SAF to ban the singing of “Purple Light” marching song: AWARE

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http://sg.news.yahoo.com/saf-halts-singing-of-%E2%80%98misogynist--lyrics-from-marching-song--aware-064151720.html

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have confirmed that they are taking steps to stop the singing of “misogynist” lyrics used in a marching song sung by full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), according to Aware Singapore. Aware posted this on a Facebook post on Friday.

The local advocacy group said that they had raised concerns over the lyrics from a marching song called “Purple Light” after coming across the lyrics earlier this year.

The lyrics of the song include this portion, which was reproduced on Aware's Facebook page:

“Booking out, see my girlfriend
Saw her with another man
Kill the man, rape my girlfriend
With my rifle and my buddy and me.”

In another version of the song, the word "rape" is replaced with "beat".

“We were troubled that NSmen were bonding over misogynist lyrics about committing sexual violence against women. So we raised our concerns with MINDEF [Ministry of Defence] and SAF,” Aware said in its post.

AWARE Singapore then quoted from what appears to be a statement they have received from the two bodies, “MINDEF and SAF have confirmed that they took steps to investigate. They will ‘immediately halt’ the singing of these lyrics, which they describe as ‘contrary to the values of [their] organisation'.”

Reactions online have been mixed, with some netizens saying Aware has over-dramatised the issue.

Yahoo Singapore has contacted MINDEF and SAF for further comments.