Singapore Ministry of Communication and Information was forced to take down a Hari Raya video in fear of controversy and argument after netizens accused it on being stereotyping the Malay community.
As reported by CNA, the video which appeared on the Government’s youtube channel was a PSA by City in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, it depicted a family of three living in a rental flat, where the father works as a mover while the mother is a housewife.
The son, Syawal, is seen skipping school to earn extra income for his family.
Later in the video, which features Malay proverbs, the mother decides to return to work while the father finds a new job. Syawal goes back to school again and the family plans towards moving into their own home.
Towards the end of the video, the family moves out of their rental flat into a new home where they celebrate Hari Raya.
The video sparked online backlash as some viewers said that it included racial stereotypes about the Malay community.
Some netizens said that the video suggested Malay families can only celebrate Hari Raya when they have achieved socio-economic stability by attaining homeownership or when both parents are working.
However, others, including those who identify themselves as part of the Malay community, said that they did not find the video offensive. Several online commentators said that there was nothing shameful about the story presented in the video.
The video has since been removed.
