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GE2020: PAP calls for WP to clarify its stance on Raeesah Khan’s social media posts

Workers' Party Raeesah Khan speaking to reporters at Compassvale Link on the night of 5 July 2020. (SCREENCAP: Yahoo News Singapore)
Workers' Party Raeesah Khan speaking to reporters at Compassvale Link on the night of 5 July 2020. (SCREENCAP: Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE — The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has called on Workers’ Party (WP) to make clear its stand on candidate Raeesah Khan’s social media posts and her candidature for the General Election (GE).

In a press release on Monday (6 July), the PAP said that WP secretary-general Pritam Singh should “state its stand on Ms Raeesah’s posts since she has admitted to making highly derogatory statements about Chinese and Christians”.

Raeesah Begum Farid Khan, 26, is a first-time GE candidate, contesting as part of WP’s team for Sengkang Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

The PAP also asked, “Why does the WP still consider her worthy of consideration as an MP (Member of Parliament)? This is a serious matter, which goes to the fundamental principles on which our country has been built.”

A police report was lodged on Sunday and Saturday about the alleged racially discriminatory nature of Raeesah’s posts. It is not clear when Raeesah made the statements, but posts circulating on social media show screenshots of posts allegedly made by her in 2018.

A police news release about the report stated that Raeesah “allegedly commented that Singapore law enforcement authorities discriminated against citizens, and that compared to other groups, rich Chinese and white people were treated differently under the law”.

In the context of a news article on the City Harvest Church court ruling, Raeesah allegedly commented that Singapore “jailed minorities mercilessly, harassed mosque leaders but let corrupt church leaders free” as well as “questioned who had been paid”.

Raeesah apologised for her comments in person on Sunday night at a media doorstop, where Pritam also said that Raeesah would continue with her campaign and WP would review the matter after the GE.

However, the PAP called for WP to ask Raeesah to make public and review her other posts in the interest of transparency.

“This will allow voters to make a clear assessment of her views, and her suitability to be elected into Parliament.”

“The WP should not ask voters to write it a blank cheque in Sengkang or anywhere else it contests,” it added.

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