Committee of Privileges Hearing on 15 December 2021 – Mr Pritam Singh

Committee of Privileges Hearing on 15 December 2021 – Mr Pritam Singh

The Committee of Privileges Hearing on December 15, 2021, focused on allegations against Mr. Pritam Singh, the Leader of the Opposition and Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party (WP). The hearing examined whether he had misled Parliament regarding the party’s actions related to the alleged violations of the law by former WP MP, Raeesah Khan.

During the hearing, Mr. Singh was questioned about his knowledge of Ms. Khan’s false parliamentary statements and the WP’s response to the situation. He maintained that he had acted in good faith, asserting that he was not aware of the falsehoods until after Ms. Khan’s admission. The committee assessed the implications of his testimony, evaluating the broader issues of accountability and transparency within Parliament.

The hearing concluded with a recommendation for further investigation into the matter, underscoring the importance of maintaining the integrity of parliamentary proceedings. The proceedings highlighted the delicate balance between political accountability and the principles of fair representation in the legislative process.

TimestampKey Moments of the Committee of Privileges (COP)
2:06Pritam confirmed that all MPs have a responsibility to declare the truth, and he told Raeesah that if she spoke up after the 3 October, it would be the truth. 
2:23Raseesah will determine the timing, but Pritam has made it clear that she will speak the truth when the time comes.
4:08After Minister Shanmugam gave his ministerial statement and sought clarification, Pritam believed that only one outcome would result, namely Raesah would stand up and tell the truth.
4:27Pritam agreed that he had given Raeesah a choice as to whether or not he would reveal the truth.
15:23Pritam agreed to the meaning of “Your call” was up to Raeesah to tell the truth or not.
17:17Pritam agreed that he gave Raeesah a choice to tell the truth.
19:11Based on the context of the notes given on 29 October, Pritam may be describing Raeesah as being certain she will tell the truth differently from the words “Your Call.”
27:16Agreed with Ms Loh’s interpretation that Pritam gave Raeesah the choice but she acted independently.
29:54Pritam agrees that he told Raeesah that it is “your call”.

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