Gigene Wong, the candidate for the Singapore Democratic Party ( SDP ), apologized for using a racial slur to describe Ariffin Sha, the candidate, during a rally at Evergreen Primary School on Saturday night ( Apr 26 ).
Dr. Wong, 59, apologized in a Facebook post on Saturday night for using the word “offensive toward our Indian community,” adding that she was” hardly aware of the real meaning behind it.” ” My honest condolences”! she stated.
Dr Wong once more apologized for the opinion in a subsequent Facebook post on Sunday morning, saying it “disrespected” Mr. Ariffin.  ,
” I even understand that it offended the American population. My group members have given me advice about using the word, and I then understand it to be offensive,” she continued.
” My remarks were very offensive and intolerable. I bear full and full accountability for them. The reply I said that happened impromptu wasn’t included in my initial approved speech. There is no justification, and I’m guilty for all the suffering and rage I caused.
Dr. Wong used the word “keling kia” to identify Mr. Ariffin during her protest speech, calling him the party’s “future Pritam Singh” because of how well he spoke.  ,
The Hokkien word” Keling kia” is used to disparage Indians.  ,
Along with SDP’s organizing director Jufri Salim and theater producer Alec Tok, Dr. Wong and Mr. Ariffin are on the slate to face off in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.
In the future May 3 elections, SDP will field 11 candidates from four different divisions: Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Sembawang GRC, Sembawang West SMC, and Bukit Panjang SMC.
SDP chair Paul Tambyah and SDP secretary-general Chee Quickly Juan were among the eight speakers at the march at Evergreen Primary School, which is located in Sembawang West SMC.
The creator of alternative news channel Wake Up Singapore, Mr. Ariffin, who was not on the panel on Saturday night, was not one of the speakers.
Although Mr. Ariffin was the SPP’s assistant secretary-general before he reportedly resigned in 2020, Dr. Wong was the Progress Singapore Party’s ( PSP) candidate in Hong Kah North SMC in 2020, this is his electoral debut.