Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has a message for the city’s flashier newcomers — tone it down. In a candid reminder that wealth alone doesn’t earn respect in the island nation, the former prime minister urged immigrants to “keep the bling down” and avoid ostentatious displays of luxury that could rub locals the wrong way.
“Do not go around popping champagne, which is $20,000 a bottle with sparklers,” Lee said. “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.”
A delicate balance for Singapore: welcoming talent, protecting harmony
Speaking at a recent event, Lee reflected on how immigration — long a cornerstone of Singapore’s success — remains a tightrope act. He was speaking at a dialogue on how Singapore is surviving and thriving between China and the US, moderated by Dr Samir Puri, director of Chatham House’s Centre for Global Governance and Security.
“Immigration is not an easy balance to strike,” he said, adding that the government must attract global talent to fuel growth while safeguarding the nation’s social cohesion and security.
Singapore’s foreign workforce makes up roughly one-third of its population. That mix, Lee argued, is essential to keeping the economy competitive, but also brings cultural and political challenges that the government must carefully manage.
“Foreigners are needed to boost the workforce in Singapore, and make up one-third of the population and have to be accommodated,” he said. “But these substantial numbers can also cause social issues to arise, and foreigners have to understand Singapore’s rules and norms.”
Warning about excess and ego for immigrants coming to Singapore
Lee’s remarks come amid growing chatter about the city’s rising inequality and the flashy lifestyles of some of its ultra-rich residents.
While Singapore welcomes foreign talent and capital, Lee warned that arrogance or insensitivity could quickly sour the social mood. Singapore, the island nation city-state, often described as orderly and culturally restrained, tends to frown upon ostentation.
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Senior minister Lee pointedly described how some foreigners have imported “foreign disputes” or flaunted their wealth in ways that disrupt social peace. The goal, he said, is to build a society where newcomers understand local values and coexist harmoniously.
For senior minister Lee, the issue goes beyond etiquette — it’s about identity.
“It is important to manage the overall package,” he said. “Such that Singapore has an economy with the manpower it needs and also a society which can maintain identity and cohesion.”
Singapore built by immigrants, still learning to balance diversity
Foreigners make up nearly one-third of Singapore’s population — a testament to its status as one of Asia’s most globalised economies. The city-state relies heavily on migrant workers, foreign professionals, and entrepreneurs to sustain its economic growth and offset an ageing local population.
With Singapore’s population reaching a record 6.11 million as of June 2025 — of which approximately 1.91 million are non-residents or foreign workers — the city-state depends heavily on global manpower even as it strives to preserve its cultural cohesion.
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Singapore’s senior minister said this reliance comes with challenges. “Apart from the security risks if some bring in their foreign disputes, these substantial numbers can also cause social issues to arise, and foreigners have to understand Singapore’s rules and norms,” he said.
He stressed that the goal is to ensure Singapore has both “an economy with the manpower it needs” and “a society which can maintain identity and cohesion.”