SINGAPORE — The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has refuted claims made by a member it expelled last week, saying in a statement on Monday (May 4) that its funding is in compliance with the Political Donations Act.

The former member, Mr Daniel Teo Weilong, 36, had made a video in which he anonymously accused the party, led by former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock, of being “infiltrated by foreign proxies”.

Last Friday, the party announced that it was expelling Mr Teo, who had confessed to making the video.

In its statement on Monday, PSP said it refutes Mr Teo’s claims and any insinuation that the party had “been infiltrated and funded by foreign sources”. 

“The video content did not point to PSP having received foreign funding and we would like to state categorically that our party's funding is in compliance with the Political Donations Act,” it said.

The party added that Mr Teo had made similar allegations about certain members of PSP’s Central Executive Committee before, without presenting any evidence.

“Our internal investigations showed no such matters and his allegations were dismissed,” the party said. 

Some members of the party who have been implicated in the video have made their own police reports and have sought legal counsel, it added.

“Should anyone wish to make potentially libellous allegations against any member of the party, proper evidence is required. The party does not react to hearsay or rumours,” PSP said.

“PSP stands by the previous statement given on Daniel Teo’s involvement in the video and awaits further updates from the police on the pending investigations.”

The Political Donations Act — which came into force on Feb 15, 2001, to prevent foreign interference in local politics — prohibits political associations and candidates from accepting donations, except from permissible donors, and restricts the receipt of anonymous donations to less than S$5,000 in total per reporting period.

“While the party embraces diversity, there is no tolerance for saboteurs,” PSP said. “Moving forward, the party will not hesitate to expel members that fall short of the party rules of accountability. This is in line with the party's stance and long-term goal in making Singapore a better place for all.”

Before his expulsion, Mr Teo, who works in a marine engineering firm and owns a wellness company, was featured prominently on PSP’s social media engagements and was seen on walkabouts in the Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency.

When contacted on Saturday morning, Mr Teo told TODAY that he made the video “in good interest of the party”, but that his actions had “backfired”.