Rap video by local YouTuber Preetipls on racism not acceptable: Shanmugam

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said YouTuber Preeti Nair and her brother, rapper Subhas Nair, had every right to discuss racism, but the manner in which they did so was wrong. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday set out why an online rap video on racism should not be allowed, saying such videos would, over time, harm Singapore's racial harmony and social fabric.

He said the clip featuring YouTuber Preeti Nair and her brother, rapper Subhas Nair, "crosses the line" and insults Chinese Singaporeans with vulgarities.

The minister also said if the video were allowed, hundreds of others would also be allowed, including those attacking minority races.

The rap video, which has been removed from social media, was posted on Monday in response to a recent "brownface" advertisement by e-payments website epaysg.com.

The ad showed Mediacorp actor and DJ Dennis Chew portraying such characters as a woman in a tudung and a man with visibly darker skin to make the point that people from different walks of life can use e-payments.

A police report has been made about the online rap video, and investigations are ongoing.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 31, 2019, with the headline Rap video by local YouTuber Preetipls on racism not acceptable: Shanmugam. Subscribe