PAP Youth Member Quits Following Furore Over 'Racist' Online Posting

SINGAPORE, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- A youth wing member of Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP) has resigned from the party following a furore over his Facebook posting which was alleged to be racist. Jason Neo, 30, faced criticism from Malay opposition politicians and playwright Alfian Sa'at, among others, over the posting. His actions were also condemned by the wings leaders, including its chairman Teo Ser Luck, who is also Minister of State for Trade and Industry. Three police reports were lodged against him, The New Strais Times reported. It quoted the police as saying that the matter was being investigated. The posting showed a photo he had taken of a school bus with Malay children from Huda Kindergarten, in Woodlands, dressed in their uniform which included traditional Malay headwear. His caption said: 'Bus filled with young terrorist trainees?' This posting, which was made in February before he joined the PAP, went viral recently. Neo has also issued an apology on his Facebook page, saying he made the post out of a "moment's folly" and did not, in any way, represent the view of the PAP or the wing. He said: "I hereby offer those within our Muslim community and anyone else offended my most sincere and unreserved apology." Neo, a volunteer at Meet-the-People sessions in Sembawang, had joined the wing in June. -- BERNAMA Malaysia