Chee Soon Juan challenges K Shanmugam for a public debate over identity politics in Singapore

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan has publicly challenged K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, to a debate on who is truly engaging in identity politics in Singapore. The challenge, made in a video posted on Dr Chee’s social media on 17 October 2025, followed Shanmugam’s ministerial statement in Parliament three days earlier. In his speech, Shanmugam warned against racial or religious appeals in politics, while accusing SDP’s GE2025 Sembawang GRC candidate Damanhuri Abas of rallying Malay voters along communal lines.

Shanmugam urges restraint in use of race and religion in politics

During his one-hour statement on 14 October, Shanmugam urged political actors to “resist the destructive temptation” of using race and religion for electoral advantage. He referred to “troubling incidents” during the May general election, arguing that such behaviour could erode Singapore’s multiracial harmony. The minister cited Damanhuri’s alleged remarks calling on Malay voters to “uphold Malay dignity” by rejecting the ruling party. He described this as a “dangerous path” that could provoke ethnic tensions and warned that such rhetoric “trades off the long-term welfare of the Malay community, and our country, for immediate political gain.”

Dr Chee’s rebuttal: PAP is the one practising identity politics

In his response, Dr Chee rejected Shanmugam’s claims, accusing the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) of being the real proponent of identity politics. He cited several examples, including the continued use of race categories on National Registration Identity Cards, the existence of ethnic-based self-help groups such as CDAC, Mendaki, Sinda, and the Eurasian Association, and the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system that mandates minority representation. Chee also pointed to the 2017 presidential election reserved for Malay candidates and the requirement that minority candidates be “certified” as Malay or Indian before contesting. “Is this not identity politics at its most repugnant?” he asked, accusing the PAP of institutionalising race-based policies while publicly decrying them.

Examples from Singapore’s electoral history

Chee argued that the claim Chinese voters would not elect minority candidates is disproved by history. He cited the elections of David Marshall as Singapore’s first Chief Minister, J.B. Jeyaretnam’s victory over a PAP Chinese candidate in 1981, and Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s landslide win in the recent presidential election. He added that despite PAP leaders’ repeated assertions that Singapore was “not ready” for a non-Chinese Prime Minister, past results showed minorities could win support based on merit and trust, not race. Chee invited Shanmugam to a live debate “anytime, anywhere,” suggesting locations such as the SDP office, the minister’s office, Mediacorp studios, or a public podcast platform. He declared that such a discussion would allow Singaporeans “to see and hear for themselves just who is stoking racial politics.” He criticised the government for using race as a political tool, calling it a “divide-and-rule strategy” reminiscent of colonial tactics. He emphasised that politicians, including ex-SDP chair Jufri Mahmood, the former Workers’ Party (WP) politician late Tang Liang Hong, former Leader of the Opposition J.B. Jeyaretnam, and Damanhuri, were “Singaporeans first and Singaporeans last.” “I know these gentlemen. I’ve worked with them, and they are my brothers. Whether it’s Jufri, Liang Hong, Jeyaretnam, or Damanhuri, I trust them with my life,” he said, underscoring SDP’s multiracial ethos.

Damanhuri advocates transparent leadership and inclusive dialogue for minority communities

On the same day, Damanhuri Abas issued a clarification on Facebook, arguing that his remarks were misrepresented. He said his comments about Malay dignity were part of a broader critique of selective meritocracy, pointing out that strengthening Malay political representation would, in fact, make Singapore more cohesive, citing examples such as the debate over the tudung issue, which benefited all communities. Damanhuri also stressed the need for honest assessment of the Malay community’s progress and urged that community institutions be accountable to the people they serve rather than to the ruling party. He proposed depoliticising ethnic organisations, conducting transparent audits, and rethinking minority representation under systems like GRCs. Damanhuri announced plans to launch a socio-political podcast aimed at fostering dialogue across communities. He reiterated that his goal was not to incite division but to promote constructive discussion about fairness, inclusion, and accountability. He emphasised that protecting the dignity of minority communities should not be politicised, and that policies affecting them must be reviewed through open engagement rather than partisan framing.

Red Dot United questions fairness of parliamentary attacks

Red Dot United (RDU) also weighed in, criticising the government for addressing allegations in Parliament, where opposition figures could not respond. RDU Secretary-General Ravi Philemon said, "I know Damanhuri personally and he is not a Malay chauvinist." He described this as “not honest politics,” recalling past cases where opposition members, such as late Tang Liang Hong, were publicly accused without equal opportunity to defend themselves. Ravi reaffirmed RDU’s support for multiracialism and open discourse. He argued that Malay concerns deserve to be heard as part of the national conversation, and that politicians should be held accountable when using parliamentary privilege to make serious accusations. He added that Damanhuri’s advocacy focused on equitable policies and fair representation, not racial chauvinism, and that political dialogue should centre on ideas rather than insinuations.