No foreign country should ever influence our politics and divide our people: PM Lee

(Today Online) – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on Singaporeans to stay united and “back the Government”, in the event of attempts by foreign parties to influence the Republic’s domestic politics.

Speaking to around 2,000 People’s Action Party activists on Sunday (Nov 19), Mr Lee stated that while Singapore is friends with many countries, it must not “inadvertently fall under foreign control, or influence”.

“No foreign country should ever influence our domestic debate and politics, or divide and weaken us, either openly or covertly.”

Such attempts might take place even though Singapore has friendly relations with other countries, warned Mr Lee during the party’s convention, where he cited examples in other countries on attempts by foreign parties to influence their domestic happenings.

He noted that in Australia, there has been concern about foreign influence.

“In American elections… where they are accusing the Russians of trying to influence the elections, through Facebook, through Twitter, quietly… secretly,” he added.

“Can it happen to us? Yes it can, but we must prevent it from happening.”

Turning to ties with Singapore’s neighbours, Mr Lee said that bilateral relations have continued to strengthen. The Prime Minister hosted a retreat with Indonesian President Jokowi in September and is set to host another with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak next month.

Referring to the Pedra Branca issue, Mr Lee said: “It’s an old subject, we thought the issue was settled long ago, with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in 2008 which awarded Pedra Branca to Singapore.”

“But almost a decade later, the Malaysians have gone to the ICJ again, asking the Court to reinterpret and to revise the judgment, reopening the subject,” he said.

In late October, the Republic filed a second rebuttal to Malaysia’s ongoing challenge to the 2008 ruling.

The latest documents were filed with the ICJ on October 30, in response to a second application by Malaysia on June 30 challenging the court’s ruling awarding the tiny island to Singapore.

Putrajaya had asked the court to award waters around Pedra Branca, which sits at the entrance to the Singapore Strait about 30km east of the Republic, and a maritime feature south of it called South Ledge, to Malaysia.

Malaysia’s second application followed an earlier one in February this year where Putrajaya cited what it claimed was the discovery of new facts from three documents recently discovered in the United Kingdom’s national archive, which it said would have resulted in a “different conclusion” by the ICJ.

Singapore filed a rebuttal to Malaysia’s first application on May 24.

In addition, Mr Lee noted that Indonesian politicians have been talking about “taking back their airspace from Singapore”.

Singapore manages the Flight Information Region (FIR) around Changi Airport and it includes some areas which are in the Indonesian airspace, and Jakarta has said that it wants to reclaim the FIR.

The city state has all along said that the FIR is not an issue of sovereignty, but of the safety and efficiency of commercial air traffic.

Issues over airspace and Pedra Branca happen because they have unfortunately been politicised, Mr Lee said.

Given that foreign relations may come under strain when national pride and sovereignty is involved, Mr Lee said this is why Singapore should take a “long term” approach when building diplomatic ties.

“Work towards good relations that benefit both sides, when relations are going well, we should not take them for granted, more importantly, when relations are down, we must not get flustered or cower,” he said.

Touching on relationships with the big powers, Mr Lee said “it is not always easy to be good friends” with Washington and Beijing, but relations with both sides are in good order.

His visit to China in September was believed to hold important political significance, as Mr Lee had landed in China just before the 19th party congress.

The once-in-five-years event was closely watched for leadership reshuffle and renewal at the top of the Chinese Communist Party, and ensuing policy changes.

A month later, Mr Lee also made a trip to the US, which saw him touching base with US Senators, Congressmen and policy thinkers.

“As a small nation, we have to make friends with as many countries as we can… We have to work hard to tend our relationships with both the US and China, while upholding Singapore’s own interests. I think we have not done too badly,” said Mr Lee.

Stating that the country’s interest might not always coincide with other bigger nations, Mr Lee said Singaporeans must stand firm.

“Singaporeans have to understand our core interests. When we are put to the test we will stay united and back the Government. Then we can stand our ground and defend Singapore’s interests as one single, cohesive country,” he said.