Singapore restricts several Facebook posts by foreigners ahead of general election

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - 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.

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.

According to the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA), it is illegal for foreigners to engage in election-related activities or to publish online election advertisements.

It said "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 "posts have been targeted at Singaporeans. They interfere with our domestic politics, which are reserved for our citizens. They also urge Singaporeans to vote on racial and religious lines, and have led to more social media postings of a similar nature," the statement said.

"We must not mix religion and politics. Singapore is a secular state. Our institutions serve all Singaporeans equally. Bringing religion into politics will undermine social cohesion and harmony, as we have seen in other countries with race- or religion-based politics."

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also addressed the issue at a press conference on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of keeping foreign influence out of Singapore's elections.​

"Singaporeans may have different views about issues, but we cannot allow external actors to exploit whatever differences we may have to weaken us or to advance their own interests," he said. "Singapore's politics must be for Singaporeans alone to decide."​

He called for rejecting identity politics, and never mix race and religion with politics.

We must not let external actors exploit our differences to divide us or serve their own interests, he said, urging to uphold unity, and maintaining peace and harmony “for many more years to come.”