S'pore Must Never Let Divisive Rhetoric Erode Mutual Respect and Unity, Says Faishal Ibrahim

He Condemns Facebook Page for Criticising Ex-President Halimah Yacob Over Gaza Post

- Rhea Yasmine

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim has expressed grave concern about remarks made by a Facebook page that former President Halimah Yacob is "complicit" in a few humanitarian disasters, warning against allowing such divisive rhetoric to erode the mutual respect and unity built up in Singapore.

In a Facebook post on May 23, Madam Halimah said that being silent on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza "makes us complicit" in the violation of humanitarian laws.

She said the trickle of aid that is now entering Gaza following a three-month-long blockade is far below what is needed to stop the ongoing starvation, and that more than 14,000 children have been killed by the Israel Defence Forces.

"Keeping quiet makes us complicit in the violations of international humanitarian laws and encourages similar aggressions elsewhere. Our world is all the poorer for it. Uphold humanity," said Madam Halimah.

In response, Facebook page Critical Spectator said the former president is complicit in "quite a few humanitarian disasters".

"If 'keeping quiet' about Gaza 'makes us complicit' in the violations there, it stands to reason that remaining silent about every other such crisis makes us complicit in it as well," read a post by Critical Spectator on May 23, citing the situation in places such as Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Myanmar.