Racism in Singapore and Malaysia – different but the same?


Julia Yeow

Racism is impossible to deny in Malaysia, but the ethnic minorities claiming the same in Singapore, find their complaints dismissed as baseless and exaggerated. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 12, 2019.

ON a recent trip to Singapore, I was drawn into a conversation about racism and social inequality in a country which has long touted its cohesive multiculturalism and merit-based system of governance as a better alternative to its neighbour, Malaysia.

The after-dinner debate was sparked off by the recent Facebook ban of a locally-produced rap video showing an ethnic Indian YouTube star railing against a “racist” advert in which the skin of an ethnic Chinese actor was darkened to make him look Indian.


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Comments


  • The writer makes a trivial definition of racism. In general conversation, when you point out the characteristics of a certain race, it is not racism. Racism is when someone crosses one's border and infringes other's right to live and legal entitlements. In this sense, Singapore has no racism while Malaysia has racism.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku

    • I think youre an idiot. If that offends you please note that Im merely pointing out the characteristics you seem to exhibit based upon my comprehension of the babble you just penned here. To utter a hurtful remark in jest which is derived upon a racially stereo-typified assumption is racist. If one does so without recognising how it may offend anyone in earshot they are ignorant imbeciles.

      Posted 4 years ago by P P

    • I guess you probably do not even dare to say "you are white" or "you are black" in front of your friends. But certainly you say those behind them and crude enough to call people idiots...hahaha. that's something worse than a racist.

      Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku