Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh was found guilty on Feb 17 of two counts of lying to the Committee of Privileges. -- ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
SINGAPORE (the Straits Times/ANN): Singapore Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh said he intends to contest in the upcoming general election, in his first remarks after being convicted on Feb 17 for lying to a parliamentary committee.
“I will be running for the general election,” the Aljunied GRC MP told reporters outside the State Courts after he was fined the maximum of $7,000 for each of his two charges – $14,000 in total.
Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan found Singh guilty of two counts of lying to the Committee of Privileges, making him the first sitting opposition MP to be convicted of a criminal charge in almost 40 years.
The first charge was for claiming that on Aug 8, 2021, he had wanted Ms Raeesah Khan to clarify her lie in Parliament at some point.
The second was for telling the committee that he had advised Ms Khan on Oct 3, 2021, to admit her lie in Parliament, one day before she doubled down.
Singh, who is Leader of the Opposition, said he has instructed his legal team to file an appeal and to look into the written judgment in closer detail.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said his intention to stand for election is consistent with legal advice confirming that he will not be disqualified from doing so.
The case had raised questions about Singh’s political future. Under the Constitution, an individual fined at least $10,000 or jailed for at least one year is disqualified from standing for election or holding a parliamentary seat for five years.
Responding to queries on Feb 17, the Elections Department (ELD) confirmed that Singh’s sentence does not reach the threshold to disqualify him as an MP.
ELD said disqualification is based on the sentence imposed for a single offence, and sentences for separate offences cannot be added together.
When asked how the verdict will impact his political career, Singh said: “I’m not a soothsayer, I can’t tell you what the election results will be like. But I intend to contest the general election, and we’ll see what happens. You can ask me that question again on Polling Day.”
On whether his conviction might force him to consider stepping down, Singh replied: “Well, I think the need of the hour is for me to step up, not step down.”
He added that the election would not be an easy one. The WP will have to fight hard, and “that’s what we will do”, he said.
Asked whether his conviction has affected the party’s morale, Singh said: “The party’s morale, as far as my reading is concerned, is not affected.”
In a media statement, WP chairwoman Sylvia Lim said the party is no stranger to challenges and will rise to the occasion, as it has done many times in the past.
“We are grateful to all who have stood by us through good times and bad, and will continue to work to earn the support of all Singaporeans,” she added. - The Straits Times/ANN
