Ankara: Singapore has restricted access to multiple Facebook posts made by several foreign individuals, citing attempts to interfere in the May 3 general election. Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to take action, just over a week ahead of the poll.
According to Anadolu Agency, in a joint statement on Friday, the Home Affairs Ministry and the Elections Department (ELD) said the government had identified several foreigners who it said were trying to influence the current general election. The Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) makes it illegal for foreigners to engage in election-related activities or to publish online election advertisements. The statement emphasized that foreigners must not direct, fund, or influence Singapore's elections in any way, underscoring that Singapore's politics must be determined solely by Singaporeans.
The statement further explained that the posts had been targeted at Singaporeans and interfered with domestic politics, which are reserved for citizens. The posts also urged Singaporeans to vote on racial and religious lines, leading to more social media postings of a similar nature. It was highlighted that mixing religion and politics could undermine social cohesion and harmony, as observed in other countries with race- or religion-based politics.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed the issue at a press conference on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of keeping foreign influence out of Singapore's elections. He stressed that Singaporeans may have different views about issues, but external actors must not exploit these differences to weaken the country or advance their own interests. The Prime Minister called for rejecting identity politics and maintaining a clear separation between race, religion, and politics.
Wong urged the nation to not let external actors exploit differences to divide or serve their own interests, urging the importance of upholding unity and maintaining peace and harmony for many more years to come.