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Fixing the opposition
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Lee Hsien Loong’s speech on “fixing” the opposition resurfaces and goes viral again as AHTC trial continues
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October 26, 2018
By Jewel Stolarchuk
A video of an old rally speech Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered years ago, on how he will have to spend time thinking how to “fix” the opposition, has resurfaced on social media and is going viral as opposition politicians, Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim and Pritam Singh face the ongoing Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) in court.
In the speech, delivered more than a decade ago when Low Thia Khiang, Chiam See Tong and Steve Chia were the only opposition politicians in Parliament, PM Lee urged the people to refrain from voting in more opposition lest he is forced to focus on how to “fix them” instead of focusing on the nation’s challenges. He asserted:
“What is the opposition’s job? It’s not to help the PAP do a better job! Their job is to make life miserable for me so that I screw up and they can come in and sit where I am here and take charge.
“Right now we have Low Thia Khiang, we have Chiam, we have Steve Chia. So can deal with them, it’s ok. But supposing you had a Parliament with 10, 15, 20 opposition members out of 80.
“Then, instead of spending my time thinking of what is the right policy for Singapore, I’m going to spend all my time – I have to spend all my time – thinking what is the right way to fix them, what is the right way to buy own my supporters over, how can I solve this week’s problem and forget about next year’s challenges?”
PM Lee’s words were widely circulated when he made the speech years ago and became quite infamous in it’s own right.
Yesterday, Facebook user Cinorom Elicebmi re-posted the video online, quicklu garnering over 22,000 views on social media. Sharing the video on multiple Facebook groups, the netizen reminded his fellow citizens that “opposition parties keep our country’s politics contestable.”
The netizen also noted Lee Hsien Loong echoed these sentiments that the opposition cannot be allowed to grow as recently as this year.
In April this year, the head of government said, “It is neither wise nor workable for the People’s Action Party (PAP) Government to purposely let the opposition grow bigger when most of the population supports the PAP.”
Likening a political system that makes life easier for opposition politicians to a performer’s safety net, PM Lee had added: “The more you have a safety net for the performer, the more dangerous the stunts the performer will do. Because there is no risk, so you will push further."
AHTC trial starts today: WP MPs Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang in court
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(From left) Lawyer Chelva Retnam Rajah, former WP chief Low Thia Khiang, WP secretary-general Pritam Singh and WP chairman Sylvia Lim arrive at the Supreme Court on Oct 5, 2018. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Royston Sim
Deputy News Editor
AUG 4, 2021
SINGAPORE - A high-profile trial against three Workers' Party MPs began on Friday (Oct 5).
WP secretary-general Pritam Singh, chairman Sylvia Lim and former chief Low Thia Khiang arrived at the Supreme Court at about 9.45am.
WP MPs Leon Perera, Dennis Tan, Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap and Png Eng Huat were spotted in the public gallery.
The Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) is suing Mr Singh, Ms Lim and Mr Low, plus two of its town councillors, over $33.7 million in payments the town council made from July 15, 2011, to July 14, 2015.
The lawsuit, initiated by AHTC under the direction of an independent panel, alleges that the payments to its former managing agent and service provider were improper and void, as the three Aljunied GRC MPs had acted in breach of their fiduciary duties.
Mr Low and Ms Lim have been asked to account for the sum and to repay any money paid out wrongfully. Also named in that suit are the former managing agent FM Solutions and Services (FMSS), and the firm's owner, Ms How Weng Fan.
The suit also claims Ms Lim, Mr Singh and town councillors Chua Zhi Hon and Kenneth Foo had breached the Town Councils Financial Rules by failing to call a tender for each project and not accepting the lowest bid for seven projects - thereby costing AHTC an extra $2,794,560.
The defendants also face a suit from the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC), which manages the affairs of single-seat Punggol East.
The WP had managed Punggol East from 2013 to 2015 after winning the constituency in a by-election. But in the 2015 general election, the constituency came under the control of the People's Action Party again.
PRPTC alleges the decisions made by the town councillors had caused it to suffer "loss and damage", and is claiming equitable compensation.
The case is the latest turn in an ongoing saga that goes back to 2011.
AHTC had been unable to submit an unqualified set of accounts since the opposition party formed the town council in 2011, after winning Aljunied GRC in the general election that year.
The state of affairs eventually led to a special audit by the Auditor-General's Office, which found significant lapses of governance at the town council.
The town council was then directed by the Court of Appeal to appoint a Big Four accounting firm to help fix its lapses and ensure compliance with the law. It eventually appointed independent auditor KPMG in 2016 to look into its books.
Following an audit, KPMG found the governance failures at AHTC had put public funds running into millions of dollars at risk of improper use.
The town council then appointed an independent panel to look into the improper payments and take follow-up action, including recovering the money. The panel comprises senior counsel Philip Jeyaretnam, senior counsel N. Sreenivasan and KPMG managing partner Ong Pang Thye.
Observers are watching the suit closely for the legal and political implications the verdict may have.
In what some have called a "landmark case", the courts will have to rule on whether town councillors owe a fiduciary duty to their town councils because such a relationship between town councillors and town councils is not spelt out in the Town Councils Act.
If the defendants are found liable, they have to compensate AHTC.
If they cannot pay up, they risk being declared bankrupt and having their assets seized. MPs who are made bankrupt will also lose their parliamentary seats.
The trial is likely to see KPMG's forensics partner Owen Hawkes and PwC partner Goh Thien Phong take the stand first.
Both men belong to firms tasked to examine AHTC's accounts.
The WP MPs and town councillors are represented by Tan Rajah & Cheah, with Mr Chelva Retnam Rajah as lead counsel.
The independent AHTC panel is represented by a team from Shook Lin & Bok led by lawyer David Chan, while PRPTC is represented by Drew & Napier, and FMSS is represented by Netto & Magin.
Sengkang MP Raeesah Khan resigns from WP following probe over admission of lying in Parliament
Ms Raeesah Khan had on Nov 1 admitted to lying in Parliament at an earlier sitting about details of a sexual assault case. PHOTO: ST FILE
Hariz Baharudin
DEC 1, 2021
SINGAPORE - Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan has resigned from the Workers' Party (WP), which also means that she has resigned from her position as an MP.
The WP announced this in a Facebook post on Tuesday night (Nov 30), saying its top leadership had met at 8pm to deliberate and decide on the recommendation of a disciplinary committee that had been formed to investigate Ms Khan's admissions in Parliament.
Ms Khan, 27, had on Nov 1 admitted to lying in Parliament at an earlier sitting about details of a sexual assault case that she had alleged was mishandled by the police.
The matter was referred to a Committee of Privileges, which has begun its work into the complaint that she had lied in Parliament.
The WP said Ms Khan had, at 4.30pm on Tuesday, indicated to WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh her intention to resign from the party.
"She then attended the CEC meeting at 8pm and conveyed in person her intention to resign," it added, referring to its Central Executive Committee.
The party said it will hold a press conference on Thursday to provide more information on the matter and to share its plans to ensure that Sengkang residents, particularly in Compassvale ward that Ms Khan had been responsible for, continue to be cared for and represented.
Ms Khan also posted on her social media accounts her letter of resignation as an MP, addressed to Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin.
She reiterated her apology to the House, to the people of Sengkang, and to her volunteers, and added that she would be spending more time with her family and on causes she is passionate about.
She added that she will assist with the Committee of Privileges.
Ms Khan was voted into Parliament in the July 2020 General Election as part of the four-member WP team contesting Sengkang GRC.
During a debate on empowering women brought by the WP on Aug 3, she told the House that she had accompanied a 25-year-old rape victim to a police station to make a police report three years ago. She had also said that the officer who interviewed the victim had allegedly made inappropriate comments about her dressing and the fact that she was drinking.
On Oct 4, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam asked her to provide more details about the alleged incident, saying the police had since checked their records and found no cases that fit Ms Khan's description.
