Minister Tan Chuan-Jin: "We really should think about the way we post and comment"
PUBLISHED ONMarch 23, 2014 12:07 PM
SINGAPORE - Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan Jin has expressed support for Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Education Ms Indranee Rajah's Facebook post about the man in the centre of a social media controversy.
In Ms Indranee's post on Saturday, the Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC spoke up for the resident in her constituency, Mr Koh Hee Huat, who was mocked by Miss Universe Singapore 2013 finalist Jesslyn Tan for having holes in his shirt.
Mr Tan Chuan Jin later shared Ms Indranee's post on his Facebook page, and urged members of the public not to "take the same approach" in rebuking Ms Tan.
In his post, Mr said:
"And also, repulsive as the original post may be, we should not respond in kind to Jesslyn Tan.
"I have read a number of comments against her...we should not do the same to her. It doesn't make us a better people and society by taking the same approach.
"We really should think about the way we post and comment. I know we have more space and freedom to air our views, and we should. But do consider the impact on others.
"Let's build a better society in the way we converse and connect with each other. It is really quite possible and starts with all of us. Do not encourage some of the boorish behaviour we see and we should stand up to it.
"P.S. This is not about freedom of expression btw. It is about responsible freedom of expression. And as Nicholas Fang puts it, it is more than that.
It is really about kindness, compassion, and care for fellow man. "