THE police have issued a stern warning to Miss Amy Cheong over her expletive-filled racist rant on Facebook last year.
The 38-year-old Australian and Singapore permanent resident, who has returned to her family home in Perth, confirmed to The Straits Times that she received an e-mail from the police last week informing her of the closure of her case file.
Miss Cheong, a former assistant director of membership at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), made headlines last October after she lost her job for posting the insulting message on her Facebook page.
In it, she disparaged Malays for what she perceived to be their low-cost and lengthy void-deck weddings. She also mocked their divorce rate.
The post was quickly picked up by one of her friends and circulated in cyberspace. Within hours, Miss Cheong found herself branded a racist by netizens.
Her employer took swift action and she was told to leave her job when she turned up for work the following morning.
The post also resulted in grassroots leader Lionel de Souza, secretary of the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle in Hougang, making a police report against her.
In response to media queries, the police confirmed that investigations into this case have been completed.
A spokesman said: "In consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers, police have administered a stern warning to the defendant for an offence under Section 298A (b) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224."
In a phone interview with The Straits Times yesterday, Miss Cheong said: "I can start my life afresh. It has been an adjustment period for me."
She added that her life took a drastic turn on returning to Perth in October last year and she has been trying to put the episode behind her.
"I have no solid plans. Perhaps one day, I will return to Singapore," said Miss Cheong, who moved to the Republic a decade ago and found life difficult.
She found herself clocking long hours at work, and striving hard to prove and support herself here.
Miss Cheong added: "This episode has helped me put things in perspective. I learnt to appreciate life a bit more than just working. Everything happens for a reason."
