Singaporeans must be vigilant about any potential attempts by foreign parties to influence local politics and undermine the democratic process, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Aug 1). He was responding to questions in Parliament about whether elections in Singapore are vulnerable to foreign interference, particularly with the Presidential Election due in September. “Foreign interference in domestic politics and electoral processes cannot be underestimated and must always be factored into our social and psychological defence,” said Mr Chan.
“History has shown that bigger and more powerful states will seek to advance their interests by projecting their influence on usually smaller or less organised ones via all instruments of power,” he added. “We cannot expect to be immune to such external forces.”
When asked by Workers’ Party MP Png Eng Huat on whether there have been any past incidents of foreign interference in the electoral process, Mr Chan said it “would not be convenient” for him to reveal details publicly due to the sensitive nature of the subject.
Full Article: Foreign interference in Singapore politics, elections ‘cannot be underestimated’: Chan Chun Sing – Channel NewsAsia.