Singapore: Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli has emphasized that race and religion should never be exploited for political advantage in Singapore. According to a report by Channel News Asia (CNA), Masagos cautioned that foreign interference, particularly through divisive language during elections, could erode the trust Singapore has painstakingly built over the years.
“Disagreement must never become division. If we are not careful, these cracks can deepen,” he warned.
Masagos, who is also the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) anchor candidate for Tampines GRC, made these remarks following government actions taken against foreign attempts to influence the upcoming election. The government directed Meta to block access to Facebook posts made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee who is now an Australian citizen. These posts allegedly criticized Singapore’s handling of religious issues and urged voters to make choices based on religious grounds.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also expressed concerns about social media posts promoting religiously motivated voting. While he did not mention names, local activist and Islamic teacher Noor Deros, now based in Malaysia, recently made headlines for listing political demands and claiming meetings with Malay candidates from the Workers’ Party.
The Asatizah Recognition Board (ARB) clarified that Noor Deros was never an accredited ustaz under Singapore’s Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS). His application for recognition in 2017 was rejected after he refused to comply with the ARS code of ethics, despite counseling efforts.
Masagos, who also serves as Minister for Social and Family Development, reiterated that Singapore’s social harmony is the result of decades of mutual respect and collective effort.
“Our harmony did not come easy. It is precious and rare. We must never take it for granted. It requires constant effort to protect our unity and keep it at the heart of our identity,” he stressed.
