Former PAP MP allegedly takes veiled swipe at Halimah Yacob’s Gaza remarks

SINGAPORE: A former Member of Parliament has seemingly taken a veiled swipe at former President Halimah Yacob over her recent remarks on the Gaza conflict, suggesting that past Singaporean presidents prioritised national unity over involvement in international affairs. On 25 May, Irene Ng Berry, a former People's Action Party (PAP) MP, posted on Facebook praising former presidents Yusof Ishak, Wee Kim Wee, S.R. Nathan, and Tony Tan for embodying multiracial and multireligious harmony without engaging in advocacy related to foreign conflicts. She noted that despite their strong personal beliefs, these leaders refrained from publicly championing causes linked to their faith or global events. “Nobody expected them to speak up for their religious or racial groups, or to make public appeals on behalf of any group on external conflicts whatever the circumstances,” she wrote. Ng added that even if these leaders held strong views on international matters, their foremost duty was to unite the people.

While her post did not name any individuals, the remarks appear to reference Mdm Halimah’s recent comments on the Gaza crisis. On 23 May, Mdm Halimah took to Facebook to condemn Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling it “a humanitarian catastrophe which is getting worse daily.” She criticised the inadequate aid flow into the region, stating that only a “trickle” of supplies was reaching civilians—far below what is required to prevent starvation and mass suffering. Citing United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Mdm Halimah warned that 14,000 babies could die due to lack of food. She added that over 14,000 children had already been killed by the Israel Defense Force (IDF), calling it “an annihilation of a future generation.” “Keeping quiet makes us complicit in the violations of international humanitarian laws and encourages similar aggressions elsewhere,” she wrote. “Our world is all the poorer for it. Uphold humanity.”

Netizens Show Support for Halimah's Gaza Stance

Ng’s comments drew mixed reactions online. While some netizens agreed with her views, others strongly defended Mdm Halimah Yacob’s decision to speak out on the Gaza crisis. One user questioned the propriety of Ng’s remarks, asking, “A former MP saying this about a former President?” Another netizen criticised Ng’s approach, saying that if she intended to criticise someone, she should have the “basic decency to name him or her” so the person could respond if they wished. Many netizens voiced support for Mdm Halimah, praising her for taking a principled stand on a humanitarian issue. One commenter wrote, “Those with deep moral consciences speak up for what is wrong, even if it means making others uncomfortable.” Another commenter remarked that all of Singapore’s former presidents—from President Yusof to President Nathan to President Wee—would likely have spoken out against the mass killing of tens of thousands of innocent people.

Academic: Criticism of Halimah Is Troubling

Associate Professor Walid J. Abdullah weighed in on the controversy, noting that while both Ng and Mdm Halimah have every right to express their views as private citizens, the former President’s remarks deserve respectful consideration. He emphasised that while everyone is entitled to their opinion, it is concerning to see someone like Mdm Halimah, whose multiracial credentials are beyond question and who has given so much in public service, being criticised for prioritising community over country. He pointed out that her “mistake” was simply caring about the deaths of innocent people and children, which he described as “so awful, so unstatesman-like.” Abdullah also questioned why Mdm Halimah’s stance was being scrutinised when other government ministers had made similar statements about the Gaza conflict. He noted that other officials had issued similar condemnations of civilian deaths, yet Mdm Halimah appeared to be the target of particular criticism. He expressed gratitude that a senior figure like Halimah had shown moral clarity at a time when such leadership is needed. He acknowledged the constraints that current government leaders face in issuing strong condemnations due to diplomatic considerations, but argued that former leaders, like Mdm Halimah, have fewer limitations. Abdullah contended that while political differences and disagreements on the best course of action for the country are valid, it crosses a line when people suggest that someone with a different viewpoint does not have the country’s best interests at heart or is appealing to sectarian interests. "If someone as distinguished as the former President can be subjected to such criticisms, the rest of us plebeians can take comfort when we encounter similar scenarios," he said.

Critical Spectator Accuses Halimah of Hypocrisy

On 23 May, the Facebook page Critical Spectator, run by Polish national Michael Petraeus, accused Mdm Halimah of selective outrage. Petraeus claimed she had failed to comment on crises in Sudan, Yemen, Libya, or Myanmar, and went as far as to say Mdm Halimah was “complicit in the starvation of 3 million children in Sudan” due to her silence on those matters. He took issue with Mdm Halimah’s sentiment that “keeping quiet makes us complicit,” arguing that she had not made similar statements about other humanitarian crises. Petraeus accused her and global media outlets of prioritising Palestinian suffering over other global tragedies, stating, “Out of all of the victims of wars and disasters in this world, they deserve the least of our attention, support or even talk.” He further claimed the suffering in Gaza was self-inflicted due to Palestinian support for Hamas and contrasted it with victims in countries like Sudan and Yemen, whom he considered “more clearly innocent.” In response, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim strongly criticised Critical Spectator’s comments, saying they “minimise the suffering of Palestinians” and risk fuelling division in Singapore’s multicultural society. Faishal also defended Mdm Halimah’s character and moral stance, calling her “a deeply respected national figure” whose views reflect the compassion of many Singaporeans. “While it is valid to draw attention to suffering in other parts of the world, we should reject any statement that minimises the suffering of Palestinians,” he said. He stressed the importance of unity and warned against divisive rhetoric from both local and foreign sources. “In times like these, we need more understanding, not division,” he wrote. “We must never allow dismissive or divisive rhetoric to erode the mutual respect and unity we have worked so hard to build.” Faishal reiterated that the Singapore government has consistently called for a humanitarian ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and support for the Palestinian right to a homeland. He noted that many in Singapore’s Muslim community—and other communities—feel deeply about the crisis in Gaza and continue to express solidarity with those affected.