<the original facebook comment made by Andrew Loh about President Dr Tony Tan: click image to enlarge>
According to Breakfast Network, Blogger and co-founder of socio-political website The Online Citizen, Andrew Loh, apologised on his Facebook account for using “harsh and insulting” words against the President. The Straits Times picked up the story today (Blogger apologises to President for Facebook post, June 27) as it unfolded overnight.
Andrew Loh, co-founder of The Online Citizen, and founder and chief editor of Publichouse.sg, at the #freemyspeech event (Photo by Shawn Danker)The insulting post was up since Sunday and was taken down only on Wednesday night. In it Loh used expletives on the President in reference to the President’s response to the haze situation.
Most Facebook users were appalled at Loh’s behaviour, with one Michelle Tan calling it “disrespectful”. Facebook user Dawn Goh added that “there is never a reason to use such foul language on anyone.”
This incident was highlighted to us by the Facebook page Fabrications about the PAP, founded by Jason Chua:
He said:
Andrew Loh billed himself as "balanced". What a shame! Is the foul language he used against the head of state, to anyone one in fact "balanced"? What a sham to misled the people on what then is the correct balance and attitude.
An apology is meaningless given the severity of insult, without concrete actions. Everybody calls on the Indonesian president to show his sincerity in apologizing using actions, and not just talk. Maybe Andrew Loh should show his sincerity too, by acknowledging that he and his view are neither balance nor neutral.
One of Andrew's friend, Daniel Yap, revealed on #FAP's post that he "criticised Andrew for insulting the President." Did Andrew listen to a friendly advice? Did Andrew removed his post? Did he stop other's from following his lead on his post? No. It falls on deaf ear. He ignored it!
Overheard on FLOP: if not for complaints to Yahoo, netizens banging at his wall and increasing pressure from #FAP would he have bothered to apologise?
The government's propaganda tool Straits Times also cover the story of this incident:
ST Reporter Tessa Wong wrote:
Mr Loh said yesterday he would be apologising to President Tan in writing.
There was no indication that Dr Tan himself had asked for an apology or took any other action against Mr Loh.
But some netizens have since latched on to Mr Loh's postings and criticised him for insulting the President.
Wrote netizen Dawn Goh on Facebook: "There is never a reason to use such foul language on anyone. Certainly not for our Head of State."
Another, who went by the name Qiu Yung, said: "I don't think one should excuse rude behaviour by saying that respect or true respect has to be earned.
"We always begin by respecting people even if you don't like them."
Mr Loh last night acknowledged he was in the wrong: "The words I used were harsh and insulting, and the sentiments I expressed about the President unfair and untrue.
"I also apologise to Singaporeans for insulting the President and the office that he holds. I would like to thank my fellow netizens for pointing out my failings. I will keep this lesson in mind," he added.
Mr Loh is one of the founders of sociopolitical site The Online Citizen.
He has since moved on to start his own website and also writes for Yahoo Singapore.
There had been isolated calls online yesterday for complaints to be lodged with Yahoo.
Do you think it is neccessary to blow the matter to such a large extent over such a small personal comment? Share with us your thoughts below.