Singapore MP condemns racist posts over 9 missing in Nepal flood
Why it matters: The backlash hit as Singapore worked to help families and deployed consular support after the Himalayan disaster.
Singapore lawmaker Alex Yam condemned online comments questioning whether nine Singaporeans missing after the Aug. 26 Nepal-Tibet disaster were "really Singaporean," calling the remarks racist and heartless. In a Facebook post on Aug. 31, the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP said some commenters mocked the victims' names and appearance, while others questioned why authorities should help them. Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash backed that criticism, saying using a person's name, race or appearance to deny their Singaporean identity was racism. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier it was in touch with affected families, and the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi sent a crisis response team to Nepal.