Petition

Mr Speaker: Presentation of Petition. The Non-Constituency Member Mr Leong Mun Wai wishes to present a Petition. Mr Leong.

Mr Leong Mun Wai (Non-Constituency Member): Speaker, Sir, I present to this Parliament a Petition from Mr Howe Wen Khong Rocky, Mr Xu Yuan Chen and others of like opinion. Including the two petitioners named above, there were a total of eight valid signatures.

The petitioners allege that the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill contains extremely broad definitions that serve as a catch-all for a wide range of legitimate activities. They are concerned that the Bill proposes vast powers for the Minister for Home Affairs to issue directives to censure online content and criminalise the financing of online media platforms.

Further, the Bill allows the designation of Politically Sensitive Persons, which, once designated, would require adherence to a range of onerous reporting obligations and affect their right of free association. Yet, the avenues of appeal pertaining to powers within the Bill are limited and judicial review in open Court restricted to only procedural matters.

If enacted, the law will have serious ramifications for multiple stakeholders and large sections of society, including academia, business, civil society and the media.

Singaporeans have an interest in a law that is more resistant to the potential for misinterpretation, misapplication, or even abuse, in future.

The petitioners ask for a delay in the passage of the Bill into law, pending greater and more extensive public consultation, and the referral of the Bill to a Select Committee to consult and deliberate on the appropriateness and necessity of the measures included.

Apart from the eight signatories, the online petition with the same demands has garnered signatures from 39 civil organisations and 7,419 individuals as of 10.30 am this morning.

The petitioners pray that the hon Members of this Parliament take steps to:

(a) delay passage of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill into law, pending greater and more extensive public consultation on the implementation, effects and implications of the Bill for the general public; and

(b) refer this Bill to a Select Committee for further consultation and deliberation on the appropriateness and the necessity of the measures contained within the Bill, with adequate representation from a variety of stakeholders."

Sir, the Petition has been handed to the Clerk at the Table. [Please refer to Annex 1.] Thank you.

Petition handed to the Clerk at the Table.

Mr Speaker: Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I support, and the Workers' Party supports, the call to allow the Public Petitions Committee to review the Petition.