In reply, Ms Khan said her account was true but repeatedly declined to reveal any further details - including the police station they went to - citing confidentiality. She added that she had not been successful in contacting the victim.
On Nov 1, she admitted that she had not accompanied the victim to the police station. Instead, she said the victim had shared the account in a support group for women, which Ms Khan herself was a part of, and that she did not have the victim's consent to share the story.
She said she lacked the courage to admit she was in the support group, as she had been a victim of sexual assault at the age of 18.
Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said Ms Khan had lied to Parliament on three occasions, raised an official complaint against her for breaching parliamentary privilege, and asked for the matter to be referred to the Committee of Privileges.
Separately, the WP announced it had also formed a disciplinary panel to look into the admissions made by Ms Khan. The panel comprises Mr Singh, WP chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap.
Ms Khan's resignation means that Sengkang GRC will now have three MPs: Ms He Ting Ru, Associate Professor Jamus Lim and Mr Louis Chua.
However, under the law, there is no stipulation to hold a by-election for a GRC if a member of the team resigns. A by-election is needed only if all the MPs for the GRC vacate their seats.
Reform Party chairman Charles Yeo arrested for alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery
Mr Charles Yeo said in a Facebook post that a bail of $35,000 had been set for his release. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM CHARLES YEO/FACEBOOK
Justin Ong
Political Correspondent
JAN 15, 2022,
SINGAPORE - Mr Charles Yeo, chairman of the opposition Reform Party, was arrested on Wednesday (Jan 12) for alleged involvement in criminal breach of trust and forgery, said the police on Saturday (Jan 15).
In a statement, the police added that they "categorically reject" claims made by Mr Yeo that investigations against him were "politically motivated".
"Neither are the allegations 'trumped up' for political reasons," said the police.
Earlier this week, Mr Yeo claimed on his social media accounts that he had spent 15 hours in lock-up on "trumped up and false" charges.
He also accused the police of acting unprofessionally and said it was unusual that his phone and SIM card had been taken.
The police on Saturday confirmed that investigations were ongoing against Whitefield Law Corporation, where Mr Yeo works as a criminal defence lawyer.
Aside from Mr Yeo, another person - not identified by the police - was arrested on Wednesday after police reports were made against the law firm.
"The police had received at least four police reports involving four different clients of Whitefield Law Corporation, alleging forgery and/or criminal breach of trust," the police said.
"For the purpose of the investigations, Mr Charles Yeo's mobile telephone and SIM card were seized for forensic examination. The seizure was done in accordance with powers given to the police under the Criminal Procedure Code."
The police added that its officers have taken and will continue to take measures in accordance with the law to carry out investigations into the alleged criminal offences.
Mr Yeo was part of a Reform Party team that contested Ang Mo Kio GRC at the 2020 General Election, garnering 28.09 per cent of the votes as it lost to a People's Action Party slate led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Mr Yeo had drawn attention during the hustings after clips of him struggling to deliver a speech for his party in Mandarin went viral online.
He said in a Facebook post on Thursday that a bail of $35,000 had been set for his release.
If convicted of criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Penal Code, he could face imprisonment of up to 20 years, in addition to a fine.
The offence of forgery under Section 465 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of four years and/or a fine.
Former chairman of Reform Party Charles Yeo charged with hurting religious feelings of Christians
Charles Yeo was handed six charges in total for purported acts carried out between November 2020 and February last year. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Wong Shiying
JAN 19, 2022
SINGAPORE - The former chairman of the Reform Party, Charles Yeo, was on Wednesday (Jan 19) charged with wounding the religious feelings of the Christian community with remarks he allegedly made on his Instagram and Facebook pages.
He was also charged with posting a series of Instagram stories that contained abusive remarks about a specific police officer.
Yeo was handed six charges in total for purported acts carried out between November 2020 and February last year.
The lawyer's post on his Instagram page @toxicstatenarrativeinsg in November 2020 was allegedly made to wound the religious feelings of "Christians who view homosexuality as contrary to their religious beliefs".
Another two charges were for attempting to commit the same offence on Feb 23 and Feb 26 last year.
In these posts, he is said to have referred to Christians as “radical and dogmatic”, and allegedly remarked that certain Christian churches were “homophobes with their trash agenda” and that they “distort the message of Christ”.
He purportedly also made "an abusive communication" towards a public servant - Deputy Superintendent of Police Jonathan Auyong - on Jan 11 last year.
Two other charges in relation to the officer involved threatening communication and insulting communication.
These posts called the officer, among other things, a “fake public servant elevated by money pumped in by tuition” and “nothing but a pathetic coward and collaborator with an authoritarian regime”.
The court heard that Yeo will be disputing charges related to wounding religious feelings. He will return to court for a pre-trial conference on Feb 25.
Yeo is also currently being investigated for his alleged role in a case of criminal breach of trust and forgery, a probe the 31-year-old had claimed was politically motivated.
Police rejected the claim in a statement last Saturday.
The Reform Party, in a Facebook post on Sunday, said it had accepted Yeo’s offer to step down as chairman until the matters are resolved. Ms Yasmine Valentina, a member of the party’s central executive committee, was appointed acting chair.
If convicted of making abusive remarks towards a public servant, Yeo could be fined up to $5,000 and jailed for up to a year.
Uttering words with the deliberate intent to hurt the religious feelings of another carries a maximum penalty of three years' jail and a fine.
Jamus Lim reiterates how opposition MPs do not get to give out Edusave awards
Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim said that if residents are agreeable, he would gladly write them a signed letter of encouragement that he could distribute in an informal ceremony. PHOTO: JAMUS LIM/FACEBOOK
Hariz Baharudin
Assistant News Editor
Jan 29, 2022
SINGAPORE - Sengkang GRC MP Jamus Lim from the Workers' Party has reiterated how opposition MPs do not get to distribute Edusave awards, unlike their People's Action Party (PAP) counterparts, as these awards are given out by grassroots advisers.
The Edusave scheme by the Ministry of Education awards grants and scholarships to students, and grassroots advisers are appointed by the People's Association.
Associate Professor Lim said in a Facebook post on Friday (Jan 28) that his social media feed was "flooded with pictures of PAP MPs handing out awards to proud recipients".
He had received queries on why his GRC was not doing the same, with one resident telling him that the person's child was looking forward to taking a photo with the MP.
"As I explain to my residents, opposition MPs do not, unfortunately, have the pleasure of distributing Edusave awards, which are given out by the grassroots advisers (who are distinct from the elected representatives in non-PAP wards)," said Prof Lim.
He added that if residents are agreeable, he would happily write them a signed letter of encouragement that he could distribute in an informal ceremony at his weekly Meet-the-People Session.
His post, which has got more than 3,000 reactions and was shared over 220 times on Facebook as at noon on Saturday, was attached to what appeared to be such a letter of encouragement that was dated Jan 24.
Ending his post, Prof Lim underscored how he is always available to meet residents. "Most importantly, please don't feel that the only way you can meet and take a selfie with your MP is by studying hard and doing well," he said.
"I'm always available for my residents, Edusave season or not, whether virtually or physically. Just feel free to reach out and touch base."
This is not the first time Prof Lim has raised this issue of the Edusave awards.
On Feb 15 last year, he made a similar post on Facebook explaining that MPs for a particular ward are not automatically granted the role of grassroots adviser, who is the person entitled to hand out Edusave awards.
Healing the Divide founder Iris Koh hospitalised, faces more serious charge
Iris Koh, founder of anti-vaccine group Healing the Divide, is to be remanded upon her discharge from Singapore General Hospital. PHOTO: IRIS KOH/TWITTER
Jean Iau
Jan 20, 2022
SINGAPORE - Iris Koh, founder of anti-vaccine group Healing the Divide, was hospitalised prior to her court hearing on Friday (Jan 28) that saw her charge amended to a more serious one.
