Only One Driver At A Time Please

Singapore is a small country, but it has always insisted on driving its own vehicle, steered by competent hands.

We decide our own destination. We debate our own policies. We argue vigorously about jobs, housing, immigration and the future of our society. Sometimes we disagree passionately, but the conversation ultimately belongs to us.

That is how a nation should function.

Today, many Singaporeans have genuine concerns about job security, economic competition and immigration. These are important issues. They affect people's livelihoods, their families and their confidence in the future.

We should discuss them openly.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞.

Recently, the Government directed social media platforms to remove anti-Indian content that had reportedly originated from overseas. Discussions have also emerged about whether external actors may be amplifying existing social tensions for their own purposes.

Whether every claim is accurate is almost beside the point.

The broader lesson is that in an interconnected world, local frustrations do not always remain local. Narratives travel across borders. Social media rewards outrage. Domestic concerns can be amplified, reshaped and redirected by people with little interest in Singapore itself.

A mature society should be able to discuss immigration, foreign talent and economic competition honestly. It should also be able to reject racism and xenophobia at the same time.

These positions are not contradictory.

Singapore's challenge has never been simply managing diversity. It has been building a shared national identity strong enough to rise above it.

As we navigate increasingly complex social and geopolitical currents, we should remember one simple principle.

Singaporeans should be the ones holding the steering wheel.

We can disagree on the route. We can debate the destination. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠.