Malay/Muslim leaders caution against efforts by foreigners to sow divides in society

SINGAPORE - A group of leaders from Malay/Muslim organisations have come together to reject foreign interference in Singapore politics.

Such efforts have used misinformation and disinformation to disrupt community ties, and attempted to weaken national identity, they said.

Around 40 leaders gathered at a dialogue at Grand Hyatt Singapore on Aug 21 to take stock of the community’s progress, where they highlighted concerns over this threat, citing recent videos on social media that portrayed a negative picture of the Malay/Muslim community.

At the dialogue, titled “SG60: Moving the Community Forward”, the leaders also discussed issues such as the risk of radicalisation among youth, and the welfare and salaries of religious teachers in line with the announcement of the Singapore College of Islamic Studies.

The session was organised by community group Taman Bacaan, or Singapore Malay Youth Library Association, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group.

Taman Bacaan president Abdul Halim Kader said foreign interference in Singapore politics should be rejected.

Citing recent videos addressing the community by

former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff

, Mr Abdul Halim said the Government and Malay/Muslim parents must play a role in shaping perceptions, given what their children might see on social media.

Zulfikar, known on Facebook as “Zai Nal”, is an Australian citizen who renounced his Singapore citizenship in 2020.

He was previously detained under the ISA in 2016 for his active promotion of terrorism and glorifying the activities of terror group ISIS online.

He was called out by the Elections Department and Ministry of Home Affairs during the 2025 General Election for

attempting to influence the polls

through social media posts that accused Malay/Muslim MPs of failing to represent the interests of the Muslim community.

One of the speakers Berita Harian interviewed, AMP Singapore chairman Fathurrahman Dawoed, said that while tackling online narratives is important, equal attention must be given to the socioeconomic issues of the Malay/Muslim community.

“If we do not address matters such as the socioeconomic issues of the Malay/Muslim community, it is also a concern, because some may become marginalised and vulnerable to external elements that tarnish the image of our Malay/Muslim community in Singapore,” he said.

“I think Malay/Muslim organisations have to be united to see how we are going to not just address these virtual narratives, but also improve the quality of life of our community.”

Muslim Trust Fund Association president Abdul Rahman Mohd Hanipah concurred, saying it was important to not only reject these toxic narratives about the community, but also see how community groups could coordinate and work together to address them.

“I think none of us would want to sit down and accept someone outside the community whose narrative is toxic, and saying bad things about our community.”

Meanwhile, the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association’s president, Associate Professor Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim, suggested a “digital first aid kit” in equipping parents and educators in developing and strengthening their guardianship of digital spaces.

“A ‘digital first aid kit’ equips young people with practical skills to handle online risks, including exposure to violent extremism, safely,” she said.

The dialogue also featured presentations by AMP Singapore on the progress of the Malay/Muslim community, and by educator and Religious Rehabilitation Group counsellor Muhammad Mubarak Habib Mohamed on ways to navigate digital risks.

Dr Mubarak raised concerns that artificial intelligence could generate content that highlights inaccuracies, such as the narrative that Malay/Muslims in Singapore are marginalised.

In a Facebook post on Aug 22, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said that he was heartened to see the community leaders and groups come together to discuss these issues.

“This gathering is a timely opportunity to reflect on our progress over the past 60 years, while also confronting the challenges of today. In particular, the digital domain has brought about new threats – from online radicalisation and foreign interference, to the spread of misinformation,” he wrote.

“Singapore is home for all Singaporeans. I commend the courage and conviction of leaders who have spoken up on these pressing issues and welcome the thoughtful suggestions raised at the forum. Your ideas reflect the aspirations and needs of our community, and will help guide the Government in shaping policies and initiatives that better serve our society.

“This spirit of collaboration is exactly what we need as we move forward together,” he added.