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Singapore has directed TikTok and Meta to block access to the social media accounts of an Australian-based former Singaporean, Zulfikar bin Mohamad Shariff, after authorities said he contributed to the radicalisation of two citizens. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the move on Tuesday, highlighting that Zulfikar has continued spreading extremist narratives despite previous actions taken against him.
According to the ministry, Zulfikar has long promoted the rejection of Singapore’s constitutional, secular system, calling instead for the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Syariah law. Authorities said he has openly suggested that violence could be used to achieve such aims. His online activity previously led to his detention in 2016 under the Internal Security Act, which allows individuals to be held without trial or placed under strict restrictions, including limits on travel and internet usage.
The ministry noted that Zulfikar continued to sow division by portraying the Malay/Muslim community as being pressured to assimilate into the Chinese-majority society. Officials cited a TikTok video from June in which he claimed Malays and Muslims were being forced to abandon Islamic values. In addition to these allegations, Zulfikar, who renounced his Singaporean citizenship in 2020, is also accused of attempting to influence Singapore’s 2024 election from abroad.
Singapore, where the resident population comprises roughly 74% Chinese, 13.6% Malay, 9% Indian, and 3.3% from other groups, places strong emphasis on maintaining racial and religious harmony. The government said it will take firm action against any threats to social cohesion, including those originating from foreign individuals.
The blocking orders were issued under the Online Criminal Harms Act, which took effect in February 2024 and empowers authorities to curb harmful online content. TikTok and Meta have yet to respond to requests for comment.
This move underscores Singapore’s ongoing efforts to safeguard national unity and prevent extremist ideologies from spreading through social media platforms.
