Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Details on privileges committee hearings into Raeesah Khan matter remain fluid: Parliament clerk’s office

SINGAPORE — The Office of the Clerk of Parliament said on Monday (Dec 6) that the details ​​regarding its Committee of Privileges’ hearings into the conduct of former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) Raeesah Khan will “remain fluid”, when asked if the WP leaders will be called to give evidence.

Ms Raeesah Khan at a hearing by Parliament's Committee of Privileges on Dec 2, 2021.

Ms Raeesah Khan at a hearing by Parliament's Committee of Privileges on Dec 2, 2021.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — The Office of the Clerk of Parliament said on Monday (Dec 6) that the details ​​regarding its Committee of Privileges’ hearings into the conduct of former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) Raeesah Khan will “remain fluid”, when asked if the WP leaders will be called to give evidence.

TODAY had also asked who else the committee will be calling on to testify in the coming days.

“The committee’s mandate is to thoroughly look into any matter pertaining to the complaint, and will be reviewing the evidence and submissions put before it on an ongoing basis,” the Office of the Clerk of Parliament said.

“Details regarding meetings/hearings as well as potential witnesses will therefore remain fluid.”

Ms Raeesah had testified last week to the committee that party chief Pritam Singh, chairman Sylvia Lim and vice-chairman Faisal Manap had told her there was no need to clarify her lie in Parliament about accompanying a sexual assault victim to the police if she and the party could get away with it.

Ms Raeesah, who was MP for Sengkang Group Representation Constituency, had admitted on Nov 1 to lying about the account, prompting Leader of the House Indranee Rajah to file a complaint against her.

In its response to TODAY's queries, the Office of the Clerk of Parliament said the committee can summon any person to appear before it to give evidence at any time before the conclusion of its report.

Besides Ms Raeesah, an aide and a WP volunteer also testified last week.

The committee presented a special report on the case to Parliament on Friday and released it late that day.

WP had said on Sunday that it is “prudent” for it to respond to Ms Raeesah’s testimony “at the appropriate forum and juncture”.

The party also noted that the special report by the committee did not take the evidence of WP leaders, even though “serious allegations have been made”.

“The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Pritam Singh, had made it clear on Dec 2, that he is prepared to give evidence before the Committee of Privileges," WP said.

The Office of the Clerk of Parliament reiterated on Monday that while the committee will present its final report to Parliament in due course, it will also keep Parliament informed of the progress of its investigations in a “timely manner when appropriate”.

The committee may, at any time during its proceedings, make a special report to Parliament on “any matter which it may think fit to bring to the notice of Parliament”.

“For instance, based on the oral evidence heard over Dec 2 and 3 , the Committee presented a special report to Parliament on Dec 3, 2021,” said the Parliament clerk’s office.

“Special reports have also been issued in the past,” it added.

“The committee will continue its investigations into the complaint and will hear further evidence if it sees fit.”

Related topics

Workers' Party Raeesah Khan Parliament Committee of Privileges

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.