The Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill, also known as FICA, has drawn criticism from lawyers, NGOs and ordinary Singaporeans since it was first tabled in Parliament on 13 September 2021.
On 27 September 2021, my Workers’ Party parliamentary colleagues, He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim and Leon Perera, and I simultaneously filed 44 amendments to FICA.
This was in keeping with Parliamentary procedure (Standing Order 74), which requires us to give four clear days’ notice of our amendments to the Clerk of Parliament in order to debate them during the Second Reading of the Bill on 4 October 2021.
In brief, our amendments will:
(1) Scope the powers of Ministers and civil servants to prevent overreach and the abuse of power;
(2) Ensure greater transparency on directives issued; and
(3) Provide for robust judicial oversight over decisions made under FICA.
More details of the reasons for our amendments and the full list of amendments can be found in WP’s press release: https://www.wp.sg/amendments-to-the-foreign-interference-countermeasures-bill/
At 249 pages and 127 sections, this is a difficult Bill to understand. Yet, if passed without amendment, it will potentially have a significant impact on free speech and government accountability. I urge all Singaporeans who care about protecting these rights to read more about FICA and follow the debate in Parliament next Monday.
