"Man who posted image of torn Singapore flag on Facebook no longer with DBS Bank
SINGAPORE: A man who posted an image of a torn Singapore flag on Facebook is no longer an employee of DBS Bank, the bank said on Tuesday (Aug 28).
Mr Avijit Das Patnaik had posted the picture on the Singapore Indians & Expats Facebook page on the eve of India’s Independence Day two weeks ago. The group has 11,000 members.
The post - which showed a picture of a T-shirt with a Singapore flag on it being ripped apart by a pair of hands to reveal an Indian flag underneath - was accompanied with the caption “Phir Bhi Dil Hai …” which roughly translates to “Still my heart is …” in Hindi.
The post went viral with many netizens commenting that it was offensive and insulting to Singapore. The post has since been taken down.
DBS said in a comment to complaints on its Facebook page on Aug 19 that Mr Patnaik had posted the image because he "wanted to show that even as he’s in Singapore, he remains Indian at heart".
"Upon realising the graphic was offensive, he took it down immediately," DBS said, adding that it had counselled Mr Patnaik.
On Tuesday, DBS released a statement on its Facebook page, saying that Mr Patnaik was no longer in its employ.
“DBS strongly disapproves of such actions by our employees. At the same time, it is fair and right that all employees are given the benefit of due process,” the bank said in a Facebook post.
“Since the incident, a disciplinary committee has been convened and as of 24 August, he is no longer with the bank.”
When questioned on the circumstances surrounding Mr Patnaik's departure, including whether he resigned or was sacked, a DBS spokesman declined to elaborate, saying: "We have nothing further to share beyond the post."
According to the Singapore Arms and Flag National Anthem Act, any person that treats the flag with disrespect may be fined a maximum of S$1,000.
The police confirmed with Channel NewsAsia that a report has been made and that investigations are underway."
I m not sure if DBS has done the right thing to sack or ask the man to resign for this action UNLESS it has satisfied internally that he had done it with malice. Or that this is just the straw that breaks the camel's back as he has been habitually misbehaving?
Otherwise, the photo was quite creative n impactful to show that while he is in Sgp, he is an Indian at heart! Nothing malicious really. The flag is not a REAL Flag but just a graphic art right?
Of course if it is a real flag, then he has to b charged under that relevant act. Still, does it need to cost him his job?
So far hv not heard of anyone crying xenophobia yet. Hope DBS can do better to explain a bit more. If it had decided to let it b, it wouldn't hv to b asked to provide more than what it had just announced.
Sgp n the international talent pool need to know Sgp is not being xenophobic!
Blessed the guy.
SINGAPORE: A man who posted an image of a torn Singapore flag on Facebook is no longer an employee of DBS Bank, the bank said on Tuesday (Aug 28).
Mr Avijit Das Patnaik had posted the picture on the Singapore Indians & Expats Facebook page on the eve of India’s Independence Day two weeks ago. The group has 11,000 members.
The post - which showed a picture of a T-shirt with a Singapore flag on it being ripped apart by a pair of hands to reveal an Indian flag underneath - was accompanied with the caption “Phir Bhi Dil Hai …” which roughly translates to “Still my heart is …” in Hindi.
The post went viral with many netizens commenting that it was offensive and insulting to Singapore. The post has since been taken down.
DBS said in a comment to complaints on its Facebook page on Aug 19 that Mr Patnaik had posted the image because he "wanted to show that even as he’s in Singapore, he remains Indian at heart".
"Upon realising the graphic was offensive, he took it down immediately," DBS said, adding that it had counselled Mr Patnaik.
On Tuesday, DBS released a statement on its Facebook page, saying that Mr Patnaik was no longer in its employ.
“DBS strongly disapproves of such actions by our employees. At the same time, it is fair and right that all employees are given the benefit of due process,” the bank said in a Facebook post.
“Since the incident, a disciplinary committee has been convened and as of 24 August, he is no longer with the bank.”
When questioned on the circumstances surrounding Mr Patnaik's departure, including whether he resigned or was sacked, a DBS spokesman declined to elaborate, saying: "We have nothing further to share beyond the post."
According to the Singapore Arms and Flag National Anthem Act, any person that treats the flag with disrespect may be fined a maximum of S$1,000.
The police confirmed with Channel NewsAsia that a report has been made and that investigations are underway."
I m not sure if DBS has done the right thing to sack or ask the man to resign for this action UNLESS it has satisfied internally that he had done it with malice. Or that this is just the straw that breaks the camel's back as he has been habitually misbehaving?
Otherwise, the photo was quite creative n impactful to show that while he is in Sgp, he is an Indian at heart! Nothing malicious really. The flag is not a REAL Flag but just a graphic art right?
Of course if it is a real flag, then he has to b charged under that relevant act. Still, does it need to cost him his job?
So far hv not heard of anyone crying xenophobia yet. Hope DBS can do better to explain a bit more. If it had decided to let it b, it wouldn't hv to b asked to provide more than what it had just announced.
Sgp n the international talent pool need to know Sgp is not being xenophobic!
Blessed the guy.
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