Her request for bail was denied and she is to be remanded upon her discharge from Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Koh was admitted to SGH after being hospitalised at the Institute of Mental Health.
When contacted, her lawyer, Mr Clarence Lun from Fervent Chambers, confirmed that Koh was in hospital but could not say since when or why she was hospitalised.
He told The Straits Times that they will be appealing against the court’s decision to deny Koh bail.
On Friday, Koh, 46, was charged with conspiring with general practitioner Jipson Quah to make false representations to the Ministry of Health (MOH), an offence punishable by up to 20 years’ jail, a fine, or both.
This is up from the original charge of conspiring to cheat MOH, which would have been punishable with a maximum of three years’ jail, a fine, or both.
According to court documents, between July 2021 and January 2022, Koh was party to a criminal conspiracy with Quah to dishonestly make false representations to MOH that people were vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine, when they were not.
This was so that they could obtain certificates of vaccination against Covid-19 for these people.
Her case was heard in Court Crime Registry Chambers, in a hearing not open to the public.
Earlier on Friday, Quah’s assistant Thomas Chua Cheng Soon, 40, had his charge amended to conspiring with Quah and a patient identified as Mehrajunnisha to make a false representation to MOH.
Chua pleaded for leniency and said: "I merely followed the instructions of Jipson to proceed with the offence. I'm just a middleman."
Jipson Quah was arrested along with his assistant Thomas Chua Cheng Soon. PHOTO: JIPSON QUAH/FACEBOOK
Deputy Public Prosecutor Samuel Yap asked for Chua to be further remanded for a week till Feb 4.
When asked by the judge why Chua's remand needed to be extended, DPP Yap said: "The extent of the fraud perpetrated is quite significant and the accused's attendance is therefore necessary for the investigations to be complete."
The court heard that on or around Jan 14, Chua is said to have conspired with Quah to falsely represent to MOH that Mehrajunnisha was vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine, although she was not, in order for Mehrajunnisha to obtain a certificate of vaccination against Covid-19.
On Tuesday, Quah's charge was similarly amended to dishonestly making a false representation to MOH, instead of one of cheating the ministry.
The police on Jan 25 released a statement saying that Quah and Chua had been arrested, along with Koh. Preliminary investigations found that Quah and Chua purportedly worked together to submit false vaccination data, while Koh, 46, was believed to have referred clients to them.
Chua and Koh are scheduled to be in court next on Feb 4, while Quah’s next court date is slated for Jan 31.
Iris Koh denied bail for alleged vaccine fraud as probe reveals at least 20 patients involved
Koh was charged last Friday with conspiring with general practitioner Jipson Quah to make false representations to the Ministry of Health (MOH) that people were vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine, when they were not. PHOTO: IRIS KOH/TWITTER
Selina Lum
Senior Law Correspondent
Jan 31, 2022
SINGAPORE - Iris Koh, the founder of anti-vaccine group Healing the Divide, was denied bail in the High Court on Monday (Jan 31), as the prosecution revealed that at least 20 patients were involved in an alleged vaccination fraud conspiracy that she has been charged with.
Koh, 46, was charged last Friday with conspiring with general practitioner Jipson Quah to make false representations to the Ministry of Health (MOH) that unvaccinated people were given the Sinopharm vaccine, when they were not.
On Monday, prosecutors, in arguing against Koh's bid to be granted bail, said at least 20 patients were involved in the alleged conspiracy, and that ongoing investigations have revealed offences relating to remote pre-event testing and false vaccine exemption letters.
The prosecution said that Koh has been uncooperative since her arrest on Jan 21, and this has delayed police investigations.
Koh tore up a police statement on her fifth day in remand, tore up the charge that was read to her last Friday, in what the judge said was a “blatant disrespect for the investigative and court processes”.
She also repeatedly complained of anxiety and panic attacks but refused medical attention.
Justice Vincent Hoong agreed with the prosecutors that Koh's lack of cooperation with police investigators contributed to the need to remand her for investigations.
"I agree with the prosecution that it is precisely due to the applicant's efforts to frustrate and impede the investigations, which have significantly contributed to the need for this further period of remand," he said.
Justice Hoong said: "The consequent delays to investigations are no doubt caused by her active and deliberate attempts to frustrate those very investigations."
He noted that her "belligerence, obstructive behaviour and lack of cooperation with investigations" during the initial period of remand, which started on Jan 23, was "appalling".
The judge said Koh's application for bail was "wholly devoid of merit".
He noted that she has been charged with a non-bailable offence, and the onus was on her to provide evidence to satisfy the court that bail should be granted.
Koh's lawyer, Mr Clarence Lun, had raised Koh's medical condition, of hyperthyroidism, as a ground to support her application.
But Justice Hoong said this was an insufficient reason for bail to be granted.
He noted that Koh has been assessed to be fit for discharge from the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on Monday, and is scheduled for a biopsy procedure in two to three weeks.
"The latest medical memo... also indicates that the applicant is medically fit to be interviewed and is thus fit for investigations."
Mr Lun also said Koh’s husband had requested to visit her in the hospital during her remand, but the prosecution replied that “there is no basis for such visitation rights”.
Agreeing with the prosecution, Justice Hoong denied Koh the visitation rights.
During the hearing that was held via video conference, Koh, who was muted, could be seen raising her hand and appeared to be speaking but was ignored by the judge, who noted that she has legal representation.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Jiang Ke-yue told the court that the police have been accommodating to Koh and offered medical attention where necessary, but the evidence showed that she was not cooperating.
Giving a day by day account of her behaviour during her remand, the DPP said: "She has demonstrated a pattern of behaviour that shows her determination not to cooperate."
On Day 1, Koh complained of anxiety and panic attacks but refused to be admitted to the Institute of Mental Health.
On Day 4, she spent two hours making a police report against the investigation officer.
On Day 5, she refused medical attention despite complaining of discomfort, and also tore up the statement taken from her.
On Day 6, she was warded for observation at the SGH.
On Day 7, she refused to be discharged despite being assessed fit to do so.
The DPP said that when the charge was read to Koh at the SGH last Friday, she shouted her refusal to accept it, hurled a vulgarity at the investigation officer and tore up the charge.
"The appropriate adult was so afraid, she did not want to sign on the charge," added the DPP.
An appropriate adult is a trained volunteer who provides assistance to persons with mental health issues who have to undergo interviews with investigation officers.
The DPP noted that the other two accused persons charged in relation to the conspiracy - Quah and his assistant Thomas Chua Cheng Soon, 40 - have been cooperative and have been granted bail.
"As we speak... arrangements are being made for their release," he said.
Committee recommends WP's Pritam Singh face further probe, $35k fine for Raeesah Khan over lies in Parliament
The parliamentary committee has recommended that former WP MP Raeesah Khan be fined a total of $35,000 and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh be referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations. PHOTOS: GOV.SG
Justin Ong
Political Correspondent
Feb 10, 2022
SINGAPORE - A parliamentary committee has recommended that Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh be referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations and that former Workers' Party (WP) MP Raeesah Khan be fined a total of $35,000 for their involvement in lies told by Ms Khan in Parliament in August and October last year.
In a report released on Thursday (Feb 10) following a series of hearings held in December last year, Parliament's Committee of Privileges said that Mr Singh's referral was with a view to considering if criminal proceedings ought to be instituted regarding his conduct before the eight-member panel.
The committee is chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and comprises six other People's Action Party lawmakers and Hougang MP Dennis Tan from the WP.
The committee also recommended that Ms Khan be fined $25,000 for stating an untruth in Parliament on Aug 3, when she claimed to have accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station where officers allegedly handled the matter insensitively and drove the victim to tears.
She repeated the untruth on Oct 4 - for which the committee is recommending an additional fine of $10,000.
