SINGAPORE, June 6 — The Singapore government has ordered YouTube, Facebook and X to block 14 social media posts that authorities said targeted the Indian community and sought to undermine the country’s multiracial model.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said police issued disabling directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act, requiring the platforms to take “all reasonable steps” to stop Singapore users from accessing the posts, local news outlet CNA reported today.

Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong said the content appeared to have originated overseas.

“From what we know so far, the content originated from overseas,” he was quoted telling reporters at Siglap South Community Centre.

MHA said investigations showed the material likely came from a China-based platform before being shared on other platforms and websites.

Tong said there was no evidence so far that the posts were part of a coordinated campaign by any government.

He said the content appeared to have been generated organically by various foreign netizens.

“These videos attack our multiracial society and they try to divide people based on race,” said Tong, who is also law minister.

“This, however, is not who we are.

“Every community in Singapore here is valued and everyone has an equal place.”

MHA said the posts began circulating in Chinese online spaces in May and carried inflammatory claims about Singapore’s cultural diversity.

The posts claimed Singapore was being “overrun by Indians”, that its multiracial policy was a “facade” to appeal to “Western values”, and that the country’s stability was due to its Chinese majority rather than its multicultural system.

They also alleged that more ethnic Indian politicians in Singapore would act in favour of Indian immigrants.

MHA said the posts selectively used images of Little India and Indian devotees at a religious festival to back claims that Singapore was becoming overcrowded with Indians.

The ministry said some posts used derogatory language against the Indian community, including comparing its growth to a “concentration of curry”.

MHA said the content was a malicious attempt to incite hostility against Indians in Singapore, including migrant workers in sectors such as construction.

“They contribute to Singapore’s growth and development, and are valued members of our society,” it said.

The ministry said the posts likely breached Section 298A of the Penal Code, which covers acts that promote enmity, hatred or ill will between racial groups.

The offence carries up to three years’ jail and a fine.

Tong said Singapore would not tolerate narratives that undermine racial harmony, “especially when it is propagated by foreigners”.

“Any attempt to pit one community against another here must be firmly rejected,” MHA said.

“These attacks coming from a foreign source are doubly unacceptable.”

Tong said the government would continue to monitor such content and would take further action if needed.

He also urged Singaporeans to be careful about what they consume online and not to share content that could harm social cohesion.

SINGAPORE: A local content creator recently went viral for defending the frequency with which Singaporeans complain, saying that it serves as a motivator for getting things done.

In a May 24 video on TikTok, Wei Liea (@kelpfishes) tackled the academic-sounding topic of “on social signalling and Singapore‘s great public infrastructure ethos,” which ended up being in praise of the city-state’s complaint culture.

After all, Singaporeans are known to complain a lot, like one father who took to a Facebook complaint group when a grocery store had run out of Yakult. Calling himself “extremely disappointed” that he couldn’t buy the beverage for his children at NTUC Finest Marine Parade, he added that he wanted an “explanation.”

For @kelpfishes, who admitted that Singapore probably has among the highest densities of complainers in the world per square metre, this is not necessarily a negative.

“But wait, who said complaining is a bad thing?” he asked, arguing that it’s natural for babies to cry when they need to sleep or eat, otherwise they suffer in silence.

“If a body does not feel pain, then it will eventually break down,” he added.

He called it “great” that Singapore, as a nation, complains a lot, “because it signals to the government that we need this and that.”

For example, Singaporeans complain about having to walk out in the open, under a hot sun and torrential rain. The government then built covered walkways around HDBs so that people could get to the bus stop.

As for bus stops themselves, the government also went and improved them, so that they’re “not old and stinky anymore,” doing this even without asking.

“They also changed the drainage covers to new covers because we complain so much, right? They already know we’re gonna say things,” he said.

Another example is the Cross Island Line, the longest fully underground MRT line scheduled to be completed by 2029.

“Do we need a Cross Island Line or not? No, but they’re still doing it,” he said, adding, “Don’t stop complaining, folks.”

He then began to talk about the United States, where the attitude is more of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” According to the TikToker, this causes big problems, such as the housing bubble of the 2008 financial crisis, the worst the country experienced since the Great Depression. /TISG

Read also: ‘To prevent the overconsumption of resources’: Stallholder at Lucky Plaza food court defends S$0.20 charge for extra bowl after diner complains

This article (‘Don’t stop complaining’: Singapore TikToker praises complaint culture) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.