Could the Workers' Party have handled the Raeesah Khan incident better?

On Aug 3, Ms Khan gave a speech in Parliament saying that she had accompanied a sexual assault sufferer to the police station and alleged that the police had mishandled the case.About a week later, after being "repeatedly pressed" on the matter, she instructed WP leaders about "new facts and disturbing personal revelations", together with her personal sexual assault case, Mr Singh instructed reporters on Thursday. Mr Singh, WP chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap had been knowledgeable of the lie.Of "immediate concern" to Mr Singh was that Ms Khan had not beforehand knowledgeable her household that she was a sufferer of a sexual assault, he mentioned."In view of a sexual assault and my assessment of her state of mind, I was prepared to give her the space necessary to address the matter with her loved ones," he mentioned.But she was instructed that "any parliamentary clarification on this matter was hers to make in her capacity" as an elected MP.Ms Khan didn't attend Parliament in September as she had shingles. At the subsequent sitting in October, Ms Khan declined to disclose more particulars regardless of being pressed by Law and Home Affairs Minister Ok Shanmugam.She claimed she had not been profitable in contacting the sufferer.This account was "wholly inconsistent" with the revelations that she shared with the celebration leaders in August, Mr Singh mentioned on Thursday. He added that "almost immediately" after this sitting, Ms Khan agreed with celebration leaders that she needed to set the report straight.On Nov 1 in Parliament, Ms Khan admitted that she had lied about accompanying the sexual assault sufferer to a police station, and retracted the allegations towards the police.

"SHOULD NOT TAKE THREE MONTHS"

Dr Koh mentioned many individuals will perceive that Ms Khan wanted time to settle her private points, provided that she cited this as a motive behind her deceptive assertion in Parliament."But that is balanced against ... how much time is needed," she instructed CNA on Friday, acknowledging that Ms Khan had shingles in September."But really, this is quite a serious matter of misleading Parliament ... So if it's so serious, yes time might be given, but you would imagine that should not take three months (for the truth to emerge)."Dr Koh mentioned the "sharp point" was when Ms Khan repeated the untruth "in front of her party leaders" throughout the sitting in Parliament in October."By that time, they could very clearly have just called a press conference and used their own platform and set it straight. And then wait for the next parliamentary sitting and also put it on parliamentary record," she added.When requested about Mr Singh's assertion that it was as much as Ms Khan to right her assertion, Dr Koh mentioned: "She needed to set the record straight, but she couldn't take three months about it, and certainly not lie again.""If she couldn't do it in a timely manner, and yet go on to reiterate the untruth, then how is that reasonable anymore?" Dr Koh requested."So I think that the Committee of Privileges is going to take this very seriously ... They will probably issue a penalty, even if they waive it, they have to make a statement that such behaviour is not acceptable."Ms Khan was referred to the Committee of Privilege on Nov 1 for breach of parliamentary privilege. The committee will proceed to look into the criticism towards Ms Khan, the Office of the Clerk of Parliament mentioned on Dec 1 after her resignation.

"THREE MONTHS IS NO BIG DEAL"

Assoc Prof Singh disagreed that WP ought to have revealed Ms Khan's untruth instantly after celebration leaders knew about it.He instructed CNA on Friday that "each political party has got its own process of managing issues like this"."Ms Khan did not act fast, she acted a bit late. But to me, three months is no big deal," he mentioned."I think the sexual assault part needed to be managed at the family level. All this requires time," he added. "She was ill, then how to deal at a family level that she had been assaulted before ... I think Pritam would have seen the bigger picture and said 'okay', but I think after November that was it."Assoc Prof Singh mentioned it was clear from WP's press convention that the celebration wouldn't help Ms Khan's untruth, and that she would have needed to resign or be expelled ultimately.On Mr Singh leaving Ms Khan to set the report straight, Assoc Prof Singh mentioned: "She is not a small girl, she is an MP. So how do you deal with an MP? Probably, Pritam and the WP leadership must have felt that she is a responsible officeholder and she will be able to do something in a way to save her and save her party."If the WP had "gone out and hurt" Ms Khan, Assoc Prof Singh mentioned there may have been a "backlash from the public", and that the celebration may have been seen as "oppressive" and "very authoritarian"."So, I don't think Pritam wanted to appear like that. I think he wanted to appear consultative. He was clear that 'I'm not going to support your lies'," Assoc Prof Singh added.

HAS WP'S CREDIBILITY BEEN AFFECTED?

When requested how the WP's dealing with of the episode would have affected its credibility, Assoc Prof Singh mentioned the celebration would have to "work very hard to regain the confidence of Sengkang voters".MP Faisal Manap (WP-Aljunied) will help the remaining Sengkang GRC MPs He Ting Ru, Louis Chua and Jamus Lim, who will every take over part of the Compassvale ward vacated by Ms Khan.But Assoc Prof Singh mentioned he desires to see WP's heavyweight figures like Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim and Lee Li Lian to "boost up and bump up" WP's presence in Sengkang."Sometimes, shocks like this (the incident involving Ms Khan) are good for everybody," he added.Dr Koh mentioned the public will give the WP "some concession" as it's an opposition celebration "fighting hard"."On the other hand, it's difficult to give them that concession because the public will feel this is a serious matter dealing with the integrity of its leaders," she mentioned.