In November, Ms Khan confessed in Parliament that she had in fact heard this anecdote in a support group she was part of, and had shared it without the victim's consent.
Ms Khan, 29, resigned as a WP member and MP for Sengkang GRC on Nov 30, a mere 15 months after being sworn in as Singapore's youngest MP after the 2020 general election.
The committee further recommended that WP vice-chair Faisal Manap, an MP for Aljunied GRC, be similarly referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations, namely into his refusal to answer "relevant" questions put forth by the committee, and to also consider if criminal proceedings ought to be instituted.
For Mr Singh, who is WP chief and an MP for Aljunied GRC, the appropriate sanctions should be deferred until after the conclusion of investigations or criminal proceedings against him, said the committee.
The committee's recommendations are expected to be debated when Parliament sits next week.
This is a developing story.
COP report damaging to WP, will shape political perceptions: Experts
A banner in Sengkang featuring Workers' Party MPs (from left) Louis Chua, He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim. ST PHOTO: SAMUEL ANG
Hariz Baharudin and Justin Ong
PUBLISHED
Feb 12, 2022
SINGAPORE - The proceedings of Parliament’s Committee of Privileges (COP) have been detrimental to the reputation of the Workers’ Party (WP) and its leaders, and have sent the opposition party into damage control, said observers on Friday (Feb 11).
But while the impact on the party and its constituencies is potentially severe, the WP is not down for the count yet, with many pointing out that its strong support base may cushion the harm it will receive.
The committee called for a fine of $35,000 for the WP's former MP Raeesah Khan for lying in Parliament, in a report it released on Feb 10 that was the culmination of a probe into her lies in Parliament last August and October.
The committee also recommended that WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and WP vice-chair Faisal Manap be referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations for lying under oath in their testimonies. Both men are MPs for Aljunied GRC.
Effects on the WP as a party
Even before the committee released its report, the 31 hours of hearings from nine witnesses, released to the public during the proceedings, had already done damage to Singapore’s biggest and most successful opposition party.Ms Nydia Ngiow, managing director at strategic advisory firm BowerGroupAsia Singapore, said the differing accounts of what had happened from various members of the party threw into question the credibility of WP and its MPs. “Within the party, we saw substantive, and potentially permanent, divisions amongst party members,” she said.
But it was the report by the committee on Feb 10 that dealt a decisive political and psychological blow to the WP, said observers. In particular, WP’s leaders were singled out for criticism, said Singapore Management University Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan.
“One immediate impact is that on cadres, members and volunteers, who are watching closely how the party leadership responds; in turn, they are likely to re-examine, in their own way, their association with the party,” said Prof Tan.
“The party is now in damage control mode, as seen by Pritam Singh’s relatively defiant Facebook post.”
In the post on Feb 10, which stressed that a number of unknowns remained in the wake of the report, Mr Singh said he would continue his work “as per normal”.
Nonetheless, Mr Singh is in “graver” danger in his political career than ever before, said Dr Gillian Koh, deputy director of research at the Institute of Policy Studies.
“The recommendation to send the issue of alleged perjury to the Public Prosecutor could cause those with no sense of political affinity to WP to almost ‘write off’ this set of leaders and look at whether there is a fresh set of younger MPs who can take up the mantle of leadership in the party,” she said.
The report’s recommendations of criminal investigations could see Mr Singh and Mr Faisal losing their seats in Parliament, and being disqualified from contesting the next election, should they be charged, found guilty and fined.
In Singapore, any person convicted of an offence and sentenced to at least a year’s jail or a fine of at least $2,000 is disqualified from elections.
Effects on residents
There has also been speculation online as to whether a by-election may be called if two out of the five MPs for the constituency are forced to step down before 2025, when the next general election is due.Ms Ngiow pointed out that under the law, a Writ of Election shall be issued only if all the MPs in a GRC have vacated their seats, making it unlikely that residents in Aljunied would have to make a premature return to the ballot box.
Prof Tan also does not see voters in Aljunied GRC actively canvassing for a by-election, and that it would be up to the five MPs themselves to decide if it would be the right thing to do to quit and seek a fresh mandate through a by-election.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) political observer Felix Tan said there was no legal obligation for the WP to seek a fresh mandate unless the courts or Parliament ordered it.
“While the leadership has been called into question for an allegation of any criminality that has yet to be determined, they have, nonetheless, continued to discharge their duties and responsibilities to their constituencies to the best of their knowledge,” he said, referring to the WP leaders.
Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, from the political science department at the National University of Singapore, said any legal proceedings against the WP leaders could take a while and there may be no immediate need for them to step down.
‘Soul-searching’ needed for WP
Legality aside, there is an urgent need within the party to re-examine and strengthen its internal procedures in accountability, said Dr Felix Tan, noting: “Let this be a lesson for all political parties in Singapore - that if they wish to partake in gaining trust among Singaporeans, then they need to ensure that proper due diligence is upheld.”Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said an internal review could include a referendum on Mr Singh as party leader, secretary-general and Leader of the Opposition. But he and some other observers saw it likely that the party would close ranks around their leader, politically wounded though he may be.
They also said comparisons were inevitable with Mr Singh’s retired predecessor, Mr Low Thia Khiang.
“This saga, with the involvement of three key WP leaders who had the time and space to explain themselves and recover but didn’t, suggests that it is no longer the disciplined, well-managed party we believed it was under Mr Low,” said Dr Koh.
“Perhaps a change in leadership at WP - one that has grasped the lessons from this saga and those of its past - could allow for a reset at what Singaporeans had counted on to be a credible, First World opposition party,” she added.
Prof Tan said the WP had two choices: Either bury its head in the sand and regard the committee’s inquiry as a politicised witch hunt, or go about trying to stanch the inevitable bleeding of public trust and confidence.
“Mr Singh’s response next week in Parliament is likely to be defining for him and his party,” Prof Tan added, as others pointed out that the party had certainly weathered its fair share of storms before.
It has the “wherewithal” to turn around its predicament, said Dr Mustafa, though it would have to work doubly hard now to remain the opposition party of choice for the Singapore electorate.
Shaping of political perceptions
The release of the report – and the proceedings as they occurred – also triggered strong feelings directed not at the WP but at the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).Some accused the committee, comprising six PAP lawmakers and one from WP, of being out to “fix the opposition”. Others labelled the report as a ploy to distract Singaporeans from a planned tax hike due to be announced in detail at the Budget next week.
The analysts acknowledged that the recommendations might not reflect well on the ruling party in the court of public opinion, but it remains to be seen how the outcome will affect Singapore’s political landscape at large.
“For those who feel that the COP process was partisan, the recommendations would probably reinforce notions that this was a way to dent the WP and its leaders,” said Dr Koh, adding that there would be growing demand for both sides of the House to uphold principles of integrity and accountability. “The PAP will have to be cautious about not precipitating a backlash against it.”
Ms Ngiow believed there will be greater scrutiny of younger candidates before they run for political office as a result of this episode.
Assistant Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, from NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said the greatest impact might be on middle-ground voters, as to “whether they feel that WP’s credibility has been hit, or whether they feel this is injustice against an opposition that already does not have the same power as the incumbents”.
Committee recommends WP's Pritam Singh face further probe, $35k fine for Raeesah Khan over lies in Parliament
The parliamentary committee has recommended that former WP MP Raeesah Khan be fined a total of $35,000 and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh be referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations. PHOTOS: GOV.SG
Justin Ong
Political Correspondent
Feb 10, 2022
SINGAPORE - A parliamentary committee has recommended that Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh be referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations and that former Workers' Party (WP) MP Raeesah Khan be fined a total of $35,000 for their involvement in lies told by Ms Khan in Parliament in August and October last year.
In a report released on Thursday (Feb 10) following a series of hearings held in December last year, Parliament's Committee of Privileges said that Mr Singh's referral was with a view to considering if criminal proceedings ought to be instituted regarding his conduct before the eight-member panel.
