Singapore’s MHA Rejects Foreign Interference in Voting Matters

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) firmly stated on October 16, 2023, that foreign entities should not dictate how Singaporeans vote, especially along racial and religious lines. This response came after a statement from the Malaysian political party, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), which the MHA characterized as divisive and unacceptable.

The ministry’s remarks followed a statement from PAS regarding comments made by Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, concerning the intersection of race and religion in politics. The MHA emphasized that while political organization may differ in other countries, Singapore operates within a multi-racial and multi-religious framework that does not permit external influence on its electoral processes.

In April 2023, during Singapore’s General Election, Iskandar Abdul Samad, PAS National Treasurer, publicly endorsed the candidacy of Faisal Manap from the Workers’ Party. He praised Manap for articulating the necessity of integrating religion into politics. On the same day, Mohamed Sukri Omar, PAS Selangor Youth Chief, shared a post suggesting that the ruling People’s Action Party’s Malay-Muslim Members of Parliament could not be trusted. The MHA condemned these actions as serious interference in Singapore’s electoral integrity.

Following these incidents, the MHA, alongside the Elections Department of Singapore (ELD), issued a joint statement on April 25, 2023, warning against foreign attempts to sway Singapore’s elections and the risks of intertwining religion with politics. The statement highlighted measures taken to block access to social media posts by foreign individuals, including those from Samad and Omar, intended to influence voters.

In a subsequent statement on April 28, PAS attempted to distance itself from the comments made by its members, claiming they represented personal views rather than an official party stance. The party acknowledged Singapore’s right to protect its electoral processes but asserted that it had the right to express opinions about Singaporean politics.

The MHA criticized PAS for its contradictory position, noting that the party’s recent comments appeared to frame its earlier endorsements as official views. The ministry questioned PAS’s motives, asking if the party genuinely had Singapore’s best interests at heart or if it was merely engaged in cross-border commentary.

While acknowledging that foreign individuals may express opinions on Singaporean policies, the MHA reiterated that the government would not tolerate any attempts to influence Singaporeans, particularly those that incite racial or religious sentiments during elections. The MHA underscored the importance of rejecting such influences, aligning with the ministerial statement that outlined the government’s commitment to preserving Singapore’s electoral integrity.

Through this ongoing dialogue, Singapore asserts its sovereignty and the necessity of maintaining a political landscape free from foreign interference, particularly in matters critical to its national identity and unity.