22-8-2024 (SINGAPORE) Elon Musk, the influential tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, has once again stirred the social media pot by praising Singapore’s political leadership, this time focusing on former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s views on the contentious issue of ‘wokeness’.
Musk, using his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), described Lee’s critique of woke culture as “wisdom”. This endorsement comes barely a month after the billionaire lauded Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, for his “brilliant” foresight and immigration policies.
Wisdom
pic.twitter.com/NMbUbutfx1— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 21, 2024
The comments that caught Musk’s attention were made by Lee Hsien Loong during a televised interview in May, just before he handed over the reins to his successor, Lawrence Wong. Lee expressed concern about the Western ‘wokeness’ movement, characterising it as a trend towards hypersensitivity that leads to “extreme attitudes and social norms” in academic institutions.
Lee cautioned against adopting such practices in Singapore, stating, “Life becomes very burdensome, and I do not think we want to go in that direction. It does not make us a more resilient, cohesive society with a strong sense of solidarity. We must be more robust.”
Musk’s post quickly gained traction, amassing over 13.5 million views and thousands of comments within hours. The majority of responses echoed support for Lee’s remarks, with many praising Singapore’s approach to social issues.
However, the endorsement was not without its critics. Some users questioned the validity of Lee’s stance, with one pointedly remarking, “If Elon Musk is on your side, you are on the wrong side”.
The discussion touches on ongoing debates within Singapore itself. The multicultural city-state has grappled with polarising views on issues such as LGBTQ rights, leading the government to consider anti-cancel culture legislation as a potential response.
Law Minister K Shanmugam highlighted this consideration in a September 2022 interview, noting the need to protect citizens against online pressure over the expression of their views, particularly in relation to religious groups and LGBTQ issues.
This latest social media episode is not Musk’s first foray into praising Singapore’s leadership. Last month, he commended Lee Kuan Yew, describing him as a “brilliant man” and a “genius” for his foresight in various policy areas, including immigration and infrastructure development.
