Shanmugam warns 'serious consequences can follow’ when countries are lax about hate speech

Delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday (Apr 1), Mr Shanmugam stressed the importance of Singapore continuing to prohibit hate speech, dealing with it firmly “in the same way it has done before”.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/shanmugam-on-restricting-hate-speech-ministerial-statement-11400480

By Lianne Chia @LianneChiaCNA

01 Apr 2019 04:03PM (Updated: 01 Apr 2019 06:18PM)

Ricky Lim

A simple test is who like to be :-
(1) insulted
(2) ridiculed
(3) talk down
(4) initmidated
--- by hate speech whether online, or in person?

Thus if the reaction to these speeches online or in person will likely to be emotional --- it is better not to let hate speech to be proliferated online.

Discussion whether online or in person - should be based on logic, mutual respect and mature discussion --- not by harsh speech, hate speech --- that will not promote better outcome - but more divisive, unhappiness, disharmony and worst could result in violence --- if hate speech become rampant.

Like · Reply · 1m

Indie L'id

SPH-owned Hardwarezone forum section contains members who spew out hate-speech on a daily basis for the past decade or so.

The authorities do not seem to care.

But if you mention egg-throwing, suddenly they drop by your house.

Like · Reply · 2h

Ching Ann

Shanmugam warns 'serious consequences can follow’ when countries are lax about hate speech
>> So serious consequences could also follow after you make a comment about "eggs" yah? Spending public resources in getting the Facebook poster to report to police station...

Like · Reply · 1 · 1h

Lawrence Ong

The people in authority shold be more careful in what they say as it carries more weight than ordinary citizens.

Like · Reply · 1 · 1h

Tan Kwong Moh

Yes, correct! People in authority got power, commoners don't have power in their hands.

Reply · 1 · 26m

Oturah Amuos

Ysee the whole pont of hate speech is not because a group or individual dislike another group or individual but more on boosting their public image, thus giving themselves an inflated sense of superiority and satisfaction over another group or individual.

It has been existing in this country even before the independence of this country. Morals and social expectations are only tools of humiliation for these groups of people.

Education did not help to alleviate the impact, but only changes the way hate are being expressed and masking the rapidly growing hate.

It is only a matter of time that this country would collapse from internal strife rather than external invasion

Like · Reply · 54m

CT Tan

I completely agree with Shanmugam. Racial discrimination is unconstitutional, and hate-speech is but only 1form of discrimination.
Depriving of a person from higher office - like preventing Tharman Sharmugaretnam from running as Prime Minister - is another.
Institutional discrimination if a person is unable to achieve the highest office on account of his race in that institution...a glass ceiling. It is a more subtle discrimination and may be legal.

Like · Reply · 22m