NUS PRC Sun Xu scholar apologizes to Singaporeans on Facebook

Embattled NUS PRC scholar Sun Xu has apologized to Singaporeans on his Facebook over his insensitive remarks on there ‘being more dogs than humans in Singapore,’ posted on his microblog ‘Weibo’ last Saturday.

In the same thread, Sun used the term “瘪三” to describe Singapore uncles, which is a derogatory word typically used in Shanghai to describe the underclass bums in the society. It means a person who is a tramp, bum, good-for-nothing fella, beggar, drifter, loafer, outcast, vagrant, destitute and worthless person.

When told by a fellow netizen not to be too fussy, he replied:

“Bunch of 挫逼. My temper these days is already a lot better.”

“挫逼” is a derogatory word commonly used in mainland China for cursing people, an equivalent of the Hokkien phrase ‘CCB’ used as a vulgarity in Singapore.

Sun’s arrogance and callousness sparked a massive outcry among Singaporeans with MediaCorp actor Tay Ping Hui calling him an ‘impertinent ingrate’ on his Twitter. He is reportedly under police investigation for allegedly ‘criminally intimidating’ a Singaporean on his microblog.

In an interview with a Chinese tabloid two days ago, Sun said nonchalantly that he was only ‘complaining’:

“I am only complaining. It is just a small matter and I do not want to blow it up. Anyway, I have already deleted the comment.”

However, faced with growing pressure from all quarters including his university, Sun finally capitulated and issued a public apology on his Facebook yesterday:

In the short statement written in both English and Chinese, Sun wrote:

“I am very sorry for the statement that I had made on my blog on 18 February 2012, which I now realize was insensitive and inappropriate. Please accept my sincere apologies.”

According to information posted on his linkedin account before it was taken down, Sun Xu came to study in Singapore in 2006 on a MOE scholarship for students from China.

After graduating from Raffles Junior College in 2008, he went on to study Mechanical Engineering at NUS, also on an undergraduate scholarship provided for by the Singapore government. He is currently on attachment at Schlumberger, an international oilfield services company and is expected to graduate this year.

During a parliamentary session this week, it was revealed that the Singapore government spends some $36 million dollars on scholarships to over two thousand students each year, or about S$174,00 per scholar.

Foreign scholars like Sun Xu at NUS and other Singapore universities have their tuition fees and living expenses all covered by their scholarships. They are also guaranteed a well-paying job upon graduation as part of their bond and the men are exempted from National Service unlike male Singapore citizens who are burdened with a hefty tuition loan and rendered uncompetitive in the job market by their mandatory reservist obligations such as IPPT and in-camp training.

NEXT >> How did NUS respond to the saga? What did our MPs say about it? Find out more on The Temasek Times as we prepare you a series of articles in the day ahead.

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‘More dogs than humans in Singapore’ – NUS PRC student’s comments spark outcry