Dennis Tan Gives the Workers’ Party a Major Wake‑up Call
What Happened
On the Committee of Privileges’ latest sit‑down, Hougang MP Dennis Tan took the only Workers’ Party (WP) member on the panel a step further than the report suggested. He was “all‑in” against the committee’s final verdict on former Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan’s alleged abuse of privilege.
Key Points from the Meeting
- Voting Dissent: Tan cast a vote against the report’s final version, as well as against the release of videotapes from the December hearings and six earlier special reports.
- Higher Fine Demanded: While the committee had monied the offence at $35,000—$25,000 for the first two missteps and $10,000 for the third—Tan pushed for a whopping $15,000 penalty for the repeated lie, arguing “no mitigating factors” should lower the fine.
- “Slippery Slope” Warning: Tan warned that letting MPs “legitimize” lying under a leader’s guidance would create a dangerous precedent where people could simply blame a senior figure for evasive actions.
- Leadership Role Questioned: He underscored that even if senior WP leaders had nudged Khan to lie, the onus remained on her to refuse and be forthcoming.
- Testimonies Disputed: Tan favored Pritam Singh’s testimony over Khan’s and the testimony of WP cadre Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan, arguing the latter were “too close” to Khan and “might” have been influenced.
Tan’s View on WP Leadership
In Tan’s words, the real fault lay in the timing of the admission: the committee could have sent Khan to Parliament at the right moment. He noted he “did not quite agree” with the evidence from the WP’s own members, preferring the cleaner account from Singh. Yet he wasn’t accusing anyone of lying outright.
Big Picture
While the committee painted a picture of a single, consistent figure of negligence, Tan’s stance calls for stricter accountability—both for the MP and any leaders who might have a hand in shaping the story. He says the principle should stand: if you’re the one who gave the false instruction, the decision to lie is still yours to own.
Read the Full Report
Follow the official disclosure from the Committee of Privileges to see the full details. Keep your eyes peeled for what might follow this public showdown.
