Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Dr Gigene Wong issued two apologies after using a racial slur to describe her fellow party candidate, Ariffin Sha, during a rally at Evergreen Primary School on 26 Apr 2025.
She referred to Mr Ariffin, 27, as “keling kia”.
The term “keling kia” is widely recognised in Singapore as a racial slur and is considered highly offensive by the Indian community.
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Future Pritam Singh
Dr Wong, 59, made the comments while speaking in a mix of Mandarin, English, and Hokkien.
She also repeatedly mispronounced his name, calling him “elephant”, and described him as the party’s “future Pritam Singh”, referencing the Workers’ Party chief.
During her speech, Dr Wong urged voters in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC to support the SDP so the team would not lose their election deposits and so Mr Ariffin “would not get scolded by his mother”.
She said, “That guy, Elephant ah, haven’t get married leh. 27-year-old, later he no more deposit, his mother would kill him. ‘See lah, tell you don’t go GE already, you still run. Now no more deposit’”.
The incident quickly drew backlash online, with clips of the speech circulating on social media and messaging platforms.
Many expressed shock at the use of the slur and her casual tone when referring to her own teammate.
Public Apologies
Dr Wong posted her first apology on Facebook late on 26 Apr, acknowledging she used a term “offensive towards our Indian community” and stating she “was not aware of the real meaning behind it”. She wrote, “My sincere apologies!”
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On the morning of 27 Apr, Dr Wong issued a second apology on Facebook. She said, “I apologise for the comment I made at last night’s rally which disrespected my fellow candidate Ariffin Sha. I also understand that it offended the Indian community. I have been counselled by my party members about the word and now I understand it is offensive”.
She added, “My comments were very hurtful and unacceptable. I am fully responsible for them. My original vetted speech did not include the comment I said which happened impromptu. There is no excuse and I am sorry for all the pain and anger that I caused”.
Netizens, however, did not respond well to Dr Wong’s apologies.
SDP’s leadership has confirmed that Dr Wong’s original speech had been vetted and did not contain the slur.
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The party counselled her after the incident.
SDP
Dr Wong and Mr Ariffin are part of the SDP team contesting Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, alongside Jufri Salim and Alec Tok.
Mr Ariffin, founder of alternative news outlet Wake Up Singapore, is making his electoral debut in this General Election.
The SDP is fielding 11 candidates across four constituencies in the upcoming polls on 3 May 2025.
Dr Wong previously ran as a Progress Singapore Party candidate in Hong Kah North SMC in 2020.
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Mr Ariffin was formerly the assistant secretary-general of the Singapore People’s Party before resigning in 2020.
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