Singapore minister snubs adultery website

Singapore's Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing said on Friday that a dating website targeting married spouses, Ashley Madison, is not welcome. "I do not welcome such a website into Singapore. I'm against any company or website that harms marriage. Promoting infidelity undermines trust and commitment between a husband and wife, which are core to marriage," Chan wrote in a Facebook post on Friday. Ashley Madison is based in Canada with more than 21 million users worldwide. It goes by the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair." Chan was responding to media reports that the dating website is planning for a launch in the city state next year. A Singaporean, in response, set up a Facebook page in the name of "Block Ashley Madison - Singapore," local daily Straits Times said on its website. "I'm heartened by the responses of many Singaporeans who also spoke up against such website. This reflects the significance we all place in commitment and fidelity in marriage," Chan said. The website has already expanded to other Asian countries and territories such as Japan and, recently, China's Hong Kong.