SPP’s Jose Raymond calls out alleged “racial stereotyping” in Singapore Kindness Movement poster on cleanliness
21 October 2020
4 min read
Image source: Screenshot of Jose Raymond Facebook
Singapore People’s Party (SPP) chairman Jose Raymond took to his Facebook on Tuesday (20 October) to condemn the “racial stereotyping and prejudice” content allegedly displayed in a poster by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM).
As seen in the photo he shared, the poster displayed the SKM logo as well as those of the Public Hygiene Council and SG Clean.
“What’s with the racial stereotyping and prejudice with this poster? Shocking,” Mr Raymond said.
The poster contains an illustration depicting a dark-skinned man named ‘Siva’, dressed as a cleaner wearing yellow gloves, a green shirt and black pants.
Pointing to the litter on the floor, ‘Siva’ says: “Is it people think the floor is rubbish bin? Please throw your litter in the bin. Be kind to Siva, and everyone else using the toilet.”
Calling the depiction “sickening”, Mr Raymond questioned why “a particular race” was used to depict as a toilet cleaner and assign a name at that.
He also said that it is “baffling” when “the race profiled in the poster is also showing poor language skills”.
“Wrong on so many levels. Again,” he added.
Several netizens concurred with Mr Raymond’s sentiment, saying that it is not necessary for the authorities to draw a human or show any race in order to convey the message. “They could be a little tactful first when they wanna draw a human being shape out,” a netizen wrote
