SINGAPORE: Ms Loh Peiying, then secretarial assistant to Ms Raeesah Khan and member of the Workers ‘ Party ( WP ) for a decade, took the stand for the prosecution on Thursday ( Oct 17 ) in the trial against WP chief Pritam Singh.
About a month after Ms. Khan admitted to lying in congress about accompanying a murder victim to a police station, Ms. Loh left the party in late 2022.
Ms. Loh, the co-founder and head of the editor studio Kontinentalist, was engaged in WP’s media activities, including during the 2020 General Election, when Ms. Khan was elected as Sengkang GRC’s member of parliament.
She described her marriage with Singh as “professional”, while Ms Khan called her a” friend” and companion.
Below are 10 essential comments from Ms Loh on day four of Singh’s test, in response to queries from the trial.
1. On why she and Singh kept silent during a conference on August 10, 2021.
Although it may seem silly, ( WP cadre member Yudhra Nathan ) and Ms. Khan shared a common belief that our phones might be hacked or listened to in some way because she believed that state forces were attempting to intrigue her phone a while back.
” Mr Singh even was usually, I guess, worried about this, so truly when I met him I had to hands over my phone and keep it in the drawer behind him.”
2. On what was discussed at a conference on October 12, 2021, Ms Loh and WP army part Yudhishthra Nathan had with Singh.
We initially discussed what factors might apply if ( Ms. Khan ) were to continue to tell the truth or come clean. We discussed the possibility of a by-election following her departure, what kind of abuse or penalties may be applied to her if she revealed the truth, and how to approach the COP.
On our history, we also discussed how the group may be perceived to have this.
We also discussed the difficulty of keeping the rest because it was certain that Minister Shanmugam may pursue the matter until it was addressed so that it could no longer be kept a solution.
3. Ms. Loh to her fears about the Workers ‘ Party’s effect
” I was worried that people had cast a label on the group as one that has no dignity and is full of liars,” I said.” It will certainly affect celebration support and our votes at the next election.
4. On experience” assuaged” by what Mr Low Thia Khiang presumably said
Mr. Singh claimed that he had spoken with Mr. Low Thia Khiang about the situation, that Mr. Low believed that a legislative clarification would be the best course of action, and that the WP would live the sort of conflict that may arise.
We were quite convinced that that was Mr. Low’s selection and advice because we had a lot of faith and confidence in him.
5. On whether the sexual abuse little should be included in Ms Khan’s clarity statement ,
We discussed whether or not to include the notion that she is also herself a victim of sexual assault, something that Mr. Singh felt may be avoided, but I think that’s bad for the party.
6. At the conference on October 12, 2021, the purpose of the rest had to be clarified.
” Minister Shanmugam was n’t going to let it go, which was the main motivation.” That is the primary cause.
” There is also a solid second purpose, and that is for Ms Khan’s own conscience, and also for the party. There was a feeling that she had no way to move forward with this thought-provoking subject.
7. Her opinions on the administrative board that WP established to examine Ms. Khan’s conduct
I thought the administrative panel was performatory, which would mean Mr. Singh had acted in a way that would lessen group and public outcry about the situation but which had no real effects, to be frank.
” They were n’t going to take drastic action on her”.
8. On how she felt Pritam Singh had “underestimated” the effects of the lay
” Throughout the preparation of ( Ms Khan’s ) apology and statement, Mr Singh and quiet, relaxed and of the view that this would blow over, so I really felt that he underestimated the consequences…. Now, he decided to, for the sake of… settling furore on the matter, he needed to be seen to be also upset, and disciplining Ms Khan”.
9. On whether Ms Khan may have told the truth in parliament on Oct 4, 2021, without planning
” No way.
” This rest, seriously, it would have been a surprise to everyone if she had really come out to say,’ yeah, I lied to somebody. ‘
” To come out and tell everyone, especially the CEC, to have some knowledge and planning in advance, and for the party to manage in some form of crisis contacts, the consequences would be very serious to a very high level,” said the group. It was to me, unthinkable”.
10. How Ms Loh told Pritam Singh that he ought to have stepped up and explained the situation.
If Mr. Singh was of the opinion that something should have been done, I told him that he ought to have stepped up and explained the truth in parliament in October ( 2021 ).
” It’s not just, he’s the Leader of the Opposition, it’s not just Ms Khan’s responsibility, given he had knowledge that a lie had been done, he also had every opportunity to step up and clarify. I told him that.
He was angry with me because I had said that, and he kind of pointed his pen at me and said,” I went to her the night before I told her-but I cut him off.”