MHA warns against political campaigning, fundraising in Singapore for Indonesia’s presidential election

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday (Jan 4) warned against political campaigning or fundraising in Singapore for Indonesia’s presidential election.

The ministry said it was aware of recent allegations circulating online that Singapore might be used as a platform for Indonesia’s upcoming election. 

These include claims that there are funds in Singapore meant to support certain candidates.

More than 204 million Indonesians will cast their votes on Feb 14 for a new president and vice-president, as well as members of its national, regional and city-level parliaments.

MHA said the Singapore government takes a “clear and strong stand against the importation of politics of other countries into Singapore”.

“Persons visiting, working or living in Singapore should not use Singapore to conduct political campaigning or fundraising to further a political agenda overseas,” added the ministry.

“We will deal firmly with any individual or group found to be doing so, including termination of immigration facilities.”

In a YouTube video posted in November 2023 by former head of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Abraham Samad, it was alleged that Singapore was among three countries jostling to seek influence in Indonesia’s election. The other two countries are supposedly the United States and China.

The video, which has been viewed more than 2 million times, shows Mr Abraham interviewing businessman and geopolitical analyst Mardigu Wowiek Prasantyo.

The two men claimed there was money in Singapore for “certain candidate pairs”, and that the money may be from “foreigners or oligarchs”. They did not name the candidates.