Amy Cheong, the former assistant director of NTUC membership who posted offensive comments on her personal Facebook page on Malay weddings at void decks said she's terribly sorry.
Earlier she wrote a really rude and unacceptable comment on her Facebook timeline on Sunday evening complaining about a Malay wedding in a void deck near her home. According to the latest updates, police has filed a report against Amy by a member of the public, Lionel Jerome de Souza on Monday morning.
Amy Cheong, a graduate from the University of Western Australia, said, real wedding, which makes no sense, obviously. MUST READ Calven Chik Foo Keong and Amanda Fong Kim Yen Incident Rocked Ipoh, Malaysia
Does she means that, getting married under a block is a fake wedding? What do you mean by a real or fake wedding? The issue has also sparked debate over the public versus private nature of Facebook and her personal thoughts.
APOLOGY:
Amy Cheong said in a statement on Monday that she's aware of the pain she has caused through her insensitive remarks on social media. MUST READ Calven Chik Foo Keong and Amanda Fong Kim Yen Incident Rocked Ipoh, Malaysia
The statement reads, "There was no racism intended in my post. I was trying to rest and the noise was affecting me greatly. However, I do understand that this is not a valid reason to post what I did. I was wrong and am repentant."
REACTIONS:
PM LEE HEIEN LOONG:
Several of you wrote to me through Facebook about the person who posted offensive comments about Malay weddings on her Facebook page. I was shocked to hear about this. The comments were just wrong and totally unacceptable.
Just last week I shared a WSJ Asia article on why people say nasty things online that they would never say face-to-face. I reminded netizens that we needed to be extra careful
and watch ourselves. I did not expect to see such a dramatic example so soon. Fortunately the person has promptly apologised for her grievous mistake. But the damage has been done, and NTUC did the right thing in terminating her services.
Let us treat this incident for what it is: an isolated case that does not reflect the strength of race relations in Singapore. But it sharply reminds us how easily a few thoughtless words can cause grave offence to many, and undermine our racial and religious harmony. Let us all be more mindful of what we say, online and in person, and always uphold the mutual respect and sensitivity that holds our society together. - LHL
LAW MINISTER K SHANMUGAM:
Some friends have asked me about Amy Cheong and her Facebook comments about Malay weddings at void decks. Her comments and conduct are shameful and completely unacceptable. This confirms what I had long suspected and said : there are deep fault lines in our society, based on race/religion. The emergence of the Internet and social media such as blogging and facebook frees some people to say what is really in their hearts.
Her comments reflect a deep seated racist attitude coupled with contempt for those who are less well off, or who wish to spend less. I had said, in 2002, in Parliament, that we should look deep into our hearts and ask what the attitudes of non Malays are towards our Malay brothers and sisters. We will be a truly civilised society only when we deep in our hearts accept everyone as equal. I enclose a copy of the speech. I am glad that NTUC took swift action to terminate her employment. This should send a message that such conduct
will not be tolerated.
NTUC MEMBERSHIP:
The National Trades Union Congress has issued an official statement in response to this matter. Below is the address by Mr Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General, NTUC:
"The NTUC takes a serious view on racial harmony in Singapore. We will not accept and have zero tolerance towards any words used or actions taken by our staff that are racially offensive.
NTUC has terminated with immediate effect the services of Ms Amy Cheong, Assistant Director, Membership Department after establishing with her that she did post offensive comments on her personal Facebook page on 7 October 2012.
Regrettably and rightly so, her comments have upset members of the public, including many union members. We are sorry that this has happened. We have counselled the staff and impressed upon her the seriousness of her action. She is remorseful and has apologised for her grave lapse of judgement.
We would like to reiterate that inclusiveness remains at the heart of the Labour Movement." MUST READ Calven Chik Foo Keong and Amanda Fong Kim Yen Incident Rocked Ipoh, Malaysia
Earlier she wrote a really rude and unacceptable comment on her Facebook timeline on Sunday evening complaining about a Malay wedding in a void deck near her home. According to the latest updates, police has filed a report against Amy by a member of the public, Lionel Jerome de Souza on Monday morning.
Amy Cheong, a graduate from the University of Western Australia, said, real wedding, which makes no sense, obviously. MUST READ Calven Chik Foo Keong and Amanda Fong Kim Yen Incident Rocked Ipoh, Malaysia
Does she means that, getting married under a block is a fake wedding? What do you mean by a real or fake wedding? The issue has also sparked debate over the public versus private nature of Facebook and her personal thoughts.
APOLOGY:
Amy Cheong said in a statement on Monday that she's aware of the pain she has caused through her insensitive remarks on social media. MUST READ Calven Chik Foo Keong and Amanda Fong Kim Yen Incident Rocked Ipoh, Malaysia
The statement reads, "There was no racism intended in my post. I was trying to rest and the noise was affecting me greatly. However, I do understand that this is not a valid reason to post what I did. I was wrong and am repentant."
REACTIONS:
PM LEE HEIEN LOONG:
Several of you wrote to me through Facebook about the person who posted offensive comments about Malay weddings on her Facebook page. I was shocked to hear about this. The comments were just wrong and totally unacceptable.
Just last week I shared a WSJ Asia article on why people say nasty things online that they would never say face-to-face. I reminded netizens that we needed to be extra careful
and watch ourselves. I did not expect to see such a dramatic example so soon. Fortunately the person has promptly apologised for her grievous mistake. But the damage has been done, and NTUC did the right thing in terminating her services.
Let us treat this incident for what it is: an isolated case that does not reflect the strength of race relations in Singapore. But it sharply reminds us how easily a few thoughtless words can cause grave offence to many, and undermine our racial and religious harmony. Let us all be more mindful of what we say, online and in person, and always uphold the mutual respect and sensitivity that holds our society together. - LHL
LAW MINISTER K SHANMUGAM:
Some friends have asked me about Amy Cheong and her Facebook comments about Malay weddings at void decks. Her comments and conduct are shameful and completely unacceptable. This confirms what I had long suspected and said : there are deep fault lines in our society, based on race/religion. The emergence of the Internet and social media such as blogging and facebook frees some people to say what is really in their hearts.
Her comments reflect a deep seated racist attitude coupled with contempt for those who are less well off, or who wish to spend less. I had said, in 2002, in Parliament, that we should look deep into our hearts and ask what the attitudes of non Malays are towards our Malay brothers and sisters. We will be a truly civilised society only when we deep in our hearts accept everyone as equal. I enclose a copy of the speech. I am glad that NTUC took swift action to terminate her employment. This should send a message that such conduct
will not be tolerated.
NTUC MEMBERSHIP:
The National Trades Union Congress has issued an official statement in response to this matter. Below is the address by Mr Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General, NTUC:
"The NTUC takes a serious view on racial harmony in Singapore. We will not accept and have zero tolerance towards any words used or actions taken by our staff that are racially offensive.
NTUC has terminated with immediate effect the services of Ms Amy Cheong, Assistant Director, Membership Department after establishing with her that she did post offensive comments on her personal Facebook page on 7 October 2012.
Regrettably and rightly so, her comments have upset members of the public, including many union members. We are sorry that this has happened. We have counselled the staff and impressed upon her the seriousness of her action. She is remorseful and has apologised for her grave lapse of judgement.
We would like to reiterate that inclusiveness remains at the heart of the Labour Movement." MUST READ Calven Chik Foo Keong and Amanda Fong Kim Yen Incident Rocked Ipoh, Malaysia
