Singapore: Indian-origin man sentenced for attempting to promote racial enmity
A 52-year-old Indian-origin man was sentenced to two weeks' jail on Monday for attempting to promote racial enmity in Singapore by claiming that the ruling People's Action Party wanted to marginalize Malays in the country. Sirajudeen Abdul Majeed pleaded guilty to one charge of deliberately intending to wound racial feelings and promoting enmity between groups on grounds of race, according to The Straits Times.
'Ruling party wants to make Malay a sub-minority,' claimed Majeed
"Two other similar charges for promoting enmity were considered during his sentencing," the report said. Notably, on June 12 and 13 last year, Majeed sent messages to three acquaintances claiming that the ruling party wants to make the Malay community a sub-minority and that other races were introduced to the country to just dilute the original race of Malay.
Majeed targeted police; called them incompetent because of being Malay
Majeed also told his acquaintances to share the messages. One of the acquaintances later informed the police about it. On August 5 last year, Majeed called the police on 999 (hotline) twice and made racially insensitive comments targeting Malays, Singapore's second-largest ethnic community, constituting for 15 percent of Singapore's population. Majeed also made remarks about police officers being incompetent because of their Malay ethnicity.
Racially insensitive remarks could have led to significant uproar: Judge
On Monday, District Judge Salina Ishak said that the racially insensitive remarks were made during the election period and that they could have led to a significant uproar. Singapore's general elections were held in July last year.
'Messages could have promoted ill-will between different racial groups'
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Yiwen said, "Sirajudeen intended to stoke fears that the People's Action Party was seeking to marginalize the Malays in the country by allowing more immigrants into the country." "These messages would promote ill-will between different racial groups, a fact that the accused must have objectively known when he sent the said messages," he added.
Majeed is expected to surrender on February 22
Majeed was slapped with a fine of 7,000 Singapore dollars (US$ 5,240). He is currently out on a 5,000 Singapore dollars (US$ 3,743) bail. He is expected to surrender himself on February 22 to begin serving his sentence.
