Pritam Singh’s comments on court of public opinion are outrageous, wrong, unacceptable: Edwin Tong
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Mr Edwin Tong was speaking on the sidelines of a community event held at the National Community Leadership Institute.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Follow topic:
- Minister Edwin Tong criticised Mr Pritam Singh's view that public opinion outweighs court decisions, calling it "outrageous" and a threat to Singapore's rule of law.
- Mr Singh was fined $14,000 for lying to a parliamentary committee; his appeal is pending, but Mr Tong said the court's judgement must be respected.
- Mr Tong accused Mr Singh of using populist tactics to undermine the judiciary and evade accountability, stressing that no one is above the law in Singapore.
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SINGAPORE – Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh’s statement on the court of public opinion being a bigger court than any court in the world is outrageous, plainly wrong and completely unacceptable.
Minister for Law Edwin Tong said this on Nov 8.
His comments come after Mr Singh said in an episode of CNA’s The Assembly programme
Mr Singh said the Workers’ Party’s respectable performance in the May general election showed what the public thought of his role in the Raeesah Khan case.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event, Mr Tong – who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, said: “Mr Singh was investigated, and then he was charged. He went through a full and open trial and was convicted by the court for lying to a parliamentary select committee.
“The judge gave detailed grounds setting out the basis for the conviction. I think it ran into almost 150 pages. This judgment is, today, valid and binding.”
Mr Tong added: “No one should dismiss or denigrate the court’s judgment or suggest that public opinion can somehow trump a court’s decision.”
Noting that this was a very dangerous idea, Mr Tong said the rule of law is a cornerstone of the system in Singapore so that the country does not have “rule of the mob”.
Mr Singh was fined $14,000 over the two charges
His appeal against the conviction was heard on Nov 4 and judgment has been reserved for a later date.
Mr Singh had successfully defended his parliamentary seat in Aljunied GRC
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh leaving the High Court on Nov 4.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Regarding Mr Singh’s appeal, Mr Tong said the authorities will let the process run its course, and that he will not comment on the case itself.
Mr Tong was speaking at a gallery launch by the People’s Association, held at the National Community Leadership Institute in Buona Vista.
In that episode of the CNA programme that aired on Nov 5, Mr Singh also said that his political opponents would “do whatever it takes” to lower his and his party’s esteem in the public eye.
When asked by one of the neurodivergent panellists about being called a liar because of his handling of Ms Khan’s false anecdote, Mr Singh said this was not something he had lost much sleep over because he was “in the business of politics”.
Responding to his comments, Mr Tong said: “This is the kind of response we have seen all over the world, from populist politicians who attack judges and courts when rulings go against them. They think they are above the law, but this kind of irresponsible politics should have no place in Singapore.
“Singapore is built on honesty and integrity, but Mr Singh is delegitimising our courts with his comments, saying it doesn’t matter what he does – as long as he gets elected.”
Mr Tong said Mr Singh’s comments undermine public trust in Singapore’s system, law enforcement and judiciary, adding that the courts here decide cases based on facts and no one is above the law – even the Leader of the Opposition and any minister.
He added that if Mr Singh had done no wrong, the court will judge and rule as such.
But should the conviction stand, then Mr Singh should accept it fully and take responsibility, said Mr Tong.
Mr Tong noted: “There is no separate court for politicians.”
Responding to Mr Tong’s comment, Mr Singh on Nov 8 said in a Facebook post: “My remarks were not directed at the judicial system, judges or their independence, nor did it denigrate any of these institutions.”
He said there was important context that came before the remark he made about the court of public opinion on the programme.
Mr Singh said the judgment in his ongoing appeal was released in February, while the PAP called for an election two months later
In a Facebook post on Nov 8, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said he agreed with Mr Tong’s view. Reiterating that Singapore’s prosperity and stability are built on the foundations of a fair and just system, Mr Chee said in Mandarin: “We should not undermine the credibility of the court, as it would result in the diminishing of domestic and international trust in the nation’s institutions, law enforcement agencies and judicial system.”
He added that the courts in Singapore are impartial and independent institutions that do not provide judgements based on political factors, and instead do so by looking at facts and the law.
