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The Covid-19 outbreak has stressed Singapore’s social faultlines and increased tensions between foreigners and locals, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said during a dialogue on race on Saturday morning (May 30).
She cited certain locals’ “visceral reaction” to recent reports of foreigners gathering at Robertson Quay, drinking and flouting social distancing rules.
“When that video came out friends told me that yes, (there were also) expatriates in Singapore Botanic Gardens (gathering) and so on. It is not just restricted to one place, but somehow when we see a group of people that look different from us, there is a visceral reaction,” said Ms Fu, noting that before police investigations had been completed, there were already calls for foreigners to be deported.
Speaking to 150 participants at a dialogue on race relations that explored how Covid-19 has thrown up issues of race, racism and xenophobia to the fore, Ms Fu stressed the importance of social cohesion during times like this.
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