Singapore Opposition Leader Faces Disciplinary Proceedings

The disciplinary proceedings are the latest fallout from a case that has dogged one of Singapore’s most prominent opposition politicians and raised questions over his leadership of the Workers’ Party, the main challenger to the long-ruling People’s Action Party. Speaking during proceedings that lasted less than 30 minutes on Thursday, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said both the Law Society of Singapore and Singh agreed the threshold for avoiding disbarment had not been met, while the bar for an exception was high. Singh’s lawyer, Chelva Rajah, said his client had always shown “a deep respect” for Singapore’s courts and did not dispute that dishonesty was an essential element of the offences. “He always tries his best to act in good faith,” Chelva said, adding that Singh would continue to do so in whatever capacity remained open to him.