Young PAP member quits over offensive remarks on Facebook
By Esther Ng,
TODAY
| Posted: 17 November 2011 2111 hrs
SINGAPORE: A Young People's Action Party (YP) member who posted "insensitive" remarks - in his own words - on his Facebook page has resigned, following an online furore.
Mr Jason Neo has also issued an apology on his Facebook page.
He had posted a religiously and racially offensive caption to a photograph which he uploaded onto the social networking website. The posting went viral recently.
In Mr Neo's apology, he said the post was out of a "moment's folly" and did not, in any way, represent the view of the PAP or the YP.
He said: "I hereby offer those within our Muslim community and anyone else offended my most sincere and unreserved apology."
Mr Neo, a volunteer at Meet-the-People sessions in Sembawang who joined YP in June, had posted the offensive caption and photo sometime in February.
Mr Neo's action was condemned by YP leaders, including YP chairman Teo Ser Luck who wrote on his Facebook page: "We will have to take action. Such acts must be condemned."
In a statement on YP's Facebook page on Thursday, its vice-chairman Zaqy Mohamad reiterated: "YP's and PAP's position is clear. Racism has no place in Singapore, and certainly not in the ranks of the PAP. The party has always upheld the core values of meritocracy and multiracialism.
"As a minority and from a race and belief targeted in the post, I found it very offensive, and I am certainly disappointed that it came from one of our activists."
Mr Zaqy stressed that the YP executive committee regularly updates members on its informal guidelines - online or otherwise.
"One of the fundamental prohibitions is that the party does not condone malicious racist remarks," Mr Zaqy said. In light of this episode, "more regular reminders" will be made to YP members, he added.
Nevertheless, the incident raises question marks on the screening process carried out by political parties on potential members.
Veteran PAP Member of Parliament Charles Chong told TODAY that it would be "difficult" to vet those joining YP or PAP.
"They may profess to have the same ideology as the party and have a clean record, but even with psychometric tests, there is a small possibility of mistakes or missteps," said Mr Chong.
On his Facebook posting, Mr Zaqy acknowledged that questions were raised about membership in the YP as a result of the incident.
He said: "They would have demonstrated a certain level of interest and commitment towards the party before they would be referred by a trusted comrade for membership."
Speaking to Today, Mr Zaqy added that typically, potential members are "judged by how they perform or act as volunteers first before they are brought into the party".
-CNA/ac
