No rift with PAP leadership, says Inderjit

SINGAPORE — Ang Mo Kio GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Inderjit Singh today (July 28) cleared the air over what he described as a “misunderstanding”, and said that there was no rift between him and the People’s Action Party (PAP) leadership. 

Mr Singh’s move to announce his retirement from politics on Facebook following last Friday’s release of the electoral boundaries report – the only PAP MP to do so, so far – prompted PAP organising secretary Ng Eng Hen to allude that what Mr Singh did was “not the best way”, and he also told the media on Sunday that where possible, retiring PAP MPs will introduce the party’s new candidates for the coming General Election. This new approach would be more “deliberate and dignified”, Dr Ng had said. 

Some took Dr Ng’s remarks as a rebuke of Mr Singh’s action but Mr Singh told TODAY that it was a misunderstanding, and he was not aware of any new protocol for announcing his retirement. 

Responding to media queries, Dr Ng also clarified his comments. He said: “When I read that Inderjit was retiring, two thoughts came into my mind. First, that at 55, he had many more years to contribute, and was big-hearted to retire now, so that younger candidates could stand in his place. 

“I have great respect for Inderjit and learnt from his many good speeches in Parliament. He has a heart for the daily struggles of Singaporeans and could put it across in heartfelt and effective ways.  When he spoke, Ministers took note, and followed up.  He was a people’s MP.”

He added: “Second, I thought we should do better than just facebook postings for retiring MPs. After many years of service,  the Party should try to find a more dignified and deliberate way to announce their retirement. So when we announce new candidates, whenever possible, we will do it together with their retiring MPs, that they are taking over. I hope this approach will do justice to the many years of contribution that MPs like Inderjit have given to serve their residents.”  

Separately, Mr Singh also spoke out against an online article, which reposted his old speeches and claimed erroneously in its headline that he had left the PAP. 

Yesterday, a blog called The New Era had posted an article with the headline “Inderjit Singh: Why I left the PAP”.

Without referring to the blog, Mr Singh said on Facebook today: “I read with amusement that some people have taken my old speeches and reposted them with a headline that I have left the PAP.”

He added that he remains a member of the PAP and will be assisting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his election campaign in Ang Mo Kio GRC. 

Mr Singh said that he had requested to step down as a Member of Parliament on Jan 2, 2013, “as I have contributed almost 20 years as an MP and wanted to spend time on my work and family”.