Pergas says ex-NMP Calvin Cheng's remarks on activist group risk undermining cohesion

The remarks by former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng that certain individuals be sent to Gaza and not allowed to return are "deeply troubling", the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) said on April 6.

- Wong Pei Ting

Pergas expressed "deep consternation" over Mr Cheng's recent statements, which the association said included inflammatory suggestions directed at members of Singapore's Muslim community. These remarks risk undermining the hard-earned social cohesion that defines Singapore's multiracial, multi-religious society, it said.

In response, Mr Cheng said in a Facebook post on April 7 that his March 13 comments were directed at a group of people who included non-Muslims, and reiterated that those remarks mentioned neither race nor religion.

The former NMP's March 13 Facebook post referred to 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, activists from the group had disrupted the Meet-the-People Session of Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.

In his post, Mr Cheng had offered to pay to relocate the activists, so long as they do not return to Singapore. "I am offering business class to the leaders. And to their 928 followers, can buy them some walking shoes each. Take a slow hike."