Grace Fu: PAP won’t seek Pritam Singh’s suspension as MP amid ongoing legal proceedings

SINGAPORE: The Peoples Action Party (PAP) has released a media statement affirming that they will refrain from seeking the suspension of Pritam Singh, Leader of the Opposition and Chief of the Workers’ Party (WP) as a Member of Parliament (MP) while legal proceedings related to his charges remain ongoing.

Addressing concerns, Grace Fu, the organizing secretary of the ruling party, clarified that there have been inquiries regarding the party’s stance on whether they intend to pursue Singh’s suspension, given his formal charges.

Ms Fu emphasized that PAP MPs will not pursue such action, further stating that the party will abstain from making comments on the case’s merits, as it is currently under judicial review.

“This is in line with parliament’s resolution to defer any sanctions in respect of Mr Singh’s, Ms Sylvia Lim’s and Mr Faisal’s respective roles in the matter of former MP Raeesah Khan’s untruth, until after the conclusion of the investigations and criminal proceedings (if any) against Mr Singh,” she said.

Additionally, Ms Fu highlighted that PAP’s decision aligns with their stance on a motion raised by Ms Hazel Poa, a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) in September 2023.

The PSP motion urged the suspension of then-Transport Minister S Iswaran from his duties as an MP in light of his arrest and investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

However, Parliament ultimately dismissed this motion, opting instead to defer any decision until the conclusion of the corruption investigations against him.

Indranee Rajah, the Leader of the House, stressed the importance of avoiding premature actions by Parliament in such cases, asserting that political motives should not exploit these situations.

During the period when the PSP motion was tabled, both Pritam Singh and Mr Manap were subjects of police investigations.

Ms Indranee highlighted their continued status as MPs without suspension and questioned whether Ms Poa intended to call for their suspension as well.

In response to Pritam Singh’s subsequent charging on Tuesday, Grace Fu emphasized the necessity for Parliament to address any wrongdoing by MPs decisively.

“Parliament must deal rigorously with any MP who has committed wrongdoing, but suspending an MP is a serious action that must be done in accordance with due process of the law and natural justice.”

“Parliament should not prejudge the outcome of the proceedings,” she added.

Pritam Singh to contest charges on alleged perjury in 2021 Privileges hearing

The controversy ignited when former WP MP Raeesah Khan falsely claimed in Parliament in 2021 that she had accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station, alleging that the victim had received insensitive treatment by the police.

After two further misleading statements in Parliament, in August and October 2021, Raeesah finally admitted in November 2021 that her claim was untrue, prompting an investigation that would ensnare Singh and Faisal.

A probe led by the Committee of Privilege (COP) was launched on 27 November 2021 to scrutinize Raeesah’s fabrications.

In February 2022, the Singapore Parliament voted to refer the conduct of Singh and Faisal to the Public Prosecutor, aligning with the committee’s recommendation in its 1,180-page report following the hearings.

Additionally, a fine of S$35,000 was levied against Raeesah, who has since resigned as MP for Sengkang GRC.

After nearly a year of investigation, on 19 March 2024, Mr Singh was charged with two counts of offences under section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act for allegedly providing false answers during his examination by the Committee of Privilege.

Mr Singh, who became aware of these charges on 18 March, is accused based on his testimonies about discussions with former WP MP Raeesah Khan and other party members concerning her false statement to Parliament in August and October 2021.

These offences could lead to a fine of up to S$7,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years. Singh appeared in State Court to plead not guilty to the charges against him.

Advisory Issued to Faisal Manap

While Faisal faced no charges, he received an advisory on 18 March 2024, highlighting the importance of adhering to parliamentary conduct, a reminder of the gravity with which Singapore views the integrity of its parliamentary proceedings.

Singh has vehemently denied the committee’s findings, decrying political bias and expressing his resolve to clear his name, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle amidst Singapore’s charged political atmosphere.

The 47-year-old requested a four-week adjournment to secure legal representation. A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for 17 April.