Latest news with #ex-Singaporean
Focus Malaysia
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
S'pore orders Facebook to block posts by PAS politicians on ‘election interference'
SINGAPORE has ordered Meta to block Facebook posts by two PAS politicians and an ex-Singaporean now Australian Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff for allegedly influencing its May 3 election. Zulfikar, detained in 2016 for promoting terrorism, accused Malay-Muslim MPs of failing Muslims, a post reposted by Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar. PAS treasurer Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad backed an opposition candidate. Singapore's authorities warned, 'All this has the potential to fracture the multiracial and multireligious harmony.' The government stressed, 'Singapore's politics must be for Singaporeans alone', citing laws against foreign election interference and emphasising secularism to maintain social cohesion. Zulfikar criticised Malay-Muslim MPs, while PAS figures supported candidates, which the Singapore government said risked racial and religious harmony in the tiny republic. Singapore's government, emphasising its secular stance, condemned these actions as threats to national unity. The Parliamentary Elections Act bans foreign election involvement. — April 26, 2025 Main photo credit: The Straits Times
Malay Mail
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
PAP Malay leader: Islamist PAS' call for Singaporeans to vote along racial, religious lines ‘dangerous and divisive'
SINGAPORE, April 26 – PAP candidate for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Zaqy Mohamad, has today expressed his concern that foreigners are exploiting race relations and religious elements for political gain during the election period in the republic. CNA cited the outgoing Singapore senior minister of state criticising Malaysia's Islamist party PAS for urging Singaporeans to vote along racial and religious lines, calling it a dangerous practice. 'So when you have a party like PAS, for example, espousing certain views, asking Singaporeans to vote along religious and racial lines, I think that's very dangerous,' Zaqy reportedly said. 'That's the kind of politics perhaps you can see in Malaysia, where you have different parties representing different faiths or different races, whether it's UMNO, PAS, DAP and MIC, and you can see how the parties are organised.' He compared the situation to Singapore, which he said has spent 60 years building peace, harmony, and mutual respect among its diverse population. He warned that Singapore must guard against the exploitation of race and religion, recalling the racial riots and protests during the country's early years of independence. While acknowledging there is room for discourse on religious issues, Zaqy said urging people to vote along racial and religious lines is akin to 'asking for trouble'. He said the government's directive to Meta sends a strong signal that Singapore is committed to protecting its societal harmony and maintaining the integrity of its elections. Zaqy added that issues like the Gaza conflict can be debated responsibly, but Singaporeans must remember to conduct such discussions with sensitivity in a multiracial, multi-religious society. Yesterday, Singapore told Meta to block local access to several Facebook posts by foreigners allegedly attempting to influence the city-state's upcoming election. The posts were made by two leaders from the Malaysian Islamist party PAS, and an ex-Singaporean who is now an Australian citizen. Islamic preacher Mohammed Noor Deros had also listed several of his demands for Singaporean political parties, allegedly on behalf of some in the Malay-Muslim community, which also included the rejection of support for the LGBT community.
Malay Mail
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
We can't choose who supports us: Workers' Party reaffirms secular stance as Malaysian Islamists seek to influence Singapore polls
SINGAPORE, April 26 – Singapore's Workers' Party (WP) has today reiterated its commitment to Singapore's secular principles following reports linking its Malay-Muslim candidates to foreign influence and religious figures. Responding to a joint statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Elections Department on the takedown of foreign online election advertising, WP said it cannot control if any external parties express support for its candidates. 'In Singapore, the principle of keeping religion and politics separate is well established. The WP's commitment to this principle is a matter of public record,' it said in a statement here. It highlighted that its MP Faisal Manap had said during a 2019 parliamentary debate on the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Bill that: 'Religion needs to be kept aside, or apart from politics, so that religion will not be used to gain personal benefit or to benefit any political party.' It added that its secretary-general Pritam Singh had then added: 'Members of Parliament must represent the interests of every community, not just their own, and must be mindful of introducing religion into politics.' The party also addressed media reports concerning a meeting involving some Malay-Muslim candidates and Singaporean Islamic religious teacher Mohammed Noor Deros. 'In the course of our political work, the Workers' Party meets with various members of our religious communities, regardless of race or religion,' it said. The WP clarified that at a meeting attended by Noor Deros and other religious leaders, no promises, commitments, or agreements were made in exchange for political support. This comes as preacher Noor listed several of his demands for Singaporean political parties, allegedly on behalf of some in the Malay-Muslim community, which also included the rejection of support for the LGBT community. Yesterday, Singapore told Meta to block local access to several Facebook posts by foreigners allegedly attempting to influence the city-state's upcoming election. The posts were made by two leaders from the Malaysian Islamist party PAS, and an ex-Singaporean who is now an Australian citizen. Officials said the ex-Singaporean man named Zulfikar bin Mohamad Shariff, who was detained in 2016 in the city-state for allegedly promoting terrorism, had accused several Malay-Muslim MPs of failing to represent the interests of the Muslim community.
Malay Mail
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Don't mix religion and politics': Singapore blocks Facebook posts by PAS leaders, ex-citizen accused of stirring election tensions
SINGAPORE, April 26 — Singapore has told Meta to block local access to several Facebook posts by foreigners allegedly attempting to influence the city-state's upcoming election, authorities said late yesterday. The posts were made by two Malaysian politicians from the conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, and an ex-Singaporean who is now an Australian citizen, according to a joint statement from the interior ministry and the election department. Officials said the ex-Singaporean man named Zulfikar bin Mohamad Shariff, who was detained in 2016 in the city-state for allegedly promoting terrorism, had accused several Malay-Muslim MPs of failing to represent the interests of the Muslim community. One of the politicians had reposted Zulfikar's post while the other had expressed support for an opposition candidate. It is an offence in Singapore for any foreigner to take part in local election activity or to post election advertising online. 'We must not mix religion and politics. Singapore is a secular state,' the statement said. 'Bringing religion into politics will undermine social cohesion and harmony, as we have seen in other countries with race- or religion-based politics.' Singapore, which is multiracial and multiethnic, has for decades been careful with maintaining social harmony, often running with campaigns on how the tiny state can easily fail if a racial divide emerges. Singapore's election race officially kicked off Wednesday, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong facing his first major test amid public frustration over rising living costs and a rejuvenated opposition. The May 3 polls are also coming as the wealthy city-state faces a turbulent global economy upended by US tariffs. — AFP
