Senior Minister Lee Hsien Long emphasised that “the issue of race and religion getting mixed up with politics”, is not how politics is conducted in Singapore.
At a walkabout in Tampines on April 29, with the PAP team led by Minister Masagos Zulkilfi, SM Lee referred to social media posts that had called for voters to select candidates along racial and religious lines. He said that while Malay candidates will “naturally have an affinity and an interest in the well-being of” their own community, they also look after all residents regardless of race, language and religion.
Political parties here are not structured along such lines, unlike the case in Malaysia, he added.
“And I think it was very important for me to come and show support from Mr Masagos and explain that he looks after the Malay community – of course, he is also minister for Muslim affairs – but at the same time, he’s representing residents of all races and religions in Tampines and in Cabinet, he is looking after the interests of all Singaporeans as a member of the Cabinet.”
SM Lee stressed the importance of Singaporeans to understand this and “understand the games being played online”, adding that the foreign posts have sparked off a “very vicious” set of conversations. “And it has not just disappeared away.”
Mr Masagos said that while divisive discourse along racial or religious lines has stopped at the rallies, it continues to be circulated across the internet, and this is “concerning”.
“It just shows that when you start a poison going, it just spreads, and that’s why we should never even start in the first place.”
When asked about the sentiments of residents, Mr Masagos said several had expressed worry when he met them during home visits.
“Especially those who are seniors, they went through racial riots. Some of them actually cried and said they couldn’t sleep,” he said.
Mr Masagos reiterated the importance of protecting Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious way of life.
“Even as we advance the interests or listen to the concerns of our own community, we articulate it in a way that does not hurt others, does not divide the society, and move forward together,” he said.
“And this is something very unique in Singapore, and that’s why we have had peace and harmony all these years, so let’s preserve that.”
