Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Mdm Chair, recently Mr Philip Chan, a Singaporean businessman and former People’s Association grassroots leader, was designated by MHA as a politically significant person (PSP) under the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act, or FICA. MHA said that Mr Chan had shown susceptibility to be influenced by foreign actors and willingness to advance their interests.
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I understand that there are other Singapore residents who are publicly known to be associated with foreign political organisations, but have not been designated as PSPs. Therefore, I would like to request for more details of the Ministry’s criteria for designating PSPs. How does the Ministry assess the risk of foreign interference and the public interest in applying FICA’s measures to PSPs? What are the factors that distinguish Mr Chan from other persons who engage in similar activities but who are not designated as PSPs?
Madam, I understand the Ministry might be reluctant to be too transparent about the criteria to prevent people from circumventing FICA’s provisions, however, MHA should provide better guidance to the public on where the out of bound markers are, so they can avoid becoming unwitting agents of foreign influence and interference.
The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam): Second, Mr Gerald Giam asked about the criteria for designating Politically Significant Persons (PSP) under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act or FICA. The criteria are set out in the Act. The individual must be a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation, or the individual’s activities must be directed towards a political end in Singapore. But in addition to this, there is also the public interest criterion that must be satisfied. So, you could be a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation, but if the public interest criteria is not satisfied, you would not be designated.
Mr Giam asked about the considerations for whether those who are members of foreign bodies will be designated. The deadline for declaring whether a person is a member of a foreign legislative body or foreign political body is actually today, and, as I said, that is just one criterion. The other criterion, public interest, needs to be assessed.
The Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures will look at the facts, consider the relevant matters in deciding whether to designate an individual as a PSP. What would this include? Typically, what the person has done in Singapore, his past actions, statements, conduct, his reach and influence and, especially, how likely he is to be a target of foreign interference or influence, and that would include an assessment of the extent to which he has linkage with the other country. These would be among the criteria. I am not setting this out as exhaustive.
And if there is or there are such individuals in our view, not in all cases, but where appropriate in circumstances where we think it will be useful, we will also have discussions with the individuals, and we will see whether after that there is a need for designation. We will look closely at the activities. So, where possible, where appropriate, we will seek to advise them. After that, we may still assess that it is necessary to designate. If we do, we will designate them.
In respect of the specific individual that Mr Giam referred to, I have to be careful because I am the appellate authority and the period for appeal is not yet over. But I can disclose that we did have some discussions with the individual. He was advised about our concerns. Thereafter, based on the Registrar’s assessment, the Registrar decided to designate him. If he appeals, I will have to look at the facts and make a decision.
The Chairman: Mr Gerald Giam.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: I thank the Minister for responding to my cut. I just have some clarifications for him.
Firstly, each time MHA designates or intends to designate an individual as a PSP, will there always be a public announcement? If not, is the Minister able to share if there are other individuals designated as PSPs, that have not been publicly announced? Secondly, is there a requirement for every Singaporean who becomes a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation to declare it to MHA at each instance?
Mr K Shanmugam: I can confirm that there are no other designated PSPs in the sense that the Member is asking. I have pointed out that MPs are automatically PSPs, for example. As regard to whether we will announce each time, I do not want to tie a future Government’s actions. Where necessary, we will announce it publicly. We think it makes sense to announce it so that Singaporeans are aware and hopefully it also shapes some behaviour. I cannot recall the Member’s second question. Can the Member please repeat it?
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: Second question is whether it is a requirement – if someone becomes a member of a foreign legislature, whether they must declare it themselves?
Mr K Shanmugam: I indicated that there are two different points. You declare if you are a member of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation. In fact, the deadline for declaration is today. But that does not automatically lead to the designation of a PSP. For precise requirements, rather than trying to set it out here, the Act sets it out quite clearly.
Ministry of Home Affairs
29 February 2024
https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=budget-2355
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 