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In the latest episode of The Assembly \u2013 filmed months before his appeal was heard \u2013 Mr Singh was asked how he felt about being called a liar due to “Raeesah Khan’s case”.<\/p>\n
“This is something which I don’t lose much sleep over. And I’ll say that because I\u2019m in the business of politics. My political opponents will do whatever it takes to lower my esteem and the esteem of my party in the public eye,\u201d Mr Singh said.<\/p>\n
“But ultimately, you answer to your conscience first. If your conscience is clear, then people can throw whatever they want at you, and you will still be standing. And if there was something my conscience was not in agreement with, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be sitting here today.<\/p>\n
“And I don’t think we would have done how we did in the last elections, we did pretty respectably. At the end of the day, the court of public opinion can be a bigger court than any court in the world.”<\/p>\n
Mr Tong said on Saturday that it is Mr Singh’s “right” to appeal the case, but that no one should “dismiss or denigrate” the court’s judgment, or suggest that public opinion can somehow “trump” a court’s decision.<\/p>\n
“This is a very dangerous idea. We have laws, and in Singapore, the rule of law is a cornerstone of our system. This is so that we do not have rule of the mob,” he added.<\/p>\n
Mr Singh’s suggestion that this is “part of a political attempt to attack him” is the kind of response seen all over the world from “populist politicians who attack judges and courts” when rulings go against them, said Mr Tong.<\/p>\n
“They think they are above the law. But this kind of irresponsible politics should have no place in Singapore. Singapore is built on honesty and integrity, but Mr Singh is delegitimising our courts with his comments, saying it doesn’t matter what he does as long as he gets elected,” he added.<\/p>\n
“What Mr Singh said also undermines public trust in our system, in our law enforcement and in our judiciary.<\/p>\n
“In Singapore, the courts decide cases not on politics, but based on facts and the law. And no one is above the law, not the leader of the opposition, not any minister. If anyone commits an offence, they should face the law.<\/p>\n
“If Mr Singh has done no wrong, the court will judge and rule as such. But if the conviction stands, then he should accept it fully and take responsibility. There is no separate court for politicians.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n