Chinese netizens slam driver as 'spoilt brat'

BEIJING - The Chinese national behind a deadly Ferrari crash in Singapore
has drawn the ire of his countrymen, with netizens here slamming the dead
man as a spoilt, rich brat and a disgrace to China.

Mr Ma Chi, 31, was widely condemned online as a lawless member of the fu er
dai (rich second generation), a derogatory term used to describe those who
have done little to earn their inherited riches and flaunt their wealth with
impunity.

The cyber community here was alerted to the horrific tragedy after at least
10 news websites carried photographs and articles on Tuesday.

In the accident last Saturday morning, Mr Ma's million-dollar sports car
collided with a taxi, which then hit a motorcycle. Mr Ma died at the scene.
Cabby Cheng Teck Hock and his passenger Shigemi Ito died in hospital.


Most netizens had little sympathy for the financial adviser from Sichuan,
who was applying for permanent residency in Singapore. Little is known about
Mr Ma's family background.

'Such young tycoons have done so much damage, and they are still so full of
themselves when overseas. It is a real disgrace to us Chinese,' wrote Mr Fei
Yuanqi on the popular QQ.com website.
Another netizen Zhang Qianye said: 'China's tycoons, the world's nuisance.'

Many pointed out that Mr Ma's behaviour suggests that rich Chinese assume
that the way things work in China would be replicated overseas. In short,
their wealth and connections would allow them to do as they please, which
usually includes ignoring the law or bribing their way out of trouble.

'Singapore is a country which is really ruled by law. It is not like ours,
which is ruled by men. When the American boy broke Singapore's law years
ago, he was still caned according to the country's laws even after (then)
United States President Bill Clinton pleaded on his behalf,' said an unnamed
netizen on the nationalist Global Times website, referring to the famous
Michael Fay incident in 1994.
Others pointed out that Chinese nationals have problems not just in
Singapore. Mainlanders who drive in Hong Kong have raised the hackles of the
local people, blogger Han Yuting said, adding: 'Our traffic rules and
driving standards could be the worst in the world.'

Since the accident, hundreds of Singaporeans have also lambasted Mr Ma at
online forums, largely for his wealth.

Some pointed to other recent accidents in Singapore caused by Chinese
nationals. In March, a 30-year-old Chinese national allegedly hijacked a
taxi that hit and killed a 34-year-old cleaner.

Typical of the humour commonly seen on China's Web, many netizens urged
Singapore to take in more of such rich, spoilt Chinese so they would leave
China.

But a minority defended Mr Ma online, including a poster on blogging site
Sina Weibo who said he was a self-made man.

Others criticised Singaporeans' outrage, saying it reveals the latent
discrimination towards mainland Chinese.

'Singaporeans have been displeased with Chinese immigrants snatching their
rice bowls, raising prices of products... this car crash made the situation
even more intolerable for the locals, and anti-Chinese emotions are
escalating,' said a comment on KDNet.
[INDENT] From ST:
'Such young tycoons have done so much damage, and they are still so full of
themselves when overseas. It is a real disgrace to us Chinese.'

- Netizen Fei Yuanqi, posting on the QQ.com website in criticism of Ferrari
driver Ma Chi, who was cremated at Mount Vernon.[/INDENT]


I went to check online. Weibo also got a lot of posts.



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