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'Horrible': K Shanmugam responds to video of man claiming interracial dating is 'racist'

(PHOTOS: YouTube screengrab, Facebook / Dave Park Ash)
Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has weighed in on the video, saying that "(if) it's accurate – it's horrible". (PHOTOS: YouTube screengrab, Facebook / Dave Park Ash)

SINGAPORE — Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Sunday (6 June) weighed in on a video circulating online of a man claiming that interracial dating is "racist", stating that what he saw in the video is "quite unacceptable" and "very worrying".

The nine-and-a-half minute video posted on Facebook by user David Parkash shows him arguing with another man outside Far East Shopping Centre. Parkash appears to be offended by the other man's claim that interracial dating between Indian men and Chinese women is "racist".

"I have nothing against you personally but I think it's racist that the Indians prey on the Chinese girls," says the other man, who is wearing a red shirt with "Singapore" on the front of it.

"You don't see a Chinese guy preying on the Indian girl," the other man also claims.

At one point he also turns to the person filming the incident, presumably Parkash's girlfriend, and says, "Your parents is disgraced."

In a Facebook post of his own, Shanmugam said the video had been sent to him and that he did not have the "full facts" of what happened.

"If it’s accurate — then it's horrible. It seems like more people are finding it acceptable, to make 'in your face' racist statements – openly. And some try to explain away, each time something like this happens," said Shanmugam, who also shared Parkash's video.

"I used to believe that Singapore was moving in the right direction on racial tolerance and harmony. Based on recent events, I am not so sure anymore," he added.

Shanmugam also asked to hear from members of the public about their views on the video.

In his own post, Parkash said that he and his girlfriend had been confronted by the other man, who told them that they should only be dating within their own race.

Parkash said the incident had left him "embarrassed, humiliated and hurt".

"I come from a mixed race background and so is my (girlfriend). We both are mixed race but we are proud to be Singaporeans... To this man who may end up watching this, I hope you learn to stop being a racist and let us all live in harmony," he said in the post.

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