SINGAPORE – Singapore’s main opposition Workers’ Party has called for changes to a draft foreign interference law, citing the need for more transparency, after experts and rights groups raised concerns about the bill’s broad provisions.
The government this month proposed the law to tackle foreign interference with powers that include compelling entities such as internet and social media service providers, and those who run websites, to disclose user information, block content and remove applications.
“While the Workers’ Party believes in the legitimate need to counter malign acts of foreign interference, we disagree with the current form of the bill in achieving the said objective,” said the party in a statement late yesterday.
Singapore, a small and open city state, said it is vulnerable to foreign meddling. But, some experts and rights groups have raised concerns about the proposed law’s broad provisions and limitations on judicial review.
The Workers’ Party said its suggested amendments will result in oversight of executive action by the judiciary and a more precise scoping of executive powers to significantly lower the likelihood of power abuse.
The proposed changes will provide “greater clarity and transparency on the identities of the entities and individuals against whom, and reasons for which, any directive, order or decision under this bill is made”.
The Home Ministry has said the law will not apply to Singaporeans expressing political views, unless they are agents of a foreign entity.
Neither will it apply to foreign individuals or publications “reporting or commenting on Singapore politics in an open, transparent and attributable way”, even if critical of the country or its government.
The ministry yesterday said the proposals by the Workers’ Party will be discussed in Parliament next week.
The bill is likely to be passed due to the ruling People’s Action Party’s parliamentary majority. – Reuters, September 30, 2021
