Recruitment ads for CCP youth branch secretaries at Ngee Ann Polytechnic removed from LinkedIn after queries

SINGAPORE: Two recruitment advertisements posted on a LinkedIn account named “Communist Youth League of China” have raised eyebrows among Singaporean netizens.

The ads, which seek to hire a “Branch Secretary” and “Deputy Party Secretary” for the “Ngee Ann Polytechnic branch”, explicitly outline the responsibilities of overseeing party affairs and advancing the ideological, organisational, and cultural development of the branch.

The role also involves enhancing the development and influence of the Party branch overseas.

Notably, after The Online Citizen (TOC) contacted the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to inquire about the alleged recruitment ad for China’s CCP youth in Singapore, the entire LinkedIn account, along with the recruitment ads, was taken down.

MHA Investigates the Recruitment Ads, Affirms Zero Tolerance for Foreign Political Agendas

MHA informed state media The Straits Times on 24 December that it is aware of the matter and is investigating the case, noting that police reports have been received.

MHA warned that the Singapore government will not tolerate the introduction of foreign political agendas into the country.

“Foreigners visiting, studying, working or living in Singapore should not carry out their political agendas or activities here. We will deal firmly with any individual or group found to be doing so,” it said.

Recruitment Requires Familiarity with Singapore’s Educational Environment and Chinese Community Activities

The job requirements specify that candidates must be official members of the Communist Party of China or the Communist Youth League of China, with “strong political awareness and party ethics.”

A bachelor’s degree or higher, preferably in education, management, or related fields, is also required.

Additionally, candidates should have experience in party work, strong communication and coordination skills, and “familiarity with the Singaporean educational environment and Chinese community activities.”

The job benefits include a competitive salary, opportunities for advanced party-building training and international projects, and a platform for personal development and contribution to party-building efforts.

“We look forward to your application and to advancing the overseas development and innovation of the Party Branch together,” the ad wrote.

Doubts Raised Over the Authenticity of the “CCP Youth” LinkedIn Page

However, the authenticity of the LinkedIn page has raised further eyebrows.

The page has only one post, published last week, promoting “Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,” leading to questions about whether the recruitment ads are legitimate or part of a broader disinformation campaign.

According to ST, a spokesperson for Ngee Ann Polytechnic stated that, as an educational institution, it has no affiliations with any political parties.

The polytechnic has reported the job offers to LinkedIn and requested their removal, the spokesperson added.

The Chinese embassy in Singapore also noted that one of the organisations mentioned in the job listings does not exist in China.

“The information in the two job postings is false, clearly untrustworthy, and unreliable,” it stated.

Singapore Enforces Strict Restrictions on Foreign Political Activities Within its Borders

In Singapore, it is prohibited for individuals or organisations to use the country as a platform for organising or garnering support for foreign political causes or interests.

In August 2017, the Singaporean government canceled the permanent residency of Professor Huang Jing, a Chinese-American academic at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Authorities accused him of acting as an “agent of influence” for a foreign country, engaging in subversion and foreign interference in Singapore’s domestic politics. Huang was permanently banned from re-entering the country.

In July 2019, Singaporean authorities arrested six Myanmar nationals who were accused of using Singapore as a base to mobilise support for armed violence against their government.

The MHA issued a statement to confirm the security action taken against the individuals for mobilising members of the Myanmar community in Singapore to support the Arakan Army (AA) and its political wing. The armed group is seeking independence for Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

At the time, MHA stated that the action was taken against the individuals “for using Singapore as a platform to organise and garner support for armed violence against the Myanmar government”. Such activities, the ministry added, were detrimental to Singapore’s security. The six men were subsequently deported.

In February 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs designated Singaporean businessman Philip Chan as a “politically significant person” under The Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA), a law that empowers authorities to address foreign interference in domestic politics.

This designation was based on his perceived vulnerability to external influence from foreign actors. Chan was served a notice under the act, marking the first such action taken against an individual under the law.

Later in July 2024, Singapore invoked the FICA to require five social media platforms to block 95 accounts linked to exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui.

These accounts were accused of promoting false narratives detrimental to Singapore’s national interests, including claims that the country was under foreign influence in selecting its leadership.

Note: The article has been updated to include MHA’s response and any relevant developments.