Surprisingly 'racist' Singapore

afz grs SG

Ad phrase for Singapore states “Surprising Singapore” and yes Singapore will provide you with surprises but perhaps unpleasant surprise of racism may be last thing you had in mind.

I am an Indian and I am writing here to express my concerns regarding the racist experiences I felt from Chinese Singaporeans during my Singapore Trip recently. The Chinese Singaporeans are never willing to assist an Indian asking for directions and you are made to feel as not welcome. I am sure they will react differently to other travellers. I experienced a rudely reacting Bus driver when I mentioned I do not have the exact change and thankfully an Indian passenger came to rescue. If the driver could have said it in a proper manner it would not had mattered at all.

Chinese Singaporean seems rude and always ready for a fight at a drop of a hat. This instance happened when I took a bus from Singapore to Genting highlands in Malaysia (Bus was of Sri Maju transport departing from Golden Mile Complex, Singapore). Bus after entering Malaysia halted for a while at a point for refreshments and I also got down. When I came back I saw the bus standing but the passenger entry door was closed and with the driver or attendant nowhere to be seen. Not just me but other passengers who got down was not able to get in. We waited for about 20 min in scorching cold after which the Chinese driver came at his leisurely pace. I was the first one to complain since I had waited longer even though there were other passengers who were stranded. The driver who saw an Indian complaining started abusing me in his local lingo (of course he did not know a bit of english) and somehow using his sign language mentioned that it is you who are at fault of not opening the door. All the passengers tried open the door but was not successful. Then driver got to know that the driver had mistakenly locked the door and finally he had to unlock it from inside. Even after being his fault, the driver started abusing me for no reason and when I reacted he was ready for a fight!!! I had to back off from that instance and ignored him and got into my seat. I am sure what provoked him was that an Indian complained against him and not the complaint or the fault with himself.

The indifference does not stop here, in malls or in reception of hotels or at other places, I had experienced differential treatment especially to Indians in Singapore. When I ask for food in restaurants, they are not willing even answer some genuine questions. All the racism in a country that publicizes itself as a multi racist- multi religious society!! I clearly mention Chinese Singaporeans because the Indians or Malays I came across in Singapore were not discriminatory. The western tourists whom I came across were more tolerant and accommodating than the local Chinese.

I spoke to a couple of citizens of Indian origin in Singapore and they said there is racism prevailing in job sector and in housing societies too with the Chinese being preferred over Indian and Malays. There seems to be no concept of equal opportunities for all at least not in job market. One of the politicians wanted bring in Chinese immigrants over other nationalities and make Mandarin the predominant language.

A note to mention here, I went to Genting highlands and Kualalampur in Malaysia. Genting seems to be a la Singapore with majority Chinese tourists there but definitely the treatment was better . In Kualalampur , the people were extremely hospitable , welcoming and willing to assist. I would give a Thumbs up for hospitality from people of Malaysia and total thumbs down for Chinese Singaporeans for their racist attitude.

Tcsaaa SG

the reason y u felt that way was that a whole lot of indians b4 u that came to singapore spoilt the image of indian. Those low paid indian in singapore r different. They r more humble, courteous, more thankful n much nicer.

troublemaker2005 SG

who is the one here racist. must report to ISA and tace who wrote this.

Tcsaaa SG

ft. How to trace?

jojobeach SG

Are you sure these chinese are Singaporean ?

Do be reminded that Singaporeans including the native chinese are now the MINORITIES.

I think you had problems with the CHINA chinese in Singapore.

China is a MONO culture, MONO racial country.. they are not very tolerant to other racial group due to lack/limited exposure to the other races.

You will face the same problem when you go to MONO culture/racial country anywhere in the world.

Where I work, we have Koreans from Korea, Taiwanese from Taiwan etc.. these workers are racist even among the Asian group. They are civil towards each other, but they clearly don't wish to be associated with one another.

You India indians are racist too.. I've been to your country.. I've seen how you treated your own people... the class divide, the clans divide, tribal divide, the racial divide..the lighter skin vs the darker skin Indians..

Fix your own country's racism first before you go another country to complain about their racist behavior.

But yes, we understand... you don't like it because YOU get treated unfairly, but you obviously have no problem dishing out racism to other people as long as it's not YOU at the receiving end of racism.

Racism is an UNFAIR and UNJUST act. The fact that you Indians treats your own race with such wide spread and high level of unfair and unjust .. yet you have the audacity to come to our country and complain about being treated unfairly .

That's why when you complain... the locals tell you to Fark Off.

foreveralone SG

Are you sure these chinese are Singaporean ?

Do be reminded that Singaporeans including the native chinese are now the MINORITIES.

I think you had problems with the CHINA chinese in Singapore.

China is a MONO culture, MONO racial country.. they are not very tolerant to other racial group due to lack/limited exposure to the other races.

You will face the same problem when you go to MONO culture/racial country anywhere in the world.

Fix your own country's racism first before you go another country to complain about their racist behavior.

