WP Secretary-General Pritam Singh fails in bid to have case heard in High Court

Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh, 48, has failed in his bid to have his case heard in the High Court, CNA reported on Sep. 9, 2024. Singh faces two charges of lying to a Committee of Privileges over Raeesah Khan's case. The trial is set for 16 days, starting from Oct. 14 to 18, and will be presided over by Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan. Singh is represented by lawyers Aristotle Emmanuel Eng Zhen Yang and Andre Darius Jumabhoy from Andre Jumabhoy LLC.

Background

Singh's lawyers referred to the case of S Iswaran, whose case was transferred to the High Court with both prosecution and defence agreeing to the transfer. They argued that Singh's case holds "strong public interest" and is potentially more impactful than Iswaran's, as it involves charges under an act that extends to all members of parliament. However, the prosecution opposed the application, stating that Iswaran's case was transferred under a different section and had broader implications for civil servants. Deputy attorney-general Ang Cheng Hock emphasised that Singh's case is a "purely factual inquiry" about whether Singh lied to the committee, and that "public interest" refers to what is in the public good, not public curiosity.

Singh's application

Singh's application was initially made under Section 240 of the Criminal Procedure Code, but the prosecution did not agree to this request. Ang stated that Singh should have applied for a judicial review of the prosecution's decision at that point. Instead, Singh's lawyers filed a criminal motion under Section 239 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Under this section, Singh would need to show that he would be unlikely to obtain a fair and impartial trial by the State Courts. Section 239 allows for a transfer if a fair trial cannot be had, if a question of law of unusual difficulty arises, or if the transfer is expedient for justice.

Charges against Singh

Singh faces two charges for allegedly giving false answers on Dec. 10 and Dec. 15, 2021, during an inquiry before the Committee of Privileges at Parliament House. This inquiry pertained to former MP Raeesah Khan, who had lied about a sexual assault case and accused the police of mishandling it. Singh allegedly testified falsely, claiming he wanted Khan to clarify her statements in parliament. If convicted under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act, Singh could face up to three years in jail, a fine of up to S$7,000, or both per charge. The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has indicated it would seek a fine for each charge if Singh is convicted.

Implications and future developments

The failure of Singh's bid to have his case heard in the High Court means the trial will proceed in the State Courts as scheduled. This decision underscores the judiciary's stance on the separation of cases based on their legal and factual complexities. The outcome of Singh's trial could have significant implications for parliamentary conduct and the legal responsibilities of MPs. Observers will be keenly watching how this case unfolds and its potential impact on future parliamentary inquiries and legal proceedings involving public officials.

What started as a polite exchange at a Meet-the-People Session (MPS) on Wednesday evening (Mar 12), spiraled into chaos at the Chong Pang Branch office in Nee Soon GRC.

Law Minister K Shanmugam found himself squaring off against a group of activists who stormed the session with a singular demand: a rhetorical back and forth over the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA)—Singapore’s 2019 weapon against online lies, and Palestine.

Activists branded Shanmugam a “coward,” flashed middle fingers, and clashed with volunteers trying to capture the melee on video.

Who Is Nurul Afiqah?

Enter Nurul Afiqah, aka Afiqah Kamel—a rising star in Singapore’s activist galaxy. By day, she’s a locum staff nurse; by conviction, she’s a megaphone for the downtrodden, tethered to Sick and Tired, a collective amplifying the voices of healthcare workers and patients.

Her first foray into public activism was on Labour Day 2024, Afiqah seized the mic, railing against the paltry wages and grueling conditions plaguing grassroots healthcare staff. But her fire burns beyond the hospital's burn unit—she’s a fierce advocate for Palestine.

Since December 8, 2023, she’s hosted Chapterwise Bookclubs every Friday night, first at Punggol - where she resides, and later on at Our Tampines Hub.

These aren’t your average book chats; they’re curated deep dives into the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Her activist streak flared in February 2024 with a cheeky “Free Airshow Attendee Shaming Service”—a satirical jab at Israel’s role in the Singapore Airshow.

Hungry for bigger waves, she teamed up with seasoned rabble-rouser Suraendher Kumaar, trading quiet defiance for full-on disruption.

The art of disruption

Afiqah’s baptism into disruptive activism kicked off on September 16, 2024, alongside Suraendher, targeting MP Edward Chia’s MPS in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

Armed with pointed questions about Singapore’s alleged ties to Israel’s actions in Palestine, they unleashed a verbal barrage. Chia humored them, and the night ended in a tense “agree to disagree,” with vague promises of follow-ups.

A month later, they cornered MP Sun Xueling—Afiqah’s own Punggol West rep—at her MPS.

The script was familiar: Singapore-Israel ties took center stage, and the back-and-forth felt like a broken record.

By January 2025, REACH, the government’s feedback arm, dangled a closed-door chat. Afiqah and her posse pushed for an open forum but got shut down.

The Playbook

The group, operating under the banner we.the.pofma, developed a clear modus operandi: "raid" MPS sessions, pose leading questions about Singapore-Israel ties, present a petition signed by over 70 people condemning Israel, and share interaction summaries on Instagram.

They’ve rallied the public with a battle cry—join the “ongoing initiative,” complete with talking points, constituency hit lists, and post-raid recaps.

Interactions reviewed by Fathership suggest the group plans to intensify MPS visits in the lead-up to anticipated elections later in 2025.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) tallies over 10 such ambushes across constituencies in recent months. They’ve slammed the group’s antics as disruptive and antisocial, lamenting the hijacking of a forum meant to serve residents.

Afiqah’s rebel alliance

Afiqah’s activism intersects significantly with Suraendher Kumaar (sometimes spelled Kumarr), a veteran activist known for championing workers’ rights, labor issues, minority rights, and the Palestine cause. Suraendher leads we.the.pofma, a seemingly collaborative group tied to prominent activists like Kokila, Kirsten Han, PJ Thum, Jolovan Wham, and Elijah Tay.

His network also includes ties to Leon Perera, a former Workers’ Party member who resigned in 2023 over an infidelity scandal with Nicole Seah. Perera notably served as a keynote speaker at the launch of Suraendher’s People’s Manifesto in July 2024.

Afiqah, through Suraendher Kumar also works closely with SDP Young Democrats.

Afiqah’s on a collision course with Singapore’s status quo, hell-bent on spotlighting the Israel-Palestine saga and picking apart policies like POFMA.

She has opted for disruptive activism because her Chapterwise Book Club meets weren't impactful enough to change the world.

Trading quiet enlightenment for loud MPS ambushes proved disruptive activism is the real spice of life when polite discussion just won't cut it.