On 26 April 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong convened a press conference at the National Press Centre.
He addressed the media in the middle of the General Election campaign, citing a matter of national interest.
Foreign Posts
The Ministry of Home Affairs had released a statement the night before. The government detected online activity by foreign actors urging Singaporeans to vote along religious lines.
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These posts, originating from two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee now residing in Australia, were widely shared among Singaporeans.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority directed Meta to block access to these Facebook posts in Singapore.
Lawrence Wong stated that Singapore’s unity across race and religion is the foundation of the country’s multi-racial and multi-religious society.
He emphasised that this unity is not accidental, but the product of years of effort by generations of Singaporeans.
He declared that urging Singaporeans to vote based on race or religion “crosses the line.”
He stressed that Singaporeans may hold different views, but external actors must not be allowed to exploit these differences to weaken the nation or advance their own interests. He said, “Singapore’s politics must be for Singaporeans alone to decide”.
Lawrence Wong welcomed the clear consensus from opposition parties in rejecting foreign interference.
He called on all political leaders to categorically reject endorsements from overseas. He said this is not a partisan issue but a matter of national importance.
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He added that under the Parliamentary Elections Act, it is an offence for foreigners to participate in election activities or publish online election advertising that promotes or prejudices the electoral success of a party or candidate.
Local Religious Teacher
Beyond foreign interference, Lawrence Wong highlighted concerns about posts from local actors attempting to bring race and religion into politics.
He cited a recent example involving a local religious teacher who called for Muslims to vote for candidates advancing a religious agenda.
He stated that the government’s response would be the same if any religious group made similar demands.
He said mixing politics with religion is unacceptable in Singapore for three reasons: it fractures the common space shared by all Singaporeans, all communities are worse off when elections become contests of faith, and external powers can exploit such divisions.
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He warned that identity politics-where candidates appeal for support based on race or religion-should be firmly rejected.
He explained that when one group asserts its identity aggressively, others will react, leading to greater division.
He said, “No one is happy, no one wins. In the end, we will be more divided than before and Singaporeans, all of us, will pay the price”.
Difference
Lawrence Wong clarified that discussing race and religion, or engaging with different communities, is distinct from identity politics.
He said that such discussions are important, but championing the interests of one group over others in politics is not acceptable.
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He concluded by urging all political parties to conduct their campaigns with restraint and to avoid actions that could harm social cohesion and harmony.
The government will continue to monitor online activity and act against any further attempts at foreign interference or the mixing of religion with politics.
You can view the video here:
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