The committee is chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and comprises six other People's Action Party lawmakers and Hougang MP Dennis Tan from the WP.
The committee also recommended that Ms Khan be fined $25,000 for stating an untruth in Parliament on Aug 3, when she claimed to have accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station where officers allegedly handled the matter insensitively and drove the victim to tears.
She repeated the untruth on Oct 4 - for which the committee is recommending an additional fine of $10,000.
In November, Ms Khan confessed in Parliament that she had in fact heard this anecdote in a support group she was part of, and had shared it without the victim's consent.
Ms Khan, 29, resigned as a WP member and MP for Sengkang GRC on Nov 30, a mere 15 months after being sworn in as Singapore's youngest MP after the 2020 general election.
The committee further recommended that WP vice-chair Faisal Manap, an MP for Aljunied GRC, be similarly referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations, namely into his refusal to answer "relevant" questions put forth by the committee, and to also consider if criminal proceedings ought to be instituted.
For Mr Singh, who is WP chief and an MP for Aljunied GRC, the appropriate sanctions should be deferred until after the conclusion of investigations or criminal proceedings against him, said the committee.
The committee's recommendations are expected to be debated when Parliament sits next week.
This is a developing story.
Edwin Tong will intercede with Allah to spare Khan; Khan has done good for the PAP. The leader of the Opposition will be toasted soon. Allah will make Khan his new wife. Edwin Tong for PM!
COP report damaging to WP, will shape political perceptions: Experts
A banner in Sengkang featuring Workers' Party MPs (from left) Louis Chua, He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim. ST PHOTO: SAMUEL ANG
Hariz Baharudin and Justin Ong
PUBLISHED
Feb 12, 2022
SINGAPORE - The proceedings of Parliament’s Committee of Privileges (COP) have been detrimental to the reputation of the Workers’ Party (WP) and its leaders, and have sent the opposition party into damage control, said observers on Friday (Feb 11).
But while the impact on the party and its constituencies is potentially severe, the WP is not down for the count yet, with many pointing out that its strong support base may cushion the harm it will receive.
The committee called for a fine of $35,000 for the WP's former MP Raeesah Khan for lying in Parliament, in a report it released on Feb 10 that was the culmination of a probe into her lies in Parliament last August and October.
The committee also recommended that WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and WP vice-chair Faisal Manap be referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigations for lying under oath in their testimonies. Both men are MPs for Aljunied GRC.
Effects on the WP as a party
Even before the committee released its report, the 31 hours of hearings from nine witnesses, released to the public during the proceedings, had already done damage to Singapore’s biggest and most successful opposition party.
Ms Nydia Ngiow, managing director at strategic advisory firm BowerGroupAsia Singapore, said the differing accounts of what had happened from various members of the party threw into question the credibility of WP and its MPs. “Within the party, we saw substantive, and potentially permanent, divisions amongst party members,” she said.
But it was the report by the committee on Feb 10 that dealt a decisive political and psychological blow to the WP, said observers. In particular, WP’s leaders were singled out for criticism, said Singapore Management University Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan.
“One immediate impact is that on cadres, members and volunteers, who are watching closely how the party leadership responds; in turn, they are likely to re-examine, in their own way, their association with the party,” said Prof Tan.
“The party is now in damage control mode, as seen by Pritam Singh’s relatively defiant Facebook post.”
In the post on Feb 10, which stressed that a number of unknowns remained in the wake of the report, Mr Singh said he would continue his work “as per normal”.
Nonetheless, Mr Singh is in “graver” danger in his political career than ever before, said Dr Gillian Koh, deputy director of research at the Institute of Policy Studies.
“The recommendation to send the issue of alleged perjury to the Public Prosecutor could cause those with no sense of political affinity to WP to almost ‘write off’ this set of leaders and look at whether there is a fresh set of younger MPs who can take up the mantle of leadership in the party,” she said.
The report’s recommendations of criminal investigations could see Mr Singh and Mr Faisal losing their seats in Parliament, and being disqualified from contesting the next election, should they be charged, found guilty and fined.
In Singapore, any person convicted of an offence and sentenced to at least a year’s jail or a fine of at least $2,000 is disqualified from elections.
Effects on residents
There has also been speculation online as to whether a by-election may be called if two out of the five MPs for the constituency are forced to step down before 2025, when the next general election is due.
Ms Ngiow pointed out that under the law, a Writ of Election shall be issued only if all the MPs in a GRC have vacated their seats, making it unlikely that residents in Aljunied would have to make a premature return to the ballot box.
Prof Tan also does not see voters in Aljunied GRC actively canvassing for a by-election, and that it would be up to the five MPs themselves to decide if it would be the right thing to do to quit and seek a fresh mandate through a by-election.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) political observer Felix Tan said there was no legal obligation for the WP to seek a fresh mandate unless the courts or Parliament ordered it.
“While the leadership has been called into question for an allegation of any criminality that has yet to be determined, they have, nonetheless, continued to discharge their duties and responsibilities to their constituencies to the best of their knowledge,” he said, referring to the WP leaders.
Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, from the political science department at the National University of Singapore, said any legal proceedings against the WP leaders could take a while and there may be no immediate need for them to step down.
‘Soul-searching’ needed for WP
Legality aside, there is an urgent need within the party to re-examine and strengthen its internal procedures in accountability, said Dr Felix Tan, noting: “Let this be a lesson for all political parties in Singapore - that if they wish to partake in gaining trust among Singaporeans, then they need to ensure that proper due diligence is upheld.”
Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said an internal review could include a referendum on Mr Singh as party leader, secretary-general and Leader of the Opposition. But he and some other observers saw it likely that the party would close ranks around their leader, politically wounded though he may be.
They also said comparisons were inevitable with Mr Singh’s retired predecessor, Mr Low Thia Khiang.
“This saga, with the involvement of three key WP leaders who had the time and space to explain themselves and recover but didn’t, suggests that it is no longer the disciplined, well-managed party we believed it was under Mr Low,” said Dr Koh.
“Perhaps a change in leadership at WP - one that has grasped the lessons from this saga and those of its past - could allow for a reset at what Singaporeans had counted on to be a credible, First World opposition party,” she added.
Prof Tan said the WP had two choices: Either bury its head in the sand and regard the committee’s inquiry as a politicised witch hunt, or go about trying to stanch the inevitable bleeding of public trust and confidence.
“Mr Singh’s response next week in Parliament is likely to be defining for him and his party,” Prof Tan added, as others pointed out that the party had certainly weathered its fair share of storms before.
It has the “wherewithal” to turn around its predicament, said Dr Mustafa, though it would have to work doubly hard now to remain the opposition party of choice for the Singapore electorate.
Shaping of political perceptions
The release of the report – and the proceedings as they occurred – also triggered strong feelings directed not at the WP but at the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
Some accused the committee, comprising six PAP lawmakers and one from WP, of being out to “fix the opposition”. Others labelled the report as a ploy to distract Singaporeans from a planned tax hike due to be announced in detail at the Budget next week.
The analysts acknowledged that the recommendations might not reflect well on the ruling party in the court of public opinion, but it remains to be seen how the outcome will affect Singapore’s political landscape at large.
“For those who feel that the COP process was partisan, the recommendations would probably reinforce notions that this was a way to dent the WP and its leaders,” said Dr Koh, adding that there would be growing demand for both sides of the House to uphold principles of integrity and accountability. “The PAP will have to be cautious about not precipitating a backlash against it.”
Ms Ngiow believed there will be greater scrutiny of younger candidates before they run for political office as a result of this episode.
Assistant Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, from NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said the greatest impact might be on middle-ground voters, as to “whether they feel that WP’s credibility has been hit, or whether they feel this is injustice against an opposition that already does not have the same power as the incumbents”.
