Raeesah Khan's resignation relieves pressure on Workers' Party after she lied in Parliament, say observers

Ms Khan was referred to the Committee of Privileges for breach of parliamentary privilege after mendacity in Parliament in regards to the particulars of a sexual assault case, which she had claimed was mishandled by the police.During WP's movement on empowering ladies on Aug 3, Ms Khan stated she had accompanied a 25-year-old girl to make a police report three years in the past, and that the sufferer had come out crying as a result of a police officer allegedly made feedback about her dressing and the truth that she had been ingesting.Ms Khan was pressed in Parliament for more particulars in order that the police may examine, however she refused, citing the necessity for confidentiality. She didn't reply to requests from the police to supply particulars on the sexual assault case, the police stated.On Nov 1, Ms Khan admitted in Parliament that she was "not present with the survivor in the police station as I described", and that she needed to retract the allegations in opposition to the police.Following that, the Committee of Privileges began wanting into her admission, and the WP shaped a disciplinary committee to conduct a separate investigation.On Tuesday, Ms Khan advised occasion chief Pritam Singh that she meant to resign, hours earlier than the occasion's Central Executive Committee (CEC) was scheduled to satisfy and talk about the panel's suggestion. Ms Khan additionally attended the CEC assembly and conveyed her want to resign.

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL DECISION

Associate Professor Eugene Tan at the Singapore Management University (SMU) stated the resignation presents Ms Khan as taking accountability for her actions, and that the occasion has zero tolerance for such conduct."Resigning is a more graceful option for WP and Ms Khan," he stated, calling it a "win-win" end result for each the occasion and her.Associate Professor Bilveer Singh, a political science professor on the National University of Singapore, agreed that the end result was mutually useful."(Ms Khan) is a social media person. She must have seen the antipathy towards her since the thing started. So, if you're a political animal, then I think you must have seen how hostile the ground has become," he stated."So, there's a personal level there to get out while there's an opportunity to do so without being punished, hopefully."By resigning, Ms Khan is "taking away ... the target" on the Workers' Party, after her actions have been criticised by the general public, stated Dr Felix Tan, a political analyst at Nanyang Technological University (NTU)."It takes away the pressure on the party itself and puts it upon herself. So, I think she's saving some face for the Workers' Party," he added.Assoc Prof Singh believed that her resignation was a part of a "damage limitation exercise" to make sure the occasion was "not hurt as much as possible"."The longer she stays in the party, the longer she remains as an MP, the more she will hurt the WP," he stated."To say it's her own decision (to resign), maybe, but I think it's more than her own decision, I'm very sure," he added.While the WP talked about that Ms Khan had meant to resign, Assoc Prof Tan didn't low cost the likelihood that the occasion gave her "an ultimatum" to resign or be sacked."There is probably some pressure to ask her to resign, I think that is the best way forward," NTU's Dr Tan stated. "Probably, the party did not want to be seen to be too draconian, to like fire her or to get rid of her."Still, Dr Tan stated the WP may have given her an choice to remain on and "do her best in trying to move forward from the incident". However, he believes that resigning was the higher choice, given the severity of her admission."There is a moral kind of situation over here because you are lying, and it is not as easy as if you were blindsided or did not know what you were getting yourself into," he added. "If you lie, there was an intent to begin with, so it doesn't bode well."Assoc Prof Singh stated Singaporeans maintain integrity in very excessive regard. "So if you undertake, and then you admit you've done it, then it's time to go," he added.If Ms Khan continued being in Parliament, the WP may doubtlessly be subjected to heavy scrutiny that may distract from its legislative agenda, Assoc Prof Tan stated."(The episode) is a setback but not one that the WP cannot manage. Their political cachet as the leading opposition party remains salient and will tide them over," he added.

"SMALL BLIP" FOR WORKERS' PARTY

Dr Tan stated the WP has survived comparable incidents earlier than, like when it expelled its former Hougang SMC MP Yaw Shin Leong from the occasion in 2012 after he failed to clarify allegations of an extramarital affair with a fellow occasion member."That was far worse than what Raeesah has done. In terms of morality, adultery is not really condoned in Singapore society," Dr Tan stated."So there were incidences that Workers' Party still managed to survive and still maintain support. I think this is probably just a small little blip. And I do hope that it will be a small little blip on their track record, so that they still can continue to do good work."Assoc Prof Singh additionally known as it a "small blip", saying that this stuff are anticipated in politics."Whether it's corruption, extramarital affairs or in this case just not telling the truth, which is actually to me very stupid," he stated."So, for many people, it might not be as fatal as extramarital affairs or corruption."Ms Khan's resignation may even enhance the management of occasion chief Pritam Singh, stated Assoc Prof Tan, highlighting similarities with how then-WP chief Low Thia Khiang dealt with the case involving Mr Yaw."It will stamp his authority ... The approach is similar: Cut the losses so that no WP MP will be a political liability and reduce the impact and, if possible, earn brownie points for the way the party dealt with the misconduct," he stated.Had Ms Khan accomplished her time period as MP, Assoc Prof Tan recommended that her conduct would crop up on the subsequent General Election, which should be held by August 2025."With more than 3.5 years left of the term, Ms Khan's misconduct will be less likely to feature on the campaign trail in 2025," he added.Dr Tan felt that the difficulty would resurface at the subsequent election, "knowing how Singaporeans are like and how our political landscape is"."These sorts of issues will come back to haunt the political parties no matter when or where it is," he added. "But I think (the resignation) minimises the fallout so ... the political party can move on from this incident and nip it in the bud."

WHAT NOW FOR SENGKANG?

Nevertheless, Dr Tan stated WP's three different MPs in Sengkang GRC – He Ting Ru, Louis Chua and Jamus Lim – must work "really hard" to galvanise assist from Ms Khan's ward of Compassvale.The Court of Appeal dominated in 2019 {that a} by-election doesn't must be known as when a single emptiness arises in a GRC, because it dismissed an enchantment to carry a by-election in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC after Madam Halimah Yacob resigned to run for president.In its Facebook put up saying Ms Khan's resignation on Tuesday, WP stated it might maintain a press convention on Thursday to share its plans on guaranteeing that Sengkang residents "continue to be cared for and represented"."A lot more work ahead for the Workers' Party members in Sengkang," Dr Tan stated. "Not just the MPs themselves, but also the (other) Workers' Party members and ... the supporters to help out and take over the role of Raeesah Khan."Assoc Prof Tan stated the WP may "deploy" its former MPs Mr Low and Mr Png Eng Huat in Compassvale to "beef up" its floor presence there and display that "normal service" has resumed.The occasion may even must display that residents in the constituency shall be "adequately represented inside and outside Parliament"."The WP will be sure to ensure that the residents do not feel that they have been let down, such as in estate management issues," he stated.Assoc Prof Singh stated Sengkang residents will choose the WP's response not by what it says however by what it does on the bottom."You need to double up to be seen to be doing more for Sengkang," he stated, noting that the youthful residents are "very critical", "very analytical and very demanding"."So, I think delivering on the ground, not with words, is going to be the ... litmus test of how good the Workers' Party is and whether it's worth re-electing such a party in the next election."