SINGAPORE — The atmosphere at the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) rally was tense after candidate Gigene Wong found herself in hot water for using a racial slur to describe fellow candidate Ariffin Sha. This incident unfolded during the rally held at Evergreen Primary School on Saturday night.

In an immediate response, the 59-year-old Dr. Wong took to Facebook to issue a heartfelt apology, acknowledging that her comment was "offensive towards our Indian community." She admitted ignorance of the term's derogatory implications, expressing, "My sincere apologies!" However, a second apology came Sunday morning where she reiterated her regret for the disrespect shown towards Mr. Ariffin.

An Unfortunate Slip of the Tongue?

Dr. Wong's remarks were made in a mix of languages, including Mandarin, English, and Hokkien, during her rally speech. She controversially referred to Mr. Ariffin using the term "keling kia," a well-known pejorative, while flippantly mispronouncing his name as "elephant." This faux pas, while likely unintentional, raised eyebrows and led to backlash from various community factions.

Understanding the gravity of her words, she remarked, "My comments were very hurtful and unacceptable. I take full responsibility. My original speech was vetted, but that comment was made in the spur of the moment—there's no excuse for it.” Dr. Wong emphasized how she has since been counseled by party members about the language and its impacts.

Seeking to Rally Support

During her speech, Dr. Wong also made a playful plea to the voters of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, urging them to support the SDP to avoid losing their election deposits, adding a light-hearted quip that Mr. Ariffin would not want to "get scolded by his mother" if they were to fail.

Mr. Ariffin, the founder of the alternative news outlet Wake Up Singapore, is making his electoral debut. He joins a roster of candidates that include SDP’s organizing secretary Jufri Salim and theatre director Alec Tok as the party vies for success in the upcoming May 3 polls across multiple constituencies.

Political Fallout and Community Reaction

The rally at Evergreen Primary School featured several speakers, including esteemed party leaders Paul Tambyah and Chee Soon Juan, but Mr. Ariffin was notably absent from the podium on that fateful evening. His non-speaking role added an ironic twist to an already charged atmosphere, as social media and community forums erupted with discussions about the implications of Dr. Wong's comments.

As the SDP prepares for the polls, the incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding racial language in Singapore's multicultural society and the challenges candidates face in navigating these complex waters.