KUALA LUMPUR — PAS has dismissed allegations that two of its leaders — treasurer Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad and Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar — sought to influence Singapore’s upcoming General Election on May 3, describing the claims as inaccurate and exaggerated.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the remarks made by the two individuals were personal views and did not reflect the party’s official stance towards Singapore or its political processes.
“PAS believes they were merely expressing their personal opinions and had no intention of interfering, let alone influencing, the outcome of Singapore’s election scheduled for May 3.
“In addition to their swift denials on social media, PAS’s longstanding policy of engaging in formal, official channels to convey any views or discuss matters of mutual interest, including with the Singapore government, clearly shows the allegations are neither accurate nor true.
“PAS respects Singapore’s concerns on the matter, but at the same time, believes the reaction towards the two leaders is somewhat exaggerated and one-sided, especially considering the cordial and respectful relationship the party has maintained with the republic’s government,” he said in a statement today.
On Friday, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Elections Department (ELD) disclosed that the two PAS leaders had been found to have interfered in the island nation’s election process.
Takiyuddin also said that in an interconnected world where information and communication travel swiftly across borders, it is difficult to prevent individuals from expressing views on matters they deem important.
“Responses or reactions of this nature should not be construed as attempts at interference unless accompanied by actual follow-up actions with that specific intent,” he said.
In response, both Iskandar and Sukri denied the allegations, stating that their comments were personal opinions and not intended to interfere with Singapore’s election.
Iskandar clarified that his posts about Muslim candidates were directed at a Malaysian audience and expressed hope for their success, without calling for votes based on race or religion.
He also pointed out that he had previously commented on political developments in other countries without facing repercussions.
Sukri, on the other hand, emphasised that his concerns stemmed from his moral responsibility as a Muslim, defending the rights of the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore.
Following the accusations, MHA and ELD instructed Meta to restrict access to the Facebook posts made by the PAS leaders, reinforcing Singapore’s strict stance on foreign involvement in its elections. — April 28, 2025