MHA reminds foreign businesses to be 'careful' about advocacy on socially divisive issues, after Pelosi’s call to support LGBTQ community

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday (Aug 4) reminded foreign businesses here that while they are free to promote diversity in their companies, they “should be careful about advocacy on issues in Singapore that could be socially divisive”.

This includes issues such as how sexual orientation should be dealt with in public policy.

“These are matters for Singaporeans to discuss and come to a consensus on how to move forward,” MHA said in response to media queries.

Its statement came in the wake of United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Singapore. It marked the first leg of her Asia tour, which culminated in a visit to Taiwan that was protested by China.

Following her Singapore visit, she released a statement stating that her congressional delegation had met leaders of the business community and “asked for their support for the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community in Singapore” as more American businesses are establishing and adding offices here.

Her statement did not identify the business leaders whom the delegation met. TODAY has reached out to Mrs Pelosi and the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore for comment.

There are around 5,500 American businesses in Singapore, The US is also Singapore's largest foreign investor, with its foreign direct investment stock of US$315 billion last year exceeding US investments in China.

Last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reminding the US Embassy in Singapore that foreign missions here are not to “interfere in domestic social and political matters”, after the embassy co-hosted a webinar with non-profit organisation Oogachaga — which works with LGBTQ individuals.