I am disappointed that these so called experts did not expound on the rise of Edwin Tong's star. It was his sharp, cutting questioning that allow the Committee of Pigs to weave a believable narrative in the report. Without Ah Tong, the PAP would have nothing. The academics shoud heap praise on Ah Tong, the holiest person in the PAP since he has been blessed by the Pope.
Ah Tong may be down to earth, likes to makan like any typical sinkee, but he definitely would like to the PM. He will be able to do many photos queuing for food at hawker centres. Also, with his such strong ties with Sylvia Chan of Night Owl Cinematics, he can get lots of exposure with weekly videos.
Parliament votes to refer Workers' Party leaders Pritam Singh, Faisal Manap to Public Prosecutor
(From left) Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, former WP MP Raeesah Khan and WP vice-chair Faisal Manap. PHOTOS: GOV.SG
Tham Yuen-C
Senior Political Correspondent
Feb 15, 2022
SINGAPORE - Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 15) voted to refer Leader of the Opposition and Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh for further probe by the Public Prosecutor over a lying scandal, after a four-hour debate in which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged MPs from both sides of the aisle to vote with their conscience.
PM Lee warned that trust in Parliament and Singapore's political system will be eroded if flagrant, egregious transgressions by MPs were allowed to pass.
The vote came after a total of 10 MPs, including three from the WP and two Nominated MPs, spoke on the report of Parliament's privileges committee that had called for Mr Singh to be referred to the Public Prosecutor for possible criminal charges over lies he told under oath.
Speaking before the vote, Mr Singh said he had no objection about being referred to the Public Prosecutor and would do his utmost to clear his name.
The committee was set up to look into lies told by former MP Raeesah Khan in Parliament on Aug 3 and Oct 4, but had found serious misconduct by Mr Singh, as well as WP chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap, in the process of its investigations.
PM Lee said integrity was the linchpin of democracy, adding that giving Mr Singh and his fellow WP leaders a free pass would be detrimental to democracy.
"A democracy not founded on integrity stands on shaky ground, and will soon totter," he added.
The three WP leaders, speaking during the debate, maintained that they had never asked Ms Khan to take her lie to the grave, as she had claimed.
The House voted on two motions, the first of which called on the House to agree with the committee's finding that Ms Khan was guilty of abusing parliamentary privilege by lying in August and October last year, and its recommendation that she be fined $35,000.
Leader of the House Indranee Rajah had proposed to allow MPs to vote on the different parts of this motion separately, after Mr Singh said that the WP would not support the part about Ms Khan's reduced fine that was premised on her receiving guidance by WP leaders to lie.
The second motion called on Parliament to agree to refer Mr Singh as well as WP vice-chair Faisal Manap to the Public Prosecutor. It also seeks to defer any parliamentary sanctions on the duo and Ms Lim with regard to Ms Khan's lie, until the conclusion of any investigations and possible criminal proceedings against Mr Singh.
Both motions were passed, with Mr Singh and the WP MPs supporting part of the first motion, and voting against the second motion.
Ms Khan had on Aug 3 claimed to have accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station, where officers allegedly handled the matter insensitively and drove the victim to tears. She repeated the untruth on Oct 4. She has since resigned from her MP seat and from the party.
The matter was referred to the Committee of Privileges, which after hearing evidence from Ms Khan and other witnesses, including the WP leaders, concluded that Ms Khan should be fined $25,000 for her first lie. For repeating the lie, the committee called for a $10,000 fine as it said she was then acting under the guidance of the three party leaders.
The panel also said Mr Singh and Mr Faisal should be referred to the Public Prosecutor for investigations to consider if criminal proceedings ought to be instituted.
The panel had determined that Mr Singh had lied while giving evidence under oath and that this could amount to perjury, and that Mr Faisal's refusal to answer questions could amount to contempt of Parliament.
At the start of the debate, Ms Indranee noted that the ability to speak freely in Parliament is one of the most powerful privileges in a parliamentary democracy such as Singapore, but this must be done responsibly and not abused.
Speaking next, Mr Singh rejected the committee's conclusions that he had guided his party's former MP Raeesah Khan to lie to Parliament last year, and that he had committed any offences as part of his role in the entire affair.
He acknowledged that he had given her too much time to clarify the lie, and said he had done so because he was sympathetic to how she had been a sexual assault victim.
PM Lee, in his speech, underlined the gravity of the matter before the House, noting that for Singapore's system to work, people must be able to respect the institution of Parliament and trust its members, processes and proceedings.
That is why the right norms of behaviour among MPs have to be guarded carefully, foremost being to tell the truth always and to do right by Singapore, even when - and especially - if it is hard or awkward, he said.
"If something goes wrong, or something wrong has been done, own up and take responsibility - do not hide, dodge, or spin further lies, to obfuscate and cover up the original fib," Mr Lee said as he called on all MPs to vote with their conscience on the two motions.
"The CoP report is long and detailed, but the core issues are few and stark... Online, people call this Raeesah-Gate, after Watergate. And just like in the original Watergate affair, while investigating Ms Khan's transgressions, the CoP unexpectedly stumbled upon a cover-up by WP leaders, even more serious than the original offence," he added.
"Now with the findings before us, it is our responsibility, Parliament's responsibility, for the MPs to take the necessary and appropriate course of action."
Said PM Lee: "If Parliament condones lying among its own members, how can Singaporeans trust the institution of Parliament? If we let flagrant, egregious transgressions pass, it will erode trust in our leaders, respect for Parliament, and support for our whole political system, and Singapore will be heading for trouble."
SEA Games: Marathoner Soh Rui Yong excluded from S'pore contingent to Hanoi
The current situation mirrors the one Soh Rui Yong was in before the 2019 SEA Games. PHOTO: ST FILE
Sazali Abdul Aziz
Correspondent
FEB 16, 2022
SINGAPORE - Top national marathoner Soh Rui Yong has once again been omitted from the list of athletes selected for the SEA Games, despite meeting the qualification mark for two events for the regional meet that will take place in Hanoi in May.
His name was not among the 330 athletes across 29 sports who were given the green light to compete at the biennial competition, which was sent out by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) in a media statement on Wednesday (Feb 16).
The current situation mirrors the one he was in before the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, where he was not selected despite comfortably meeting the qualification mark in place.
The 12-strong selection committee for the Hanoi Games was chaired by SNOC president Tan Chuan-Jin and includes vice-presidents Juliana Seow and Ben Tan; honorary treasurer Lee Wung Yew; Singapore Cycling Federation president Hing Siong Chen; Basketball Association of Singapore president Koh Koon Teck; Singapore Gymnastics president Patrick Liew; SNOC athletes' commission chairman Mark Chay; Sport Singapore chief executive officer Lim Teck Yin; Tan Chen Kee from the Ministry of Education; lawyer Lau Kok Keng, and billionaire chairman of professional football club Lion City Sailors Forrest Li. The latter five are co-opted members.
In response to ST queries, an SNOC spokesman stressed that its selection criteria "has been well-publicised and communicated" to all national sports associations, including Singapore Athletics, since 2020.
"Such criteria include meeting objective qualifying standards, as well as non-performance related standards and qualities such as attitude and behaviour towards coaches, fellow athletes and officials (whether in relation to sporting matters or otherwise), conduct and character which may affect the reputation, image, values or best interests of the athlete or the sport, and the ability to demonstrate team spirit and work well with teammates and officials," the spokesman noted.
The SNOC, added the spokesman, rejected SA's nomination for Soh's participation because his conduct "fell short of the standards of attitude and behaviour the SNOC expects of and holds its athletes to", which it had also stated in 2019.
The spokesman added: "Since then, Soh's conduct and behaviour has continued to fall short of those standards.
"There has been no attempt by him to make amends, correct or apologise for his conduct and behaviour. Instead, there have been continued and persistent actions by Soh to challenge, mock, threaten and/or disrespect organisations and individuals including the SNOC.
