When Singaporean Dave Parkash posted a video of himself arguing with a man on Orchard Road, it shocked and dismayed many.
That’s because the other man was heard making many disconcerting remarks, including saying that the interracial couple should date people of their own race.
The video has led to a police investigation into the man, who was wearing a red polo T-shirt with the word “Singapore” emblazoned across it.
He’s now been confirmed to be a staff at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) who’s since been suspended from teaching duties.
After the frightful video went viral on Sunday (6 Jun), a 60-year-old man was called up to assist in police investigations, The Straits Times (ST) reported.
In response to queries from MS News, an NP spokesman said they “regret that the individual in question is a member of our staff”.
The poly didn’t disclose his identity, only that he has teaching duties.
However, TODAY Online reported that the man is a senior lecturer at NP’s School of Engineering named Mr Tan Boon Lee.
Interestingly, on the website of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), there’s a list of people who were awarded the Long Service Medal in 2019.
In that list is a Mr Tan Boon Lee. He’s listed as a senior lecturer in NP’s School of Engineering.
It’s uncertain whether this Mr Tan is the same person.
The NP spokesman said they’re conducting an internal investigation into the incident.
The probe will also consider the “appropriate disciplinary action” that will be taken.
While that’s being carried out, the man in question has been suspended, they added.
The poly also said that it takes a serious view of what happened, adding,
The remarks made by the individual are highly offensive, disrespectful and goes against our staff Code of Conduct and values as a community.
Among other distasteful comments, the man accused Mr Parkash of “preying on a Chinese girl”.
The video has attracted the attention of none less than Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, who posted on Facebook about it on Sunday (6 Jun).
He said based on what he saw in the video, “it’s horrible”.
He also expressed concern that more people are seemingly finding it acceptable to make such racist statements openly.
Given recent incidents, the minister now isn’t sure whether Singapore is moving in the right direction in terms of racial tolerance and harmony.
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing also weighed in on the video in a Facebook post on Monday (7 Jun).
He said the incident and other recent ones “go against what we stand for in Singapore”.
Though he acknowledged the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said we must rise to these challenges and continue treating one another with care and respect, adding,
Racial intolerance goes against our founding values as a nation, and has no place in our society.
Watch the whole video here:
It’s concerning that incidents involving racism have been popping up in the media more often recently.
While it’s natural to feel repulsed at the behaviour of the man in the video, it’s too early to cast judgement yet as the police are currently investigating.
Hopefully, more info on the identity of the man in the red shirt, as well as the veracity of the video, will be forthcoming soon.
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Featured images adapted from Facebook and Facebook.
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