Masagos says he disagrees with ex-NMP Calvin Cheng’s views on the Israel-Palestine conflict (2025)

SINGAPORE – Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said he disagrees with former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng’s views on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

In a Facebook post on April 3, Mr Masagos, who is also Social and Family Development Minister, said the killing of innocent lives must stop.

“Many have also shared their grief and frustration, deeply moved by the sufferings of innocent civilians, especially children,” he said.

Mr Masagos added: “Here at home, Singaporeans of all backgrounds come together in solidarity. The fact that people of different ethnicities and religions stand united in calling for peace speaks volumes. It reflects our deep values of justice, humanity and mutual respect.

“I disagree with Calvin Cheng’s views about the Israel-Palestine conflict.”

His remarks came after a Facebook post by Mr Cheng on March 13, in which he offered to pay to relocate a group of activists from the Monday of Palestine Solidarity group to Gaza, as long as they do not return to Singapore.

“I am offering business class to the leaders. And to their 928 followers, can buy them some walking shoes each. Take a slow hike,” Mr Cheng wrote.

On April 2, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said he holds “a very sharply different view on Israel, Palestine from Mr Calvin Cheng”.

Mr Shanmugam reiterated his comments made in November 2023 that Israel’s actions are illegal and oppressive to Palestinians, saying that remains his view.

Hamas attacked Israeli communities on Oct 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people. Israel responded by launching a campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 50,000 people.

On April 3, about 20 minutes before Mr Masagos made his post, Mr Cheng wrote on Facebook that he was redirecting funds he helped raise for a community initiative in Tampines to the Community Chest’s SGShare giving programme.

Mr Cheng, a businessman, said on March 30 that he had reached out to a group of “wealthy new citizen friends” who formerly held Chinese citizenship to raise almost $200,000 for Our Tampines Hub, which would launch projects to help Singaporeans in need.

This was timed to coincide with Hari Raya Aidilfitri on March 31.

The funds were to be used for the Tampines SG60 Cares initiative to help residents manage the cost of living.

Mr Cheng told The Straits Times that he was redirecting the funds as he did not want his views to distract from the initiative in Tampines.

“Helping people should be apolitical. I don’t want my political views to distract from this, and have decided to redirect the donations to the Community Chest’s national SG60 drive,” he said.

“In a mature democracy, people should be able to agree to disagree even on controversial topics, and still remain friends. I hope that Singaporeans can do this.”

In his post on April 3, Mr Masagos, an MP for Tampines GRC, acknowledged that Mr Cheng will be redirecting the donations to other causes.

Mr Masagos said he appreciates Mr Cheng’s gesture and that the Tampines SG60 Cares scheme will continue.

“We will raise the funds from others to support Tampines residents.”