"The SNOC views such conduct and behaviour as unbecoming of an athlete that wishes to be selected to represent his country at major Games, and as contrary to the aforesaid requirement of the Olympic Charter."
Soh, who is in London where he is pursuing a law degree, reacted to the announcement by saying his "objective track record speaks for itself".
He also disagreed with SNOC's statement that he made no effort to make amends with them, saying he had in January met with Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who offered to "help mediate (the) situation".
"I will make it clear here, for SNOC and for everyone else," Soh added.
"As far as I’m concerned, any disputes in the past is long water under the bridge for me. I’m happy to make amends and resolve matters, but it takes two hands to clap.
"On my part, apologies for any inconveniences that have arisen from my past actions and apologies that Singapore will once again miss out on a marathon gold medal as things stand. Good luck to the rest of the team competing in Vietnam."
Soh, who won back-to-back marathon gold medals at the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games, had met qualification marks for the 1,500m and marathon events in Hanoi with times - 4min 05.19sec and 2hr 22min 59sec - that bettered the gold medal-winning efforts at the 2019 SEA Games.
He later dropped out of the 1,500m so his place could go to 21-year-old Ethan Yan. Yan was the third-quickest Singaporean to qualify for the event, behind Soh and Jeevaneesh Soundararajah, and each nation is allowed only two representatives in each athletics event at the SEA Games.
But, pending an appeal - which Soh said he would consult Singapore Athletics (SA) president Lien Choong Luen before deciding on - the 30-year-old will now not be headed to Hanoi at all.
In 2019, the SNOC rejected his nomination from the SA, saying there had been "numerous instances" where Soh's conduct fell short of its expectations.
While they did not cite specific instances, the SNOC and Soh have clashed on a number of occasions over issues such as the athlete's breach of regulations regarding the promotion of personal sponsors at the 2017 SEA Games and later, his initial objection to its mandatory requirement to donate 20 per cent of his $10,000 cash payout as reward for his win back to SA for training and development.
The non-selection led to an ugly public spat and even the threat of legal action by both parties, which did not go further.
The Hanoi SEA Games will feature 526 events contested across 40 sports.
Among the noteworthy inclusions for Team Singapore are the national women's football team, which will make a first appearance at the SEA Games since 2003. The men's team, which are seeking a first gold medal at the biennial Games, also earned the nod.
At the last edition in the Philippines in 2019, Singapore's largest away contingent of 659 athletes competing across 48 sports returned with a haul of 53 gold, 46 silver and 68 bronze medals.
The 2015 Games on home soil remains Team Singapore’s best performance (84-73-102) while the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur (58-59-71) is its best away Games.
Soh Rui Yong apologises to SNOC, says he 'could have been more respectful, sensitive' in raising issues
The SNOC and Soh Rui Yong had clashed on a number of occasions over various issues. PHOTO: ST FILE
Sazali Abdul Aziz
Correspondent
Feb 22, 2022
SINGAPORE - Top national marathoner Soh Rui Yong on Tuesday (Feb 22) penned an apology to the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) in a bid to "resolve our differences and move forward in the best interests of Singapore sports".
The 30-year-old was denied a place at the May 12-23 Hanoi SEA Games by an SNOC selection committee last Wednesday, with a spokesman saying it had rejected his nomination as his conduct "fell short of the standards of attitude and behaviour the SNOC expects of and holds its athletes to".
This was also the reason the SNOC had stated in 2019, when it excluded Soh from the list of athletes that went to the SEA Games in the Philippines.
On both occasions, Soh, the national record holder in the marathon and SEA Games champion in 2015 and 2017, had comfortably cleared the qualification time for the event.
However, the SNOC and Soh had clashed on a number of occasions over issues such as the athlete's breach of regulations regarding the promotion of personal sponsors at the 2017 SEA Games and later, his initial objection to its mandatory requirement to donate 20 per cent of his $10,000 cash payout as reward for his win back to SA for training and development.
After SNOC excluded him from the Team Singapore contingent for the Hanoi Games, Soh said he would not appeal against the decision, and vowed to do "self reflecting".
And on Tuesday, he said in posts over his social media platforms that he has fully recognised that athletes representing Singapore should do their best to serve as role models to youth.
"In my view, that includes standing up for what is right, no matter the cost. However, I acknowledge that I could have handled certain disputes in the past differently.
"I could have been more respectful and sensitive in my approach. For that I apologise and will do better," he said.
He stressed that the apology was "not to beg for a place on the SEA Games team" and that it was "purely because I recognise I've not handled certain disputes well in the past... (and) endeavour to do better and grow into a better person in the future".
Soh added he hoped the focus would now turn to the 330 Singaporean athletes who were selected for the Hanoi Games.
"The beautiful thing about sports is that it unites us and should not be a divide instead. I hope we can be united as one as Team Singapore fights to chase the dreams we have all worked so hard for," he said.
Aside from the SEA Games, Soh has also met the qualifying standard for the marathon at September's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the first Singaporean to do so.
However, whether he gets to compete at the Asiad will also hinge on the decision of SNOC's selection committee, which is chaired by SNOC president Tan Chuan-Jin.
Fine quantum for MP disqualification to be raised from $2k to $10k under proposed changes to Constitution
Currently, an MP who has committed an offence and is fined "not less than $2,000" for it will lose his or her seat. PHOTO: ST FILE
Tham Yuen-C
Senior Political Correspondent
Apr 4, 2022
SINGAPORE - The Elections Department (ELD) has proposed raising the fine quantum that will result in an MP losing his or her parliamentary seat, from $2,000 to $10,000, as part of a move to update the disqualification criteria in a broader review of Singapore's electoral processes and legislation.
This was among proposed changes to the Constitution that were introduced in Parliament on Monday (April 4) by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who is also Minister-in-charge of the Public Service.
The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend Article 45 of the Constitution, which sets out the criteria for the disqualification of an MP. The Bill also proposes similar changes to Article 37E relating to the disqualification of members of the Council of Presidential Advisers and Article 72 relating to the disqualification of the members of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.
Currently, under Article 45, an MP who has committed an offence and is fined "not less than $2,000" for it will lose his or her seat.
The Bill proposes to revise this to "not less than $10,000" to account for inflation and to ensure that the amount corresponds with sentences handed down by the courts today for relevant offences.
In a statement on Monday, the ELD said: "The fine quantum of 'not less than $2,000' has not been revised since Singapore's independence.
"Revising the fine quantum from 'not less than $2,000' to 'not less than $10,000' would ensure that the fine quantum is commensurate with fines meted out for offences which are relevant to the integrity of the person, such as tax evasion, corruption, et cetera."
The Bill also proposes expanding the criterion to cover MPs who are convicted in any foreign country. Currently, it covers only convictions in a court of law in Singapore or Malaysia.
"With more Singaporeans living, travelling and doing business in other countries besides Malaysia, convictions in other countries should be included in the disqualification criteria," said the ELD, which comes under the Prime Minister's Office.
These changes will also apply to the disqualification of the President set out in Article 19 of the Constitution.
Article 19 refers to Article 45 and states that a person can be elected as President if he or she "is not subject to any of the disqualifications specified in Article 45".
Another change the Bill proposes has to do with an outdated clause that has to do with disqualification when a person acquires foreign citizenship.
The clause provides an exception for people who have voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a Commonwealth country or the Republic of Ireland, but this is no longer relevant, since a Singapore citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship will be disqualified as an MP, said the ELD.
The department added that the updates to the disqualification criteria are meant to keep them relevant, so that they ensure MPs are "persons with integrity and who adhere to high standards of conduct".
The amendments will apply to convictions by a court of law in Singapore or elsewhere before, on or after the date of that the amendments take effect.
