WP leaders kept prior knowledge of ex-MP's lie from party members: Judge

Workers' Party (WP) leaders knew former WP MP Raeesah Khan had lied in Parliament in August 2021, but they kept this from party members for months.

- Christine Tan and Vanessa Paige Chelvan

Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan, who on Feb 17 found WP chief Pritam Singh guilty of lying to the Committee of Privileges, said that Singh and WP chair Sylvia Lim also kept this knowledge from Mr Low Thia Khiang, the former secretary-general of the party and current central executive committee (CEC) member.

Mr Low found out only in August 2023, almost two years after Ms Lim and Singh sought his advice on how to deal with the untruth.

In a 150-page judgment, Judge Tan described as concerning the conduct of Singh, Ms Lim and WP co-chair Faisal Manap in not revealing to the CEC and other members their prior knowledge of the lie and that Singh was directly involved in guiding Ms Khan after discovering the untruth.

He pointed out conflict of interest issues as well, noting that the disciplinary panel (DP) formed in November 2021 to deal with Ms Khan comprised Ms Lim, Mr Faisal and Singh, the three leaders who had known for some months about the lie.