‘I am dismayed that some have misinterpreted the post as portraying Malays/Muslims as “scarecrows”’

  [caption id="attachment_422128" align="alignnone" width="688"] Photo: FB screengrab/MParader[/caption] UPDATE: Due to the comments on his post, Mr Goh posted on Tuesday night (May 2) to say that he was “dismayed that some have misinterpreted the post as portraying Malays/Muslims as ‘scarecrows'” as this was “far from my mind.” The former Prime Minister added, “I spent my political lifetime working for a harmonious multi-racial society. This episode reminds us that strengthening multi-racialism is always work in progress. All of us have to do our part. Scary, isn’t it?” Read more here.

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Needy & underprivileged families in S’pore looking to rebuild their homes, public donations requested, ‘Your support is deeply appreciated & important’

 

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Lawrence Wong ‘faces challenge to be friend of both East & West’ — Financial Times

  [caption id="attachment_383756" align="alignnone" width="858"] Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in Parliament made a strong statement against racism and xenophobia.[/caption]

During his time, founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew won praise from leaders both in the East and West, but the man who has been announced to be the next leader of Singapore may well yet face a tougher time ahead.

Maintaining good relations between China and the West will be somewhat trickier for Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who was proclaimed last month as the head of the ruling People’s Action Party’s fourth generation of leaders (4G), and thus, successor to Lee Kuan Yew’s son, Lee Hsien Loong.

Read more here.

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S’pore florist demands customer delete her FB post that warns public of their S$108 half-empty flower basket, threatens customer with legal action

  [caption id="attachment_422256" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Photo: FB screengrab/Clarice Teo[/caption]

A woman took to Facebook on Apr 29 to issue a warning to the public after a flower arrangement that she ordered turned out to be one-sided. She wrote that she was sharing her experience with Seasons by Dahlia, from whom she ordered a flower basket for her birthday.

Ms Teo put up posts on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page as well as on her own FB account. The florist eventually issued a refund along with an explanation and apology. However, they also demanded Ms Teo put the post down immediately or else they will take legal action against her. Read more here.

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Generalisation & ignorance on Malays, Trainee lawyers get mercy, but vulnerable young man gets hanged — Is this the system we want?

  [caption id="attachment_409141" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Photo: freepik/rawpixel.com (for illustration purposes only)[/caption] Opinion Piece by Ghui

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This week’s super long weekend with both (Labour Day & Hari Raya) could not have come soon enough. With the lifting of most Covid restrictions and people returning to work, this has been a week of change. Labour Day, by virtue of its name, is about people and workers, while Hari Raya, among other things, is a time to reflect on society and humanity. Yet, even as these days are being marked, it would appear that as a society, we are still unable to let go of old stereotypes and sweeping racist generalisations. Read more here.

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