SINGAPORE, Dec 10 — In the wake of the Little India riot, several public figures, migrant workers’ welfare organisations and an employers’ group yesterday urged Singaporeans to remain calm and avoid fanning online speculation and rumours.
Writing on Facebook, President Tony Tan commended the personnel who had risked their lives to “uphold the law and order that we often take for granted”.
“We should not let a single incident such as this undermine confidence in our society. Instead, let us redouble our commitment to keep Singapore safe, peaceful and strong,” he said.
Soon after the riot broke out on Sunday night, political leaders including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran and Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin — who was the first to do so — had used the social media platform to appeal for cool heads.
Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim yesterday also urged the public “remember that the foreign workers in Singapore are, by and large, law-abiding people”.
He said on Facebook: “They are here to earn a living and support their families in their home countries. It is a delicate and ongoing effort to take care of the concerns of the residents and manage the needs of the foreign workers.”
Other political office-holders reassured citizens that the incident was a “serious but isolated incident”, adding that justice will be meted out accordingly.
Said Senior Minister of State (Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs) Masagos Zulkifli: “The Government will deal with the culprits of the riot decisively, according to the full weight of the law, to ensure that Singapore will continue to be a safe place for the people.”
Businesses, especially those that employ foreign workers, should counsel their workforce “to stay calm, maintain peace and order and not react to speculations”, advised the Singapore Business Federation (SBF).
Denouncing the acts committed during the riot as “unwarranted violence and blatant lawlessness”, the federation said in a statement that Singapore’s image as a peaceful, harmonious city has been “shattered”, and urged the authorities to “act swiftly to restore confidence” in Singapore as a safe place to live, work and play.
Migrant workers’ rights group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), meanwhile, appealed for the public not to fan hatred and xenophobia when expressing their views of the riot. Said TWC2’s President Russell Heng: “This can only perpetuate a vicious circle of hatred that can lead to more violence and may even cost lives.”
The Migrant Workers Centre has contacted the employer of Indian national Sakthivel Kumaravelu, who was killed in the traffic accident that sparked the riot, offering support. It also plans to offer “emotional or legal assistance” to those affected.
The Workers’ Party issued a statement echoing the need for the public to “refrain from speculation and unnecessary accusations”.
Noting that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called for a Committee of Inquiry to look into the cause of the riot, the opposition party said the committee should “study the underlying causes of the riot so that the Government can address them and prevent future recurrences.”
The Bangladesh High Commission in a statement yesterday morning was quick to quash rumours speculating that the victim of the accident was a Bangladeshi worker. The victim was an Indian national.
It requested for the Bangladesh community here to “exercise utmost calm and restraint” while cooperating with the authorities.
Said its Commissioner: “We are pledged and duty-bound to help the authorities maintain the rule of law, order and discipline in the society and community.”
“This is necessary to maintain overall law and order, and also to ensure that law enforcement agencies can carry out their duties and responsibilities,” he added. ― Today
