Workers’ Party Has Formed a Disciplinary Panel to Look Into Raeesah Khan’s Lying Incident

After Raeesah Khan’s bombshell speech in Parliament yesterday, the memelords have busying themselves with memes like these:

With the MP so closely associated with her party, it’s no surprise that people have to bring her party into the conversation.

And now, the party has responded.

Workers’ Party Has Formed a Disciplinary Panel to Look Into Raeesah Khan’s Lying Incident

This afternoon, Workers’ Party said in a statement that its Central Executive Committee (think of them as the management team) has approved the formation of a Disciplinary Panel to look into the admissions made by MP Raeesah Khan in Parliament on 1 Nov 2021, arising from an earlier speech made by the MP in Parliament on 3 Aug 2021.

The Panel comprises Secretary-General Pritam Singh, Chair Sylvia Lim and Vice-Chair Faisal Manap.  The Panel will report its findings and recommendations to the CEC after it completes its work.

To add on, they said that that the work of the Party’s Disciplinary Panel is separate from any decision the Committee of Privileges of Parliament may make.

In other words, Ms Khan might facing disciplinary actions not just from the Parliament, but from her own party as well.

Breaching Parliamentary Privilege

After her admission yesterday, the Leader of the House Ms Indranee Rajah lodged a complaint against Ms Khan for uttering untruths in Parliament as she was deemed to have breached her parliamentary privilege.

For those who don’t know, parliamentary privilege allows MPs to speak freely on issues without fear of legal consequences.

As a result, Ms Khan has been referred to the Committee of Privileges, which is made up of eight MPs.

Ms Indranee and Mr Shanmugam will recuse themselves from the case, meaning the committee will comprise:

  • Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin
  • Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu
  • Minister for National Development Desmond Lee
  • Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli
  • MP Don Wee (PAP-Chua Chu Kang)
  • MP Dennis Tan (WP-Hougang)

If found guilty of engaging in “dishonourable conduct, abuse of privilege or contempt”, as stated in Section 20 of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act, Parliament can:

  • commit Ms Khan to a prison term not extending beyond the current session of Parliament
  • impose a fine not exceeding S$50,000
  • suspend Ms Khan from Parliament for the remainder of the current session or for any part

Ms Khan can also be reprimanded by the Speaker.

Suffice to say, things aren’t looking good for the first-term MP.

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Featured Image: YouTube (CNA)