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Clan federation: No need for new citizen to quit
By Andrea Ong
The Straits Times
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2013
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations says it is not necessary for new citizen Li Yeming to resign from the body, after a public uproar over his comments charging Workers' Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang with dividing Singapore-born and new citizens.
"SFCCA does not find it necessary for Mr Li to resign from SFCCA, and hopes that he would continue to serve the community," it said in a statement Saturday.
Mr Li, 43, is a vice-chairman of SFCCA's research and publications committee.
The saga began when the systems analyst wrote a letter in his personal capacity to Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, which published it on Feb 15.
Mr Li charged Mr Low with fanning anti-foreigner sentiments in his parliamentary speech on the Population White Paper.
Last Monday, Zaobao published Mr Low's rebuttal. He said he was shocked that Mr Li had accused him of "inciting xenophobia".
Mr Li wrote a second letter to Zaobao last Wednesday, seeking to clarify that his comment, "inciting xenophobia is not patriotic", was a general statement not targeted specifically at the WP.
He said he had intended to question Mr Low's stance in the White Paper debate as it seemed to distinguish between native-born and new citizens. Mr Low has said he made no such distinction.
The Straits Times' report on the exchange last Tuesday identified Mr Li's position in the clan body.
Mr Li said this led to some thinking that he was speaking on behalf of the federation, which had also received angry calls and e-mail messages. He offered to resign from the federation last Thursday.
On Saturday, the federation emphasised that Mr Li is a volunteer who is not reimbursed for the community services he provides.
"He wrote in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of SFCCA," it said.
The federation's social mission is to unite Chinese clan associations and promote ethnic harmony, it added.
It also called for all rational debate to be respected, adding that everyone is entitled to freedom of speech within the legal framework here.
Mr Li could not be reached for comment on Saturday. He filed a police report last Friday against netizens who he said falsely accused him of making anti-Singapore comments.
By Andrea Ong
The Straits Times
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2013
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations says it is not necessary for new citizen Li Yeming to resign from the body, after a public uproar over his comments charging Workers' Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang with dividing Singapore-born and new citizens.
"SFCCA does not find it necessary for Mr Li to resign from SFCCA, and hopes that he would continue to serve the community," it said in a statement Saturday.
Mr Li, 43, is a vice-chairman of SFCCA's research and publications committee.
The saga began when the systems analyst wrote a letter in his personal capacity to Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, which published it on Feb 15.
Mr Li charged Mr Low with fanning anti-foreigner sentiments in his parliamentary speech on the Population White Paper.
Last Monday, Zaobao published Mr Low's rebuttal. He said he was shocked that Mr Li had accused him of "inciting xenophobia".
Mr Li wrote a second letter to Zaobao last Wednesday, seeking to clarify that his comment, "inciting xenophobia is not patriotic", was a general statement not targeted specifically at the WP.
He said he had intended to question Mr Low's stance in the White Paper debate as it seemed to distinguish between native-born and new citizens. Mr Low has said he made no such distinction.
The Straits Times' report on the exchange last Tuesday identified Mr Li's position in the clan body.
Mr Li said this led to some thinking that he was speaking on behalf of the federation, which had also received angry calls and e-mail messages. He offered to resign from the federation last Thursday.
On Saturday, the federation emphasised that Mr Li is a volunteer who is not reimbursed for the community services he provides.
"He wrote in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of SFCCA," it said.
The federation's social mission is to unite Chinese clan associations and promote ethnic harmony, it added.
It also called for all rational debate to be respected, adding that everyone is entitled to freedom of speech within the legal framework here.
Mr Li could not be reached for comment on Saturday. He filed a police report last Friday against netizens who he said falsely accused him of making anti-Singapore comments.
