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Pritam Singh says he's not aiming to be Singapore's next prime minister; Singapore construction family of 4 charged with bribery: Singapore live news
Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh may be a formidable opposition leader, but his sights aren't set on becoming Singapore's next prime minister. In an episode of popular Malaysian political podcast Keluar Sekejap that was uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday (24 June), Singh said his role was to "normalise the idea of an opposition". He said, "I have to have a good finger on the pulse of Singaporeans, I've got to understand what they want. And I've got to understand how they respond to language which reflects ambition."
A couple and their two sons behind a family-run construction firm were charged on 26 June for allegedly giving over $56,000 in bribes to property and condominium managers to advance their business interests. Ong Chin Kee, 66, and his wife Lea Lam Moy, also 66, both directors of OCL Building Services, were charged alongside their sons – project director Jovi Ong Teng Hong, 36, and general manager Jordan Ong Wei How, 30.
Each family member faces 17 corruption charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
A couple and their two sons behind a family-run construction firm were charged on 26 June for allegedly giving over $56,000 in bribes to property and condominium managers to advance their business interests. Ong Chin Kee, 66, and his wife Lea Lam Moy, also 66, both directors of OCL Building Services, were charged alongside their sons – project director Jovi Ong Teng Hong, 36, and general manager Jordan Ong Wei How, 30.
Each family member faces 17 corruption charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
The alleged offences took place between 2018 and 2022 and involved $56,260 to secure advantages for OCL, a company primarily dealing in building construction and upgrading works. Its secondary business activity is listed as painting and decorating.
CPIB also revealed that Ong Chin Kee is facing an additional four charges for allegedly obstructing justice. Between June and November 2023, he is said to have instigated individuals to alter their statements to CPIB. He also tipped off two others about the CPIB's investigation into both the family and the company.
Meanwhile, five individuals who allegedly received the bribes were also charged on the same day.
For more on the Singapore construction family bribery, read here.
Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh may be a formidable opposition leader, but his sights aren't set on becoming Singapore's next prime minister. In an episode of popular Malaysian political podcast Keluar Sekejap that was uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday (24 June), Singh said his role was to "normalise the idea of an opposition".
The podcast is hosted by former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, previously UMNO's information chief.
Khairy referenced a previous conversation he had with Singh where he had expressed the same sentiment that he didn't see himself as an "alternative prime minister", and questioned if there was a "lack of ambition".
"I have to have a good finger on the pulse of Singaporeans, I've got to understand what they want. And I've got to understand how they respond to language which reflects ambition,' replied Singh.
"If that language is not in sync with their broad understanding of what they want out of politics in Singapore, then ambition can be a death knell for any politician in Singapore."
Singh in 2019 established that the party's medium-term objective was to contest and win one-third of the seats in parliament.
He added, "If we accept that Singaporeans are pragmatic, and that there's no demand for a change of government, then going out there flying a flag which says 'I am your prime minister in waiting' is probably, with respect, an act of foolishness."
For more on Pritam Singh's interview, read here.
A couple and their two sons behind a family-run construction firm were charged on 26 June for allegedly giving over $56,000 in bribes to property and condominium managers to advance their business interests. Ong Chin Kee, 66, and his wife Lea Lam Moy, also 66, both directors of OCL Building Services, were charged alongside their sons – project director Jovi Ong Teng Hong, 36, and general manager Jordan Ong Wei How, 30.
Each family member faces 17 corruption charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
The alleged offences took place between 2018 and 2022 and involved $56,260 to secure advantages for OCL, a company primarily dealing in building construction and upgrading works. Its secondary business activity is listed as painting and decorating.
CPIB also revealed that Ong Chin Kee is facing an additional four charges for allegedly obstructing justice. Between June and November 2023, he is said to have instigated individuals to alter their statements to CPIB. He also tipped off two others about the CPIB's investigation into both the family and the company.
Meanwhile, five individuals who allegedly received the bribes were also charged on the same day.
For more on the Singapore construction family bribery, read here.
Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh may be a formidable opposition leader, but his sights aren't set on becoming Singapore's next prime minister. In an episode of popular Malaysian political podcast Keluar Sekejap that was uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday (24 June), Singh said his role was to "normalise the idea of an opposition".
The podcast is hosted by former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, previously UMNO's information chief.
Khairy referenced a previous conversation he had with Singh where he had expressed the same sentiment that he didn't see himself as an "alternative prime minister", and questioned if there was a "lack of ambition".
"I have to have a good finger on the pulse of Singaporeans, I've got to understand what they want. And I've got to understand how they respond to language which reflects ambition,' replied Singh.
"If that language is not in sync with their broad understanding of what they want out of politics in Singapore, then ambition can be a death knell for any politician in Singapore."
Singh in 2019 established that the party's medium-term objective was to contest and win one-third of the seats in parliament.
He added, "If we accept that Singaporeans are pragmatic, and that there's no demand for a change of government, then going out there flying a flag which says 'I am your prime minister in waiting' is probably, with respect, an act of foolishness."
For more on Pritam Singh's interview, read here.
