In terms of content manipulation, WP candidate Alia Mattar, who is Muslim, was targeted through a misquotation of her speech. She was falsely quoted as saying, “The Israel-Palestine conflict is more important than bread and butter issues,” and “The deciding factor for me joining the election was the Israel-Palestine conflict.” An AFP fact-check later showed that what she actually said was: “To have our voices heard is important to us as Singaporeans, ranging from local issues such as lift upgrading in the neighborhood, to more major issues that affect Singaporeans as global citizens.”399 Mattar also said, “We meet our MPs to discuss bread and butter issues, yes, but we would also like to meet our MPs to discuss the effects of certain laws or the government’s positions on certain global issues.”400 The controversies surrounding Noor Deros’s comments, the support for Manap by PAS-linked individuals, and the misquotation of Mattar are closely connected to Islamophobia in Singapore. These issues were reportedly amplified by pro-PAP social media accounts. While Islamophobia is not institutionalized, discrimination against Muslims in the country persists. It is unclear why Manap was specifically targeted, but he has long advocated for better treatment for Malay Muslims in Singapore in light of prevailing Islamophobia. It is also uncertain why Mattar was singled out, but as a Malay Muslim woman contesting for the opposition, her religion may have made her a convenient target. Another WP candidate, Harpreet Singh Nehal, was reported by state-owned CNA to have been attacked by bots and a wave of fake Facebook accounts. According to the CNA’s report, these bots and fake accounts also targeted PAP figures401. However, The Online Citizen reported that the bots appeared to operate overwhelmingly in one direction—against opposition candidates—while amplifying pro-PAP content. TOC also reported that much of the criticism directed at the PAP came from genuine accounts reflecting verifiable grievances, whereas attacks on opposition candidates were largely based on fabricated or misleading claims, often without attribution or factual grounding402. “Singaporean Opposition Candidate Misquoted Online Ahead of Polls.” AFP Fact Check, 5 May 2025, factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.44CE2WD. 400. Ibid. 401. Jun Sen, Ng. “GE2025: Hundreds of Fake Facebook Accounts, Bots Spreading Anti-PAP and Anti-WP Sentiments; MDDI Urges Public to Be Discerning.” CNA, 24 Apr. 2025, www.channelnewsasia.com/ singapore/ge2025-bots-facebook-fake-accounts-pap-wp-mddi-influence-5085806. 402. “PAP’s GE2025 Victory Shaped by Systemic Advantage, Strategic Subsidies, and Fear-Driven Continuity.” The Online Citizen, 4 May 2025, www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/05/04/paps-ge2025-victoryshaped-by-systemic-advantage-strategic-subsidies-and-fear-driven-continuity. 399. 81