Masagos Zulkifli Takes a Stand on Israel-Palestine Conflict, Disagrees with Calvin Cheng

In a bold statement on social media, Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Masagos Zulkifli, expressed his disagreement with former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Calvin Cheng regarding the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

In a heartfelt Facebook post made on April 3, Masagos emphasized the urgent need to end the killing of innocent lives, highlighting the emotional pain felt by many: “Many have also shared their grief and frustration, deeply moved by the sufferings of innocent civilians, especially children,” he wrote.

His comments resonate strongly within Singapore’s multicultural society, where individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds and religions unite in solidarity for peace. Masagos noted, “The fact that people of different ethnicities and religions stand united in calling for peace speaks volumes. It reflects our deep values of justice, humanity, and mutual respect.” His unequivocal stance included a clear disagreement with Cheng's controversial views on the conflict.

The discord stems from a provocative Facebook post by Cheng on March 13, wherein he controversially suggested funding the relocation of activists from the Monday of Palestine Solidarity group to Gaza, as long as they do not return to Singapore. In his post, Cheng humorously suggested providing business class tickets to leaders and buying “walking shoes” for their followers as a way to “take a slow hike” away from Singapore.

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam also chimed in, stating on April 2 that he shares a “very sharply different view” compared to Cheng regarding Israel and Palestine. Shanmugam reiterated his previously expressed stance, condemning Israel's actions as illegal and oppressive.

This ongoing conflict has seen a devastating toll, marked by the horrific Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties in Israel. In retaliation, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has tragically claimed the lives of over 50,000 Palestinians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Just moments before Masagos' post, Cheng announced a decision to redirect nearly $200,000 raised for community initiatives in Tampines to the Community Chest’s SGShare giving programme. Initially intended to support local projects in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, Cheng clarified his reasoning for the redirection: “Helping people should be apolitical. I don’t want my political views to distract from this,” he explained to The Straits Times.

Mr. Masagos acknowledged Cheng's gesture and reassured the community that the Tampines SG60 Cares initiative would continue, promising to raise additional funds to support residents in need.

As tensions flare over the Israel-Palestine conflict, the call for unity and understanding within Singapore's diverse community remains more crucial than ever. In light of differing opinions, the emphasis on mature dialogue and respect is essential. “In a mature democracy, people should be able to agree to disagree even on controversial topics, and still remain friends,” Mr. Masagos stated, echoing the sentiment for peaceful coexistence among Singaporeans.