That's why when you complain... the locals tell you to Fark Off.

QFT

[imdestinyz] SG

he probably met china chinese....

Summer hill SG

Racism is everywhere, be it if you are a chinese, indian, malay, etc

troublemaker2005 SG

probably TS cannot tell the differnce betwee a mainland cheena and singapore chinese.

but i do note when i go buy malay or indian food, the charge me expensive.bangla go buy, very cheap.

Tcsaaa SG

probably TS cannot tell the differnce betwee a mainland cheena and singapore chinese.

but i do note when i go buy malay or indian food, the charge me expensive.bangla go buy, very cheap.

U r not alone. Buy malay n indian food seem to be more expensive, esp those with no price tag.

Summer hill SG

U r not alone. Buy malay n indian food seem to be more expensive, esp those with no price tag.

yeah, i know that too

Clivebenss SG

Haiz, he can't differentiate. Not all the Chinese are bad and not all the Indians are saint.

Just his luck.

troublemaker2005 SG

so is his luck the problem lah, not singapore racist right

ahmitaba god bless

Clivebenss SG

so is his luck the problem lah, not singapore racist right

ahmitaba god bless

he must be unlucky to meet so many nasty people or he is nasty to many people who then reacted nastily.

afz grs SG

I did not mention all chinese are racist but I did experience racism while in Singapore, this is mentioned in the post. For those who mentioned to trace me or my IP, you need not trace me since I can voluntarily show up whenever needed. I meant whatever mentioned in the post.

If you are really concerned about my post, you should have first traced Bus driver of Sri Maju mentioned above who had abused me definitely due to my race, trace the flight attendants of Tiger Airways who totally ignored queries of Indian passengers but was interested in serving the Caucasian passengers. Trace the people in MRT, Restaurants and other public places who threw racists comments, abuses on other races.

And most of all if you really care, eliminate racism from your society like job market and housing arena. This is the complaint from the local minorities like Indians and Malays and not from me. They mentioned to me how hard it is for a non-Chinese to get a proper job in Singapore.

Those who are targeting me for writing my Experience is clearly a case of like vilifying the victim. What I realized during my stay is that behind the modern glitz and glamour facade of Singapore there remains the stark reality of racism.

Uraniumfish SG

What the.... who edited ur initial post? Because of that, can you tell us again how u know the bus driver abused u definitely because of your race, not because of other factors?

jojobeach SG

Again.. foreigner from the MOST racist place on earth.. teaching another country how to be non-racist...what a joke.

Here's an advise.. if your country practise fairness and equality... your words will carry more weight...at the current moment ...even if your Prime minister from India were to come to SG to give a free lecture about Anti-Racism.. he will be Boo-ed off the stage immediately..

Sure.. it's tough being a non-chinese in SG... well... did you ask the SG indians and malays who complained about racism in Sg.. WHY they havn't all ran off to India and Malaysia and start a BETTER life there ? That's right... they are trying to scare you away , stupid.

Modern glitz... glamour.. that's nothing to do with the fact that INDIA is a shit hole who treats their own people badly. And as long as this unjust life continues in India... the WORLD will look down on you Indians from India.

To equate modern glitz and glamour with automatic acceptance of any low ball standard is simply LUDACRIS on your part.

Try walking into an up-scale restaurant with your flip flops , singlet and tattered shorts, you will not be welcome and possibly be asked to leave the premise....No amount of feet stomping, childish tantrums nor shouting about RACISM will get you seated inside.

If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

So, again... you want the world to respect and welcome you.. you fix the problem in your home country first. Clean up the acts.

RESPECT must be EARNED.. you can't demand it.

Seriously... build some toilets for the India people for goodness sake... It's disgusting to see so many people POOPING and PEEING in public on the rail way tracks every morning !!! Because your govt is tooo stupid to not put toilets in the homes !!!!

laurence82 SG

seriously, we dont need you here, we had enough of your countrymen in our country anyway

no matter how much you talk, all i can say is too bad for you

[imdestinyz] SG

are you sure those who you deemed are racist are born and bred singaporeans? You came here to comment about racism? Did you escape your own country because of the racism/caste system over there?

Probably you should settle your own country's problem before coming here to tell us about our problem. I dont think there's that much of racism amongst our local bred chinese malay and indians.

elindra SG

There is racism everywhere and it's how you make out of it.

I am friends with some Indians from India and I don't hear them bitching about racisim in Singapore. In fact they have all gotten their PR and are hoping to get their citizenship soon in racist Singapore. I wonder why they want to call Singapore their home if it's so awful here.

Maybe TS you should reflect on your actions if you did anything for people to 'pick on you' and you just assume that it's your race.

Also, like the others pointed out all chinese might look the same to you but in Singapore, we are now the minority. Those PRCs are also racist towards us and you might have met them. The locals are never outrightly unhelpful and rude unless there is something on your end you did to make them treat you rudely.

Some self-reflection never hurt anyone.