‘We don’t work politics like that in Singapore.’ WP posts timeline on its response to Noor Deros issue

SINGAPORE: After the ministerial statement on Tuesday (Oct 14) about foreign interference and race and religion in Singapore politics, the Workers’ Party issued a timeline on its response to events that occurred shortly before the General Election on May 3.

In his statement, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam referred to Noor Deros, a self-styled Islamic preacher who is not accredited as an Ustaz in Singapore, who publicly endorsed on April 23 and 24 the WP’s Malay Muslim candidate Faisal Manap. The demands he made were along racial and religious lines.

“Asking Singaporeans to vote for political parties and candidates along racial, religious lines is a reckless thing to do. It also sets a dangerous precedent,” said Mr Shanmugam, adding that the response from the WP had been delayed and ambiguous.

WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh accepted that the party’s statement on Noor Deros could have been clearer, but disagreed that it had been delayed.

“In the event there is something untoward or awry, the Workers’ Party is not shy of coming together and trying to resolve the issue,” said Mr Singh.

@thehammertok

On 3 October, MPs received a note that the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs was going to make a Ministerial Statement on “Race and Religion”. In Parliament today, a large part of the Minister’s statement covered the Noor Deros episode that transpired during GE2025. The points on how the Government approaches race and religion were largely a repetition of previous established positions. LO stood up to make several clarifications and interventions, including why the Government did not issue a restraining order against Noor Deros, a Singaporean, under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act during the campaign (in contrast, the Government issued Corrective Directions under the Parliamentary Elections Act to Meta, to disable Singapore users’ access to several Facebook posts by two Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) politicians and another foreigner). The LO also queried about the PAP’s relationship with PAS, highlighting the visit in July 2024 to Malaysia of a PAP Malay Action Bureau delegation comprising the Malay-Muslim Affairs Minister, PAP MPs and PAP party activists which met PAS officials, amongst other political parties. The LO also proposed alternatives to the Government as to how matters involving race or religion could be handled during sensitive periods such as general elections, in the national interest. Above all, the LO reiterated the WP’s commitment to Singapore’s secular, multi-racial, multi-religious society, and to protecting the integrity of our electoral process. The full exchange with the Minister can be found here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/k-shanmugam-responds-clarifications-sought-ministerial-statement-race-and-religion-5400971 #wpsg #parliament @Pritam Singh 毕丹星ப்ரிட்டம் சிங்

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The party has since issued a timeline regarding the incident.

The Elections Department had issued a statement warning against mixing religion and politics on the evening of April 25, and the WP had responded to this by the next morning.

“We remain firmly committed to Singapore’s secular, multiracial, multi-religious society, and to protecting the integrity of our electoral process,” the WP said in its April 26 statement, clarifying that there had been no promises to any person in exchange for support, including to Noor Deros, in the meeting where he had been present.

Mr Manap, who is the WP’s vice chair, had himself said during the debate on the Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Bill: “Religion needs to be kept aside, or apart from politics, so that religion will not be used to gain personal benefit or to benefit any political party.”

At a media doorstop on April 26, Mr Singh had been asked by Zaobao journalist Daryl Lim regarding details of the meeting wherein Noor Deros had been present.

Mr Singh explained that the meeting was supposed to have been with some senior Malay Muslim religious leaders, and there had been no indication that Noor Deros would be there. When he showed up, he had a list of demands.

“And of course, as our statement makes it quite clear, there’s no situation of ‘if the WP pushes forward this agenda, I will support you’,” said Mr Singh.

“I’m sorry, we don’t work politics like that in Singapore. We don’t work politics like that in the Workers’ Party.

“People have views. I think government officials, even ministers, meet with various members of religious groups in Singapore. So do we. And if this gentleman thinks that his advocacy will lead to the issues being brought up by the Workers’ Party, I think he’s sadly mistaken,” said Mr Singh at the time.

@thehammertok

*Timeline of WP GE2025 response on Noor Deros* 25 April 2025 (*late evening*): MHA-ELD Statement (no specific mention of Noor Deros by name. Reference made by name to Partai Islam Se-Malaysia [PAS] politicians and an ex-Singaporean). 26 April 2025 (*sent to media at 9.07am*): WP Statement. Party notes references made in the media about a meeting involving some WP Malay-Muslim candidates and a Singaporean Islamic religious teacher, one Noor Deros. Statement confirms no promises, commitments or agreements made to any individual in exchange for political support for WP candidates. Statement reiterates that in Singapore, the principle of keeping religion and politics separate is well established and the WP’s commitment to this principle is a matter of public record. 26 April 2025 (*scheduled for 11.30am*): WP Media Doorstop. Secretary-General responds to questions on Noor Deros and makes clear: Zaobao journalist: We saw the post that WP has put up this morning regarding the foreign interference and regarding the WP Malay Muslim candidate meeting with the Malaysian activist, Noor Deros. So, could you walk us through some of the details of this meeting? When did the meeting take place, and under what circumstances was it taken? And was it part of the consideration that WP fielded Mr. Faisal Manap in Tampines to meet with this, uh, Tampines MP Masagos? Is it a coincidence that he’s the Muslim affairs minister in the area? Was the meeting part of the consideration following? Pritam: No, absolutely not. Let me add to what has been already shared by way of the media statement this morning. What had happened was one of our Muslim committee members in one of the mosques in Aljunied wanted to speak to Mr. Faisal and to the Malay members of the party. And what happened was the meeting was supposed to take place with some Ustazes, some senior Malay Muslim religious leaders. There was no indication that this individual would be joining the meeting. So when the meeting started, he was there, and my understanding is he had this list of demands. And of course, as our statement makes it quite clear, there’s no situation of ‘if the WP pushes forward this agenda, I will support you.’ *I’m sorry, we don’t work politics like that in Singapore. We don’t work politics like that in the Workers’ Party.* People have views. I think government officials, even ministers, meet with various members of religious groups in Singapore. So do we. And if this gentleman thinks that his advocacy will lead to the issues being brought up by the Workers’ Party, I think he’s sadly mistaken… @Pritam Singh 毕丹星ப்ரிட்டம் சிங்

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/TISG

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