SM Lee advises wealthy immigrants to 'keep their bling down' and not zoom Ferrari at night in Singapore
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has advised wealthy immigrants in Singapore to respect local norms and avoid flaunting wealth, emphasising the need for both immigrants and citizens to coexist harmoniously while maintaining the country's social cohesion.
- Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasised that immigrants are vital to Singapore’s workforce but must respect local social norms.
- He cautioned wealthy newcomers against ostentatious displays of wealth or disruptive behaviour.
- The Government aims to maintain balance between economic needs and social cohesion in immigration policy.
Speaking at Chatham House in London on 27 October 2025, Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong said that while immigrants are essential and welcomed in Singapore, they must be aware of and respect the norms that govern local society.
The remarks came in response to a question about Singapore’s immigration policy and the Government’s approach to managing related risks while maintaining non-discrimination.
SM Lee was addressing a session titled “How Singapore is surviving and thriving between China and the United States” during his working trip to the United Kingdom.
He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining balance in immigration policies, noting that trade-offs are inevitable.
He described immigrants as “desperately-needed people to man our whole system,” highlighting that they make up about one-third of Singapore’s workforce, from senior executives in multinational corporations to construction workers.
However, with such a significant foreign population, he noted that risks such as espionage, disinformation, and social tensions are unavoidable.
Despite these risks, he emphasised the necessity of accommodating immigrants and ensuring mutual understanding between them and citizens.
“We need them, and we have got to accommodate them, and we have got to get them to understand what our rules are,” SM Lee said.
“And Singaporeans need to be accepting of the immigrants, knowing that they are here and helping us.”
He also reminded Singaporeans of the country’s shared responsibility towards immigrants, many of whom have families back home.
Turning to social conduct, SM Lee cautioned wealthy immigrants against behaviours that could be perceived as disrespectful or boastful.
“Do not go around popping champagne which is US$20,000 a bottle with sparklers, and do not zoom your Ferrari or Lotus or whatever down the middle of the road in the middle of the night just to let everybody know that you have arrived,” he remarked.
“You would not have thought that that was something you needed to tell anybody, but sometimes it is helpful to remind them.”
SM Lee stressed that maintaining social harmony requires both integration from immigrants and openness from Singaporeans.
He noted that while the Government cannot adopt a completely “omnidirectional and direction-blind” approach in immigration decisions, policies are designed to ensure the country retains both a robust economy and cohesive society.
“We try to manage the overall package so that we have not just an economy with the people it needs, but a society which can maintain identity and cohesion,” he said.
He further cited the Government’s response during the Covid-19 pandemic as an example of Singapore’s commitment to fairness and humane treatment.
“People know that if they come to Singapore, that is the way Singapore works — the rules are strict, but this is not an inhumane system,” SM Lee said, referring to the care provided for tens of thousands of foreign workers in dormitories.
SM Lee reaffirmed Singapore’s open stance toward immigrants, provided they adapt to local expectations.
“It is not so hard if you want to be in Singapore — you can do that, but we will look after you,” he said.
