S’pore opposition leaders appeal for financial aid

SINGAPORE: Leaders of Singapore’s only parliamentary opposition party have appealed to supporters for financial help, saying they face the risk of bankruptcy as costs mount in civil cases they are fighting.

The three officials are being sued by two town councils controlled by the party between 2011 and 2015 for more than S$30 million (RM90 million) in damages.

The councils say the trio failed in their fiduciary duties – claims the defendants say are unfounded.

The three can lose their parliamentary seats if declared bankrupt, which will cut the party’s seats to six in the 100-seat assembly.

“We need financial resources to fight the legal battle and to deal with the prospect of being made a bankrupt,” party chief Pritam Singh, former leader Low Thia Khiang, and party chair Sylvia Lim said in a joint post on a website set up to appeal for support in their case.

They said they have used personal savings and financial support from friends to pay almost S$600,000 in legal fees and will continue to fight the claims.

Singh took to the witness stand yesterday in the hearing, which is expected to continue until early next month.

The trio are being sued in separate cases by the town councils for wrongful payments made to companies.

In one of the cases, audit reports by accounting firm KPMG said it had found “pervasive” management failures.

Town councils manage public housing developments, including shops and community services within them. – Reuters