THE APOLOGY, AND THE AFTERMATH
Ms Loh also testified about her unhappiness at some of the WP’s actions after Ms Khan told parliament on Nov 1, 2021, that her anecdote was untrue.
The next day, WP issued a statement to say that a disciplinary panel had been formed to look into Ms Khan’s conduct.
On Nov 10, 2021, a message was sent to WP members asking for views on the whole matter.
“I was extremely angry,” said Ms Loh. “I really felt that members had no business giving comments on the matter when they did not know the true timeline of events which was that Mr Singh, Ms Lim and Mr Manap knew she had lied a week after she first lied.”
She sent a message to Singh that same day about the message, saying: “I feel that it’s as plain as day to me and the people involved in her apology that this is a little backwards pedalling.”
She added: “I was of the opinion that the disciplinary panel was performatory. Meaning that it was an action Singh had taken to quell party and public anger on the matter, but it did not have real consequences, so to speak. They weren’t going to take drastic action on her.”
She clarified that she used the term “performatory” to mean “put on a show”.
She said she later told Singh that he should have stepped up and clarified the truth in parliament in October 2021 if he was of the view that that should have been done.
“It’s not just, he’s the leader of the opposition, it’s not just Ms Khan’s responsibility, given he had knowledge that a lie had been done, he also had every opportunity to step up and clarify,” she said.
“I told him that. He was quite upset at me for saying that and sort of pointed at me with a pen and said ‘I went to her the night before I told her-‘ but I cut him off … I only had half an hour and I had many points to go through.”
Singh did not look up at Ms Loh as she said this, instead continuing to take notes.
“I also referenced the fact that he had made a similar mistake in parliament where he plagiarised a speech on the ombudsman and he didn’t face the same punishment. He took my point,” said Ms Loh.
She also mentioned support for Ms Khan from residents and volunteers, saying she “wanted to share my view of her that she is kind and compassionate despite her inexperience” and was willing to face the consequences and rectify her mistake through hard work.
Ms Loh also said she was the one who had felt it was important for Ms Khan to include details of her sexual assault in her statement, and that she also felt Sengkang residents should have been given a chance to vote for their MPs again.
The prosecution completed its questioning of Ms Loh at lunchtime. The hearing will resume in the afternoon with the defence cross-examining Ms Loh.
.jpg?itok=aFZkgaRp "Climate Conversations – Kids ask the darndest questions: Climate edition")
