Lack of racial diversity on magazine cover a bane.

How come no minorities one?

Singaporeans from all walks of life and with varying scopes of imagination are saying they feel that there is something racist about FHM Singapore magazine.

These comments were made a day before Racial Harmony Day on July 21, an annual affair to mark the anniversary of the day in 1964 when various groups of people went ape in Singapore, overturning tables and feeling offended.

One astute Singaporean observer, Ba Wang Chan, who likes to browse FMH magazine in the bookstore but not buy it, said: “How come I don’t see any Singaporean minorities portrayed on the cover of FMH Singapore? Filipino don’t count, you know.”

This has led other Singaporeans to rationalise what it means to be racist or not.

Pa Chiu Cheng, a local, said: “Instead of talking so much cock and wasting taxpayers’ money doing surveys about whether or not Singaporeans are racist, we just need to ask one simple question: Do you even fantasise about someone of a different race? If so, how often? If not, why not?”

His directness, however, is not the only aspect that is overlooked about racism in Singapore.

“Racism is all around us in Singapore. It just manifests itself in various ways. It’s about knowing how to spot them. With the FHM covers, its presence is felt due to the absence of minorities,” said self-styled political pundit, Eric de Yaya, as he watched a pretty Chinese girl walk past him, because he is such a cheeky Eurasian man.