'Principles? Wear a skirt better lah': Singapore foreign minister under fire over remarks on Iran's control of Hormuz

Singapore's stance on Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has been met with condemnation and mockery, as images of its foreign minister being welcomed by Israeli rabbis in Jerusalem have reignited a decades-old debate on the city-state's geopolitical similarities to the Zionist state with which it has close ties.

During a recent parliamentary session, Vivian Balakrishnan appeared to criticise Tehran's decision to impose limits on the Strait of Hormuz as it defends against the US-Israeli bombing campaign, which has so far killed thousands across Iran and the Middle East.

Iran has indicated it would impose tolls on ships using the narrow passage that carries 20% of the world's oil, with the proposed charges to be decided through negotiations, while exempting countries it views as friendly, including Singapore's neighbours Malaysia and Thailand.

However, Balakrishnan said Singapore, a US ally with close military ties to the Zionist regime, would not negotiate with Iran, stating it was a matter of "principle" to abide by international laws.

“It is not a privilege to be granted by the bordering state, it’s not a licence to be supplicated for, it is not a toll to be paid,” he said, drawing parallels to the Straits of Melaka and Singapore.

Stating that freedom of navigation "is a right and not a privilege", Balakrishnan went on to say that the stance was based on "a matter of principle".

"This is another example of Singapore upholding principle, not taking sides," he added.

The remarks drew immediate condemnation, with an influential Singapore-based Facebook page ridiculing Balakrishnan and accusing the Singapore regime of hypocrisy.

"What principilicious cock is this Vivian talking about?" asked a post on Vigilanteh, an anonymously run Facebook page that airs commentaries on Singaporean issues in defiance of the city-state's strict monitoring of social media critics.

"Stop using the word 'principled' to describe a policy that is, at its core, interest-based because interest-based foreign policy is legitimate, but it does not get to wear the sarong of principleness. You wear skirt better lah Vivian. Your name is already halfway there," it said.

The post reminded Singapore that while it abided by US-imposed sanctions on Iran, it was "markedly performative when it came to the Judeo-Nazees from Israel".

"I get it. Survival doctrine, small state, we have to bend over, tickle the right kkj," it continued, using an abbreviation for a vulgar Hokkien slang.

"Every time the inconsistency between Singapore's treatment of Iran and its treatment of Israel and the US becomes visible, people will notice. Asean will notice. The Global South, already deeply sceptical of Western-aligned institutions, notices."

The post drew overwhelming praise from users, with more than 400 replies at press time.

Many said they were not surprised by Vivian's speech.

"How to negotiate if he already kissed the Western Wall," said one reply from Omar Omar, referring to Balakrishnan's visit to Israel in 2022.

Pictures of the visit have begun to circulate among Malaysians, resurrecting an age-old theory that Singapore's existential threat is identical to Israel's, both aligned to the US and situated among large Muslim populations.

'Who is this Mr Balakrishnan?'

One such picture, showing Balakrishnan in deep prayer at the Western Wall, caught the attention of former Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

"In fact, who is this Mr Balakrishnan? And what is this person doing and where?" he asked.

Azhar penned a scathing criticism of Singapore's invocation of "principles" in criticising Iran.

"Singapore is very good at spinning narratives to mask its true intention," wrote the lawyer better known as Art Harun.

He reminded Balakrishnan that what Iran has done was a defensive approach after coming under attack from the US and Israel, and criticised Singapore's double standards.

"Where is your condemnation of the brazen transgression of Iran and international law by your good friends the USA and Israel? Where is your principle when 60,000 Gazans are slaughtered?

"The MP of course did not follow up and ask you this. That's what Singapore does best. Half a question. Half an answer. Half intelligence. And half smirks at the fools who would believe you," said Azhar.

Sandwiched between giant neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia, both vocally opposed to Israel, Singapore is one of the few countries with close military and diplomatic ties to Israel. Between 2018 and 2022, Singapore imported arms worth a total of US$73 million from Israel.

The city-state is also modelled after Israel's security and defence system, including mandatory military training for its citizens.

While the Singapore government has criticised Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza, it has also spoken about Israel's "right to self-defence" and clamped down hard on any protests against the Israeli genocide of Palestinians.