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.”

Then, with a wry smile, SM Lee added: “You would not have thought that that was something you needed to tell anybody, but sometimes it is helpful to remind them.”

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