5 S’pore citizens declared memberships in overseas political entities under foreign interference law

10 months ago 112

Updated

Apr 03, 2024, 05:00 AM

Published

Apr 03, 2024, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE – Five Singapore citizens have declared their memberships in foreign legislatures or political organisations as of March 1, as required by the Republic’s foreign interference law.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam disclosed this in a written reply on April 2 to a parliamentary question by Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai.

Anyone applying to be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident (PR) is required to declare their membership in professional societies, clubs, associations and other organisations, Mr Shanmugam added. He did not provide more details about the five persons nor which foreign organisations they are part of.

The Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica), a law that empowers authorities here to deal with foreign interference in domestic politics, was passed in Parliament in October 2021. Its provisions came into full force on Dec 29, 2023.

The law requires that Singapore citizens involved in foreign political bodies before Feb 1, 2024, declare their involvement by March 1. Those who become members after Feb 1 have to declare their involvement within one month of joining.

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