WP agrees that race and religion shouldn't mix with politics: Pritam

The Workers’ Party agreed that race and religion should not be mixed with politics, and had made clear its views on foreign interference during the 2025 General Election campaign, said Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh on Oct 14.

- Chin Soo Fang Senior Correspondent

Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam said WP's statement did not reject Noor Deros' calls for Muslims here to vote along racial and religious lines. WP chief Pritam Singh accepted Mr Shanmugam's criticism that his party's April 26 statement could have been clearer, but disagreed it took too long to respond. PHOTOS: MDDI

(MDDI)

The WP chief accepted Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam’s criticism that his party’s April 26 statement on remarks by self-styled Singaporean preacher Noor Deros could have been clearer, but disagreed that WP took too long to respond to the matter during GE2025.

“We had made our views quite clear on foreign interference,” said Mr Singh. “I understand the minister says that (the) statement on Noor Deros could have been clearer. I accept that, I think we can make certain things very clear.”

Responding to a ministerial statement by Mr Shanmugam, Mr Singh told Parliament that the WP is “not shy” about coming forward to resolve an issue “in the event there is something untoward or awry”, and that it was not fair to say that the party did not take this issue seriously.

He pointed out that the Government had issued its statement — about foreign interference and the dangers of mixing religion and politics - on April 25. The following morning, WP had put out its own statement and also held a media interview that addressed the issue.

Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam said WP's statement did not reject Mr Noor Deros' calls for Muslims here to vote along racial and religious lines.