My speech during the Committee of Supply Debate (Ministry of Home Affairs), 29 Feb 2024.
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 (FICA).
MHA said that Mr Chan has “shown susceptibility to be influenced by foreign actors, and willingness to advance their interests”. I understand there are other Singapore residents who are publicly known to be associated with foreign political organisations, but have not been designated as PSPs.
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?
I understand the Ministry might be reluctant to be too transparent about the criteria to prevent people from circumventing the FICA provisions. However, MHA should provide better guidance to the public on where the out-of-bound (OB) markers are, so that they can avoid becoming unwitting agents of foreign influence and interference.
