‘Singapore anjing chants in Games highly regrettable’

KUALA LUMPUR: The SEA Games organisers have urged fans to behave themselves after a video of Malaysian football supporters chanting “Singapore dogs” during a match between both countries went viral on social media.

The organising committee called the incident “highly regrettable” and said it ran counter to the spirit of the 11-nation Games.

“Any incident that is contradictory to this spirit of togetherness and unity, especially hurling of insults at other participating nations in whatever form, is highly regrettable,” the committee said in a statement.

“Fans are urged to refrain from chanting offensive religious or racial slurs at all times,” it added.

The chanting was recorded during Malaysia’s 2-1 Group A win over neighbouring Singapore in Shah Alam on Aug 16.

Malaysian fans have drawn flak for using the same insult before, including in 2012 when footage of chanting from a Suzuki Cup game also raised hackles in Singapore.

The 20-second video of Malaysian fans titled “Singapore anjing (dog)” is believed to be from a group linked to Ultras Malaya, a band of hardcore Harimau Malaysia fans known for their provocative chants in football matches.

Singaporean netizens who commented on the video had expressed their displeasure over the incident, stressing that Malaysian fans were lacking sportsmanship and morals.

A number of Malaysian users had since then come forward and apologised, stating that the video did not represent the majority of Malaysians.

Meanwhile, Shah Alam district police chief ACP Shafien Mamat said police are investigating an incident where two Myanmar football fans were beaten up after the Malaysia-Myanmar match on Monday.