KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has strongly rejected attempts to portray the party as a scapegoat in advancing Singapore’s internal political agenda, said PAS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
Takiyuddin said that the party would not allow false narratives to proliferate, particularly those that depict routine cross-border comments as national security threats for short-term political gain.
He explained that a nation’s maturity is reflected in its ability to engage in discourse confidently and clearly.
“It is dishonest to suggest that Singaporean voters are so easily influenced by foreign views that their electoral choices need to be ‘protected’ from opinions they are perfectly capable of critically evaluating.
“Blaming external parties for domestic debates is a classic political distraction tactic aimed at diverting attention from difficult local issues,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Singapore’s Minister for Law and Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam, warned PAS against interfering in the republic’s political discourse, reiterating that Singapore would not tolerate any form of foreign intervention in its domestic affairs.
Shanmugam also expressed hope that political parties would swiftly reject any attempts at such interference in Singapore’s political process.
Elaborating further, Takiyuddin noted that Singapore positions itself as a global hub where ideas and perspectives naturally cross borders.
“To classify online statements, without evidence, action, coordination, or instruction, as ‘interference’ is excessive. It distorts the true meaning of the term and opens the door for the censorship of legitimate public discourse.
“If digital connectivity is viewed as a channel for interference, the only logical response would be to sever ties with the world – a stance that is unsustainable for an open economy reliant on the flow of capital, talent, and information,” he added.
Takiyuddin also reaffirmed PAS’s commitment to respecting sovereignty, which guides all party engagements through official and appropriate channels.
“This principle allows us to voice our concerns on matters relating to religion, justice, and social welfare while ensuring that we do not interfere in the electoral processes or sovereignty of any nation.
“Therefore, do not create enemies that do not exist or misuse the law to stifle free speech,” he concluded. — October 15, 2025