SINGAPORE, Sept 13 — Economic challenges can deepen social and racial divisions, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned on Saturday, pointing to recent racist comments made online.

Wong was weighing in on the “shameful” racist and xenophobic comments about Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India, as well as the Nepal-Tibet disaster, news outlet CNA reported.

“These challenges are real,” he was quoted as saying.

He said global societies were becoming more fragmented and polarised, partly driven by economic pressures, as people who feel left behind grow frustrated — a dynamic that becomes more dangerous once it feeds into questions of identity and belonging.

“That is when divisions really start to become more entrenched, and people start to build walls between — us versus them,” Wong was quoted as saying.

He also said the government would keep addressing cost pressures and job concerns, but stressed that social cohesion ultimately depends on communities themselves reaching out and building trust with one another.

Wong was speaking at the Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League’s (SKML) 85th anniversary dinner.

The PM said Singapore is not immune to fault lines between foreigners and citizens, between local-born and naturalised Singaporeans, and along racial and religious lines.

Wong praised SKML for expanding its work beyond the Indian Muslim community while staying rooted in it, citing partnerships with groups like Muis, Mendaki and Sinda on issues such as digital literacy and scam awareness.

He also said Singapore was not immune to fault lines between foreigners and citizens, between local-born and naturalised Singaporeans, and along racial and religious lines.

“Our own means Singaporeans regardless of race, language or religion,” he was quoted as saying.

“Because whatever our different roots and backgrounds, we are all Singaporeans, and Singapore is our country and our home.”