New citizen Li Yeming files police report against netizens
http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/02/23/new-citizen-li-yeming-files-police-report-against-netizens/
New citizen Li Yeming from PRC has filed a police report against netizens who he says have falsely accused him of making anti-Singapore postings on the Net.
He said he did not post certain Weibo microblog postings, such as, “I will send an army over to flatten your home (Singapore)!”
He also said in his police report that he did not make postings, “stating that I scolded Singaporean(s), threatened to flatten Singapore and also commented on how lazy Singaporeans are”.
The police have confirmed that Li filed a report yesterday (22 Feb), a day after he tendered his resignation to the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) from his position as vice-chairman of SFCCA’s research and publications committee.
Li told the Straits Times that he hopes the police can ferret out those netizens who started the fake postings.
He said he wants to set the record straight so as “not to affect relations between local-born and new citizens”.
Even though he has also received many nasty comments from netizens, he said “their reaction is understandable”.
He told the Straits Times yesterday, “If they thought I had scolded a Singaporean MP while making anti-Singapore comments online, I don’t blame them for being upset. But we can’t let rumours affect our harmony here.”
Notice that he used the phrase “a Singaporean MP” instead of “an MP” or “our MP”.
The saga started when Li wrote to Zaobao accusing Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) Mr Low Thia Khiang and WP of “fanning anti-foreigner and anti-immigrant sentiments during the White Paper debate”.
Mr Low rebutted him in Zaobao, categorically denying the accusation. Mr Low said he was shocked that Li had accused him of “inciting xenophobia”. Mr Low said Li had selectively interpreted his speech and the WP’s parliamentary proposal. Li later accused Mr Low of taking his words out of context.
To make matters worse, Li responded in a harsh way when a Facebook user kindly showed him angry responses from Singaporean netizens. Li asked:
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Not surprisingly, Singaporean netizens were angry with Li’s irresponsible remarks and accusations. Some, including TR Emeritus (TRE), have written to SFCCA for clarification (‘TRE asks SFCCA about its stand on Li Yeming‘). Others even called the federation to scold the secretariat.
The incident resulted in Li’s tendering his resignation from his post with SFCCA. He later told the media he was criticising Mr Low in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the federation.
He said, “I don’t want to bring more trouble to the federation. I am sorry for the bad impression created of the federation.”
Meanwhile, Federation president Chua Thian Poh told the media last night that the research and publications committee is “looking into Mr Li’s resignation”.
Mr Chua also confirmed that Li’s views are his own and they do not represent the federation’s view.
Mr Chua did not comment further on Li’s matter or the White Paper.
SFCCA has invited Minister Grace Fu to talk about the White Paper in a forum on 28 February (‘Now, SFCCA invites Grace Fu to talk about White Paper!‘).
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