2006 Singapore elitism controversy

The Wee Shu Min elitism controversy occurred in October 2006 in Singapore. Wee Shu Min, daughter of parliament member Wee Siew Kim and a then eighteen-year-old student on Raffles Junior College's Humanities scholarship programme, found herself in controversy[1] after posting on her blog what were viewed by some Singaporeans to be elitist,[2] naïve, and insensitive statements against heartlanders.[3]

Dismissing the views of Derek Wee who voiced concerns on job security and age discrimination on his blog, she shot back with a take-no-prisoners diatribe,[2][4] calling Derek a "stupid crackpot", belonging to "the sadder class" and overreliant on the government. Her post also called for Derek to "get out of my elite uncaring face".[5]

Her response triggered an avalanche of criticism, as it came on the heels of the sensational suicide of an individual (said to be facing financial difficulties) at Chinese Garden MRT station.[6][7] As a result, her name topped Technorati's search terms for a week.[8] She has since appeared to have apologised[9] on another blog and shut down her own.[3]

  1. ^ Ken Kwek, Aaron Low. "Internet users learning netiquette the hard way". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Time to learn that sorry isn't the hardest word to say", Ong Soh Chin, The Straits Times (Saturday Review), 28 October 2006, p. S10
  3. ^ a b "Teen blogger counselled for her 'elitist' remarks", Ken Kewk, The Straits Times, 24 October 2006, p. H5
  4. ^ ""精英"博客的省思", 社论观点, Lianhe Zaobao, 31 October 2006 (Chinese)
  5. ^ "please-get-out-of-my-elite-uncaring-face"/ The Online Citizen Archived 14 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine 1 December 2006. Accessed 9 January 2014.
  6. ^ "妻子连搭车去认尸的钱都没有…… 跳轨男子山穷水尽走绝路", 林晓玲、杨荣发, Lianhe Zaobao, 20 October 2006 (Chinese)
  7. ^ "Political elitism enhances class divide", Seah Chiang Nee, The Star (Malaysia), 29 October 2006
  8. ^ "Mixing welfare and elitism in Singapore", Alex Au, Asia Times, 23 November 2006
  9. ^ Wei Kiat's blog: Wee Shu Min's apology, 19 October 2006. Accessed 13 November 2006.