
A Selangor PAS leader has denied claims he was trying to interfere in Singapore’s upcoming general election through his posts on social media.
Sukri Omar, the Selangor PAS Youth chief, said any concern he had about the Singapore election was only for the nation’s “marginalised” Malay-Muslim community.
In a Facebook post today, he said he fully respected the sovereignty and laws of Singapore, but that his concern stemmed from a “moral responsibility as a Muslim”.
“I have never intended, whether directly or indirectly, to interfere with the democratic process of the country.
“The right to uphold justice, dignity, and the future of a people is not an act of ‘foreign interference’ when it is done with courtesy, principle, and a love for humanity, without coercion or incitement towards any political party abroad,” he said.
Yesterday, the Singapore home ministry and elections department said in a joint statement that several online posts had urged Singaporeans to vote along racial and religious lines, which in turn sparked more social media content of a similar nature.
They called out PAS leaders and a former detainee, now an Australian citizen, for allegedly trying to influence the country’s general election on May 3 with posts that could harm racial and religious harmony.
Sukri had shared a post by Facebook user “Zai Nal”, identified as Zulfikar Shariff, who renounced his Singaporean citizenship in 2020 and is now an Australian citizen.
In his post, Zulfikar accused several Malay-Muslim MPs of failing to represent the Muslim community and said Singapore does not need another Malay MP who did not reflect their views.
PAS national treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad also expressed support for a candidate in the Singapore election.
The Singapore government said religion must not be mixed with politics, as Singapore is a secular state.
“Bringing religion into politics will undermine social cohesion and harmony, as we have seen in other countries with race- or religion-based politics,” it said.
However, Sukri argued that the Malays of Singapore deserve fair and equitable opportunities in all aspects of life as full citizens.
“Speaking out against injustice is not a crime. It is a moral and religious obligation.
“Defending the Malay-Muslim identity does not threaten peace. Instead, it strengthens genuine social justice,” he said.