In a recent development concerning Singapore's electoral laws, the Elections Department issued an important clarification on the criteria for disqualifying members of parliament. On Monday, the department stated that under the constitution, members can be disqualified if convicted and fined at least S$10,000 per offence or jailed for at least a year. However, the clarification further noted that if a person is charged with multiple offences, they are not disqualified if the sentence for each offence does not reach this threshold.
This clarification was issued in response to a question raised in parliament back in 2021 by an individual named Khan. The question concerned the specific disqualification criteria for members of parliament, prompting the Elections Department to provide a detailed response.
"The respective sentences for separate offences cannot be added together for this purpose," – Elections Department
On the same day as the statement, Pritam Singh, leader of Singapore's Workers' Party, appeared in court. Singh, dressed in a short-sleeve shirt in the party's signature blue, spoke to the media following his court appearance. While details of the charges or the specific sentence were not disclosed, Singh assured the public of his political future.
"Consistent with the advice I have and that I’ve been given, I will be running for the general election." – Singh
The timing of the Elections Department’s statement coinciding with Singh's court appearance drew significant attention. Although the nature of Singh's charges and sentence remains unspecified, the clarification ensures that his political career remains unaffected by current legal issues, allowing him to continue his pursuit in the upcoming general elections.
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