This means that those who were fined at least $2,000 but less than $10,000 and are currently disqualified, will cease to be disqualified once the amendments come into operation, said the ELD.
Police contacting relevant people in probe into possible offences by WP's Pritam Singh, Faisal Manap
This comes after Parliament referred the conduct of WP chief Pritam Singh and vice-chairman Faisal Manap to the public prosecutor. PHOTOS: GOV.SG
Ang Qing
Apr 29, 2022
SINGAPORE - The police have gone through evidence provided by Parliament on the conduct of Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh and vice-chairman Faisal Manap and will now get in touch with people relevant to the case.
This comes after Parliament voted on Feb 15 to refer Mr Singh, who is Leader of the Opposition, and Mr Faisal for further investigations by the public prosecutor over a lying scandal involving former WP MP Raeesah Khan.
The police, in a statement on Friday (April 29), said the move is part of investigations into whether any offences have been committed.
The statement said: “In February, Parliament referred the conduct of Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Faisal Manap before the Committee of Privileges to the public prosecutor, who in turn referred the matter to the police for investigations.
“The police have been going through the evidence provided by Parliament and will now be engaging persons relevant to the case as part of the investigations into the possible offences disclosed.”
Last year, a parliamentary committee was set up to look into lies told by Ms Khan in Parliament on Aug 3 and Oct 4, but had found misconduct by Mr Singh, WP chairman Sylvia Lim and Mr Faisal in the course of its investigations.
The Committee of Privileges is chaired by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and comprises six other People’s Action Party lawmakers, including Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, and WP MP Dennis Tan.
On Feb 10, the committee said Mr Singh and Mr Faisal should be referred to the public prosecutor for investigations to consider if criminal proceedings ought to be instituted.The committee concluded that Mr Singh was the “operating brain” and the key reason why Ms Khan’s lie was not clarified immediately after Aug 8 – when she admitted she had lied to the three party leaders – and why she repeated the lie on Oct 4.
The committee said a WP disciplinary panel consisting of Mr Singh, Ms Lim and Mr Faisal was self-serving and was “engineered” to cover up the three WP leaders’ roles in the matter.
Although Ms Khan had admitted her lie to the three leaders, the panel did not reveal this to other party members.
The WP leaders also did not produce any contemporaneous evidence that supported their version of the disputed facts.
The committee added that Mr Singh was the only WP leader who gave Ms Khan guidance on what to do in Parliament on Oct 4, while Ms Lim and Mr Faisal played a “subsidiary role”.
The committee had determined that Mr Singh had lied while giving evidence under oath and this could amount to perjury, and that Mr Faisal’s refusal to answer questions could amount to contempt of Parliament.
On Feb 15, Parliament voted after a four-hour debate on a motion to refer Mr Singh and Mr Faisal to the public prosecutor.
It also sought to defer any parliamentary sanctions on the two men and Ms Lim with regard to Ms Khan’s lie, until the conclusion of any investigations and possible criminal proceedings against Mr Singh.
This motion was passed, with Mr Singh and the WP MPs voting against it.
Speaking before the vote, Mr Singh said he had no objection to being referred to the public prosecutor and would do his utmost to clear his name.
Lawyer Lim Tean charged with offences including unlawful stalking and criminal breach of trust
Lim Tean is charged with misappropriating $30,000 which had been awarded to a former client, among other charges. PHOTO: ST FILE
Shaffiq Alkhatib
Court Correspondent
May 12, 2022
SINGAPORE - Lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean, 57, was handed five charges in court for multiple offences on Thursday (May 12).
They are for criminal breach of trust, unlawful stalking and acting as an advocate or solicitor without a valid practising certificate.
A search on the Ministry of Law's website reveals he is currently the sole proprietor of Carson Law Chambers.
According to court documents, he allegedly committed criminal breach of trust as a solicitor of the law firm between Nov 14 and Dec 4, 2019.
In a statement on Tuesday, the police said Lim had been entrusted with $30,000 which had been awarded to a former client as settlement in a motor injury civil suit.
Lim is said to have misappropriated the monies.
In an unrelated case, he allegedly stalked a former employee between April and May 2020 by repeatedly sending her flirtatious text messages, causing her distress.
Details about her job were not mentioned in court documents.
Lim is also accused of acting as an advocate or solicitor without a valid practising certificate on 66 separate occasions between April 1 and June 9 last year.
Among other things, on April 19 last year, he attended a court hearing as the legal representative for The Online Citizen (TOC) editor Xu Yuanchen, better known as Terry Xu, in a case involving Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
PM Lee had filed two defamation suits over an article published on the TOC website and separately sued Xu and Ms Rubaashini Shunmuganathan, the Malaysian author of the article.
Last September, the High Court awarded Mr Lee a total of $210,000 in damages.
The Singapore Courts website states that every solicitor who wishes to act in the capacity of an advocate and solicitor must apply for a practising certificate.
It added: "For every practice year, every solicitor must apply for a practising certificate before acting in the capacity of an advocate and solicitor.
"The term 'practice year' means the period from April 1 in any calendar year to March 31 in the next calendar year."
For the current case, Lim was offered bail of $30,000 on Thursday and his pre-trial conference will be held on July 6.
If convicted of criminal breach of trust, he can either be jailed for life or receive a sentence of up to 20 years' jail and fined.
For unlawful stalking, an offender can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to $5,000.
Offenders convicted of being an unauthorised person acting as an advocate or solicitor can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $25,000.
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Briton fined $6,500 for working in Singapore without valid work pass
Stuart Calum Arthur Alistair pleaded guilty to one count of working for a news agency while he was a long-term visit pass holder. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Wong Shiying
May 17, 2022
SINGAPORE - A 36-year-old Briton was fined $6,500 on Tuesday (May 17) after he was found guilty of working here as a freelance producer between November 2015 and July 2016 without a valid work pass.
Stuart Calum Arthur Alistair had pleaded guilty to one count of working for news agency Thomson Reuters, now known as Refinitiv Asia, while he was a long-term visit pass holder.
A long-term visit pass holder can work here only if he has a work pass or a letter of consent issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Refinitiv Asia was fined $5,500 for employing Stuart despite knowing that he did not have a valid work pass.
A second charge which involves him working as a freelance writer for Yahoo! Singapore's news website between June and August 2015 without a valid work pass was taken into consideration for sentencing.
Muhammad Firdianshah Salimat, 30, who introduced Stuart to Yahoo!, was fined $4,000 for his role in abetting the foreigner.
The court heard that Stuart married Singaporean activist Kirsten Han in 2014 and was issued a short-term pass followed by a long-term pass between November 2015 and March 2019.
In August 2015, Refinitiv offered Stuart a job as assistant producer for a year - which involved him helping with video production - with a salary of $4,500 a month.He agreed to the offer but did not sign the contract.
Refinitiv applied for an employment pass on his behalf in August that year but it was rejected by MOM a month later.
The company then applied for a letter of consent which would allow him to work for the news agency, but this was also rejected in December 2015.
While waiting for the letter of consent application to be approved, Refinitiv offered him freelance television and video production work for the same salary of $4,500 a month.
He took up the offer and worked for Refinitiv for more than six months from Nov 25, 2015, to July 8, 2016, and was paid a total of $30,375 for his services.
The accused also worked as a freelance writer for Yahoo! Singapore, where he was paid $100 for each article published.
To get this job, he liaised with Firdianshah who helps online publications connect with freelance writers.
During the negotiation, Stuart told Firdianshah about not having a valid work pass, but the latter still chose to offer him the job.
Stuart on June 27, 2015, signed the employment agreement, which stated that he had to provide three to five pieces of original writing every weekday to Firdianshah, who would vet the pieces before submitting them to Yahoo!.
Stuart earned $700 from writing seven articles between June and August 2015 while Firdianshah received $350.
For each count of working in Singapore without a work pass, Stuart could have been fined up to $20,000 and jailed for up to two years.
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