Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs and Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, has issued his strongest criticism yet of Calvin Cheng’s 13 March Facebook post, describing it as “uncivil”, “deeply hurtful” to the Malay/Muslim community, and potentially damaging to Singapore’s multiracial harmony.
Speaking on Berita Harian’s BHerbual #NoTapis podcast on 9 April 2025, Masagos said Cheng’s remarks, including his suggestion that activists be sent to Gaza and told to “take a slow hike”, had crossed a line and created division. He warned that such language could lead to mistrust among communities and must be publicly addressed.
Masagos also criticised Cheng’s public comments targeting two women who had visited Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam’s Meet-the-People Session (MPS) on 12 March to raise concerns about the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).
Cheng had accused them of disruption and linked them to a pro-Palestine activist group — an allegation the women denied, stating they were transparent about their intentions and had waited respectfully.
“The way [Cheng] criticised the two women who went to the MPS was not right, not polite,” said Masagos during the podcast, adding that it had “wounded and upset” Singapore’s Malay/Muslim community, which places high importance on adab (civility) and decorum in public speech.
“Perhaps he doesn’t understand that this is not the way,” he continued. “And because our community has been touched by his words, I must rebuke him and say — don’t do this.”
Masagos also cautioned against letting such conduct become normalised: “If we don’t correct it, this kind of behaviour could become routine. We will start fighting among ourselves and forget that trust is the glue that holds our society together.”
Later that same day, Masagos expanded on his remarks in a Facebook post, where he stated:
“Calvin Cheng’s recent remarks about activists being sent to Gaza and others being told to ‘take a hike’ were unacceptable and hurtful. A lot of people, especially within the Malay/Muslim community, felt angry and dismissed. And I understand why.”
He added that the message conveyed by such statements — that some Singaporeans do not belong simply for speaking up — was not acceptable in Singapore. “No one has the right to suggest that another Singaporean should leave the country because of a different view,” he wrote. “No one — Malay, Chinese, Indian, regardless of background — is a ‘pendatang’. This is home for all of us.”
Masagos encouraged the community to stay calm, grounded in traditional values. He cited the Malay proverb “Terlajak perahu boleh diundur, terlajak kata buruk padahnya” — meaning a boat may reverse, but careless words bring consequences.
His latest comments follow widespread condemnation of Cheng’s 13 March post, which prompted a police report by former opposition politician Jufrie Mahmood and a formal statement by Islamic scholars’ body PERGAS, which described Cheng’s remarks as “deeply troubling” and called on the authorities to act to protect social cohesion.
Masagos had initially addressed the issue on 3 April.
In a more measured Facebook post, he stated that he disagreed with Cheng’s views on the Israel-Palestine conflict and acknowledged that Cheng had raised nearly S$200,000 in donations to support the Tampines SG60 Cares initiative.
While Masagos said he appreciated the gesture and Cheng’s decision to redirect the funds elsewhere, he also made clear that the initiative would continue independently.
“I disagree with Calvin Cheng’s views about the Israel-Palestine conflict,” he wrote at the time. “While I appreciate his efforts to get support and donations to help Tampines residents, Calvin has said that it might be better if he redirects the funds for other causes. I appreciate his gesture.”
Masagos’ 9 April remarks represent a significant escalation and the most direct rebuke from a Cabinet minister, especially one responsible for overseeing Muslim community affairs.
Other ministers, including Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, have also distanced themselves from Cheng. Shanmugam earlier stated that his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict are ‘sharply different’ from Cheng’s.
Balakrishnan and Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How also clarified that their Facebook “likes” on Cheng’s original post were not deliberate — with the Foreign Minister implying it may have resulted from unauthorised access.
On 6 April, Islamic scholars’ association PERGAS issued a statement describing Cheng’s words as “deeply troubling” and urged the authorities to hold those who make divisive remarks accountable.
Cheng has rejected accusations of Islamophobia, stating that his remarks targeted activist behaviour, not religion or ethnicity. He has initiated legal action against several parties over alleged defamation and misrepresentation of his statements.
As public scrutiny continues, Masagos’ intervention underscores how seriously the government views the potential erosion of trust between communities — and the need for public figures to be held to higher standards of speech and conduct.
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