Leong Mun Wai rebukes accusations of racism from Minister Shanmugam, defends inquiry into CMIO policy

Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai has responded strongly to allegations of racism made by Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam in Parliament on 5 February 2025. In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) NCMP rejected the accusations, calling them a personal attack and defending his inquiry into the Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others (CMIO) framework as a legitimate question aimed at addressing socio-economic concerns affecting minorities. Leong’s remarks followed a heated parliamentary session during which Shanmugam accused him of making past racist comments related to the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) and the Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Shanmugam described Leong’s comments as undermining Singapore’s multiracial foundation. In his Facebook post titled “There He Goes Again,” Leong clarified that his inquiry about the CMIO framework was prompted by recent comments from Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who had said that the framework should be “constantly reviewed” to reflect Singapore’s increasingly diverse society. Leong asserted that his question was reasonable but that Shanmugam’s response unfairly dredged up old issues to accuse him of racism. Leong acknowledged that his 2021 remarks about CECA could have been interpreted as racially charged by some, but he insisted that his focus had always been on the economic implications of the agreement, particularly its impact on local job security. He emphasised that PSP, of which he is a member, supports the EIP but believes that its unintended economic disadvantages to minority communities require attention and solutions. Leong further defended his commitment to multiracialism and multiculturalism, highlighting his experiences living overseas and the diverse friendships he had cultivated. “I will always stand for these values and never against them,” he wrote, expressing disappointment that Shanmugam, a former schoolmate from Raffles Institution, had chosen to attack him on a personal level.

Background of the attacks on Leong

The controversy began when Leong questioned whether the government planned to conduct a significant review of the CMIO framework, particularly in light of its perceived limitations in representing individuals with complex or mixed racial identities. Shanmugam seized the opportunity to highlight past remarks made by Leong on public housing and CECA, accusing him of promoting anti-Indian sentiment and disregarding public housing integration efforts. Shanmugam distributed handouts containing Leong’s previous statements and referenced a 2023 Facebook post in which Leong criticised public housing policies. The minister argued that such remarks, coupled with Leong’s comments on CECA, were evidence of a pattern of racially insensitive behaviour. Leong, however, rejected these claims in Parliament and reiterated on Facebook that his criticisms were always aimed at addressing socio-economic issues rather than targeting specific racial groups. He warned against labelling citizens as racist when they raise difficult socio-economic questions, stressing the importance of constructive dialogue in a multicultural society.

Public response and debate over CMIO relevance

Shanmugam’s accusations have triggered widespread public debate, particularly on social media platforms such as CNA, Mothership, and The Straits Times, where over 670 comments were posted in response to the incident. Many netizens criticised Shanmugam’s approach as a personal attack that detracted from the substantive policy discussion. Several users described the minister’s remarks as ad hominem attacks, with one commenter stating, “When politicians have nothing to defend their policies, they use the deflect card and accuse others of racism.” Another criticised the exchange for wasting parliamentary time and called for more constructive discussions in the House. Others weighed in on the broader debate about the relevance of the CMIO framework and the EIP. Some argued that both policies were outdated and placed disproportionate burdens on minorities. A user highlighted the difficulties minorities face when selling their HDB flats due to EIP restrictions, describing the policy as an infringement on personal freedom. There were also calls to extend integration policies beyond public housing to include private estates, with some suggesting that doing so could prevent the formation of enclaves. Others questioned why Eurasians continue to be categorised under the “Others” label despite their historical recognition as a separate group. While opinions on the policies were divided, many commenters criticised the political nature of Shanmugam’s accusations, accusing him of politicising the issue in the run-up to the next General Election. Some saw the attack on Leong and the PSP as a strategic attempt to undermine the party’s credibility.