WP chief Pritam Singh says no regrets on fielding Raeesah Khan, believes candidates should not have to “sanitise their past”

The Workers’ Party (WP)’s secretary-general Pritam Singh said he does not regret fielding Sengkang GRC candidate Raeesah Khan, having observed her work for residents on the ground long prior to the general election period.

Stressing that Ms Khan takes “every case very seriously” when assisting in past Meet-the-People sessions “regardless of race and religion”, Mr Singh told the media — in response to questions on police investigations into Ms Khan’s past social media posts — on Sunday: “She’s very vested into what the resident is facing and what help the person needs”.

“So I think those are very important criteria for me personally to consider someone for candidature — whether you are able to put yourself and walk in the mile of the shoes of someone who needs help in a system,” said Mr Singh.

“I have no regrets for fielding a candidate who is like that, who is prepared to walk with residents to solve their problems and issues,” he added.

Mr Singh assured that Ms Khan will continue campaigning as a candidate in Sengkang GRC and that the party will review the case after the election.

While declining to comment on Ms Khan’s posts due to the ongoing nature of the police investigations, Mr Singh said that it would be a disappointment if WP’s candidates attempted to “sanitise their past”, and that they should be “authentic” towards the public.

“In the event that there are certain posts or certain comments that they may have made which are untoward, then I would expect them to explain themselves.

“And that’s how I think that generation who has lived on social media, from their adolescent years, will have to understand the difference between what you do on social media, and what happens when you move into the public realm,” he said.