Keep widening who counts as ‘our own’, Lawrence Wong tells Singaporeans amid racial tensions over airline, Nepal crisis

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong cautioned on September 13 that widening the definition of "our own" is crucial to preventing social and racial rifts, as economic challenges deepen divisions. Wong referenced racist remarks made online regarding Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India and the Nepal-Tibet disaster. He highlighted how global societies are becoming more fragmented and polarized, driven by economic pressures that leave individuals feeling marginalized and frustrated.

Wong emphasized that these divisions become more entrenched when they feed into questions of identity and belonging, leading to "us versus them" thinking.

Addressing cost pressures and job concerns, Wong stressed that social cohesion ultimately relies on communities taking initiative to build trust among themselves. At the Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League's (SKML) 85th anniversary dinner, Wong acknowledged that Singapore is not immune to tensions between foreigners and citizens, between local-born and naturalized Singaporeans, and along racial and religious lines.

He praised SKML for expanding its outreach beyond the Indian Muslim community while maintaining its roots, noting collaborations with organizations such as Muis, Mendaki, and Sinda on issues like digital literacy and scam awareness.

Wong reiterated the sentiment that "our own" means Singaporeans, regardless of race, language, or religion, drawing from Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam's statement that police are investigating this principle. Wong concluded by emphasizing that all Singaporeans, regardless of their diverse backgrounds, are part of the same country and home.