Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that online activity by foreign actors urging Singaporeans to vote along racial and religious lines had been detected in recent days.
These actors encouraged voters to support candidates based on their race or religion, a move he described as crossing the line.
“Singapore’s greatest strength is our unity across race and religion. It is the bedrock of our multi-racial and multi-religious society. This unity was not accidental but the result of generations of hard work,” he said.
The Prime Minister revealed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had already issued a statement the previous night and that Singapore had moved swiftly to block access to the foreign-influenced posts.
He emphasized that Singapore’s politics must be decided by Singaporeans alone, without external influence.
Besides foreign interference, he also highlighted concerns over local attempts to bring race and religion into politics.
“These messages, even by Singaporeans, must be firmly rejected. Mixing politics with religion is unacceptable in Singapore, regardless of faith be it Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim,” he added.
The Prime Minister warned of identity politics where candidates seek support based on race or religion.
It would fracture Singapore’s common space, spark divisions among communities, and open doors for external powers to exploit these divisions.
The Prime Minister also distinguished between responsible engagement with different communities and the dangers of identity politics. While acknowledging that minority communities often faced greater challenges, he stated that genuine engagement was about strengthening common ground, not splitting society.
He urged all political parties to make their positions clear. He invited party leaders to publicly reaffirm two fundamental principles.
First, that identity politics has no place in Singapore and second, that religion must never be mixed with politics.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
