K Shanmugam, coordinating minister for national security in Singapore, recalled the time racial riots broke out in Singapore in 1964 when the so-called “ultras” fanned sentiments, which he said left scars that took decades to heal.
The term “ultras” was used in the 1960s for Umno members seen to be holding staunch nationalistic views.
“This history is seared into some of us, and it is also seared into some Malaysians, but for very different reasons,” Shanmugam said in a parliamentary speech in Singapore recently.
“So we knew the government had to call it out when PAS leaders openly supported a political party in Singapore on racial and religious grounds and in the middle of a general election.”
His remark was a reference to actions by Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar and PAS national treasurer Iskandar Abdul Samad in April.
Sukri had shared a post by Zulfikar Shariff, a former Singaporean citizen, who accused several Malay-Muslim MPs in Singapore of failing to represent the Muslim community.
On the same day, Iskandar expressed support for a candidate in the Singapore election.
In response, the Singapore home ministry and elections department accused the PAS leaders of trying to influence the Singapore general election on May 3. They said the posts could harm racial and religious harmony.
PAS hit back at Shanmugam on Wednesday, saying he had attempted to paint the party as a bogeyman. The party rebuffed suggestions that it had attempted to interfere in Singapore’s politics.
The following day, Singapore’s home affairs ministry rebuked PAS for contradicting itself.
Shanmugam, in his speech in parliament, said PAS politicians were championing one set of Malay Muslim candidates over another set of Malay Muslim candidates, adding that such attempts would have some impact.
“It is incumbent on all political parties to decisively reject any attempts by foreigners to influence our election – especially on the grounds of race and religion,” he said.
He also questioned if PAS really cared for Singaporeans when it backed Malay Muslim candidates of the Workers’ Party, and wondered if PAS subscribed to Singapore’s multiracial, multi-religious model.
Statements by PAS leaders have clearly shown otherwise, he said. “In 2024, for example, the PAS president said that (former Singapore prime minister) Lee Kuan Yew’s strategy of fielding candidates from diverse ethnic backgrounds had led to Malay political influence diminishing in Singapore.”