NO NEED FOR DIVISIVE POLITICS
Mr Wong also said on Saturday that Singaporeans can decide for themselves if the ruling party and its candidates have not done well and if the opposition has put forward better candidates and proposals.
However, there was no need to descend into divisive politics, he said, reiterating a caution he had given during the party’s first rally.
Mr Wong also highlighted efforts by foreign actors to influence the outcome of Singapore’s elections and the mixing of religion and politics.
Earlier in the day, Mr Wong held a press conference on this issue, saying that foreigners urging Singaporeans to vote along religious lines have “crossed the line”.
He had also welcomed the “clear consensus” from opposition parties rejecting foreign interference in Singapore’s elections, and also urged all political leaders to firmly reject overseas endorsements.
Mr Wong held the press conference in his capacity as prime minister, after the government’s announcement on Friday that it directed Meta to block access to Facebook posts made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee, now an Australian citizen. The posts criticised Singapore’s handling of religious matters and urged voters to cast ballots along religious lines.
On Saturday, Mr Wong reiterated that mixing religion and politics is “very dangerous” and will rip apart the social cohesion that Singaporeans have built over generations.
“Any political party that attempts such tactics is being reckless,” he said, calling on Singaporeans to reject such politics.
For the residents in Chua Chu Kang GRC specifically, Mr Wong acknowledged that many are “sad” about Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong’s shift to Punggol GRC, given that he has been their Member of Parliament for almost 20 years.
