SDP's Gigen Wong Sincerely Apologizes Twice for Employing Racial Insult Against Party Comrade During Public Event in GE2025
Unfiltered, Uncensored Insight:
Singapore's Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Gigene Wong, after a controversial rally, has issued multiple apologies for using a racially charged slur towards her fellow candidate Ariffin Sha. During a gathering at Evergreen Primary School on April 26, Wong, in a mix of Mandarin, English, and Hokkien, disparaged Ariffin, an Indian candidate, with the derogatory Hokkien term "keling kia."
The term, rooted in maritime trade references to the Kalinga Kingdom, is widely recognized as a harmful slur towards individuals of Indian descent. Its usage during a formal political rally raised concerns about lingering casual racism and questionable vetting processes in place.
Netizens condemned Wong's remark as deeply unprofessional, and critics accused her of lacking cultural competency, given Singapore's emphasis on racial sensitivity training for public figures. The incident has ignited renewed discussions about the importance of cultural awareness in political campaigns.
Wong, the founder of Progress Singapore Party in 2020, initially apologized for using a term offensive to Singapore's Indian community, but later admitted it disrespected Ariffin and offended the community. She stressed that her comments were hurtful and unacceptable, acknowledging full responsibility for causing pain and anger.
Ariffin, who founded the alternative news outlet Wake Up Singapore, is making his electoral debut in the upcoming May 3 polls, where he will contest in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC alongside Dr. Wong, Jufri Salim, and Alec Tok.
The rally at Evergreen Primary School, located in Sembawang West SMC, was also attended by SDP chairman Paul Tambyah, SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, and seven other speakers.
Overall, it's clear that political campaigns in Singapore need to prioritize cultural competency and awareness training to ensure that incidents like this do not happen in the future and that public figures are more sensitive to the cultural nuances of their audience.
- In light of the 2025 General Elections (ge2025), it's crucial for candidates to undergo significant cultural awareness training to avoid mispronouncing offensive terms, like the Hokkien slur "keling kia," that can stir up war-and-conflicts in politics and general-news, especially in a racially diverse country like Singapore.
- The mispronunciation of such an offensive term by SDP candidate Gigene Wong, towards fellow candidate Ariffin Sha during the rally on April 26, highlights the need for stricter vetting processes for potential candidates in politics and crime-and-justice spheres.
- The incident at Bukit Evergreen Primary School informed the public about the importance of news outlets like Wake Up Singapore, founded by Ariffin Sha, in keeping vigilant and in raising awareness about issues that need immediate attention, such as racial insensitivity in politics.
- The ongoing discussions about cultural competency in political campaigns and everyday life, sparked by Gigene Wong's offensive comment, could potentially bring lasting change and promote unity in multicultural Singapore, as candidates face off in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.
- Ariffin Sha's debut in the May 3 polls showcases the power of perseverance, resilience, and adaptability in the face of setbacks, as he and fellow candidates—including Gigene Wong—proceed in a highly-publicized and impactful electoral process.
