Workers'
Party's bid to raise funds from public rejected
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Singapore
August 5, 1999
A SINGAPORE opposition party on Thursday sought an assurance from government that the public would not be barred from donating funds to the party, which faces closure due to a large defamation award.
J.B. Jeyaretnam, one of Singapore's opposition members of parliament and secretary-general of the Workers' Party, sought the assurance following a report that the Ministry of Home Affairs would not grant a license to the party to raise public funds.
"Please confirm that the police will not intervene or attempt to interfere in any way with any appeal made by the Workers' Party for donations," he wrote in a letter to minister of state for home affairs Ho Peng Kee.
Jeyaretnam said the party was aware of the law and that if such a license would not be granted, it "will not have anyone going out in public to solicit funds from the public or knock at the doors of homes."
Licenses to collect donations from the public are issued only to charitable causes or community projects, the report said.
The Workers Party faces closure if it is unable to pay damages and legal costs amounting to S$511,000 (U$302,366) over a defamation suit raised by an MP of the ruling People's Action Party and nine other members of the ethnic Indian community in Singapore.
"The Workers' Party's intention to collect funds to pay damages incurred for defaming others can neither be considered a charitable cause nor a worthy community project," Ho was quoted as telling Jeyaretnam in parliament by the Straits Times.
"Public charity should not be exploited to underwrite criminal or civil penalties arising from one's wrongdoing," Ho said.
The High Court is to decide on a petition to wind up the Workers' Party for failing to pay the damages and legal costs.
The Workers Party is the only opposition party in parliament. Under Singapore law, a political party unable to pay debts can be wound up like an insolvent company.
The ministry said it had received Jeyaretnam's letter and was looking into the matter.