After making controversial rap video Social Media Sites Block Controversial Rap Video of Indian Origin Duo in Singapore against the Chinese community, an Indian origin YouTuber and her rapper brother were a 24-month conditional warning on Wednesday.
Preeti Nair and her brother Subhas Nair had produced “expletive-laden” and “insulting” rap video, which questioned the use of “brownface” in an E-Pay advertisement. A Singaporean Chinese actor appeared with painted brownface in the advertisement.
The video was uploaded on social media and video-streaming platforms on July 29 and it was watched more than 40,000 times on Facebook before being taken down.
“Ms. Nair and Mr. Nair admitted to the police that they had produced and published the video. The video was in clear contravention of the Penal Code,” Channel News Asia reported.
“If this video were to be allowed, then similar expletive-laden, insulting, offensive videos, targeted at all communities will have to be allowed,” the report said quoting a police statement.
In consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the police on Wednesday gave the siblings a 24-month conditional warning under a section of the Penal Code dealing with the maintenance of racial harmony.
A conditional warning is usually issued for the first-time offenders, who will likely be charged if they re-offend during that period.
In the multi-racial country like Singapore, the video became a major issue a month ago with Ministers and Community leaders expressing concern over its intents of offending and hurting other races.
The police said there was “clear evidence” that “such paths inevitably lead to more racism, more racial tensions, and eventually, violence”.
“It will be the minority communities, specifically the Malay and Indian communities, who could suffer more in such a situation. Singapore has taken a clear approach, to say no to offensive speech, targeted at race and religion,” police said.
The duo has apologized for their actions, the report said.
