SINGAPORE - Fourteen inactive political parties in Singapore have been deregistered, as they have not met their obligations under the Republic’s foreign interference laws.

These parties, whose cessation was published in a notice in the Government Gazette on Dec 4, include Barisan Sosialis – once Singapore’s largest opposition party – and United People’s Party, which was founded by former PAP leader Ong Eng Guan in 1961 following his expulsion from the PAP.

Following this deregistration process, there are now 20 registered political parties in Singapore, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which the Registry of Societies comes under, told The Straits Times in response to queries.

In August, the registrar sought proof via a notice in the Government Gazette of the existence of the 14 inactive parties as they had not complied with the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica).

Under the law, all political parties here are categorised as defined politically significant persons, and have to meet annual requirements related to donations, volunteers, leadership and affiliations.

For instance, they have to report single donations of $10,000 or more, and are prohibited from receiving donations from foreigners. Individuals also need to disclose whether they have been granted migration benefits, such as honorary citizenship or permanent residency, by foreign governments.

MHA told ST then that the 14 political parties had not complied with their reporting obligations, possibly because they have ceased to exist, and that the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures, another unit under it, had been unable to contact them.

The Registry of Societies therefore began the cessation process under the Societies Act, publishing a notification in the Gazette calling upon the parties to furnish proof of their existence within three months.

On Dec 4, MHA told ST that in the three months, none of the 14 political parties had furnished proof of their existence.