Huang Jing, the prominent academic identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to be working with a foreign government to influence Singapore's foreign policy and local public opinion, has denied the allegations made against him.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), China-born Huang who is currently a US citizen, described the allegations levelled against him as "nonsense".

Huang held the post of Lee Foundation Professor on US-China relations and Director of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP).

Seeking lawyer for help

He told SCMP that he would seek help from his lawyer and the US embassy in Singapore.

“It’s nonsense to identify me as ‘an agent of influence’ for a foreign country,” he said. “And why didn’t they identify which foreign country they’re referring to? Is it the US or China?”

“My family and my home are all here. I have property in Singapore, too. How can they treat me like this? If they have evidence, they should take me to court.”

Still in Singapore

Huang, who is still in Singapore, had his permanent residency cancelled on Aug. 4. He told SCMP that he had not been given a deadline to leave.

His wife Shirley Yang Xiuping has also been declared a “prohibited immigrant” by MHA, and both of them will be permanently banned from re-entering Singapore.

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Alleged influence over fellow colleague

Huang also allegedly influenced an unnamed key member of the LKYSPP’s leadership by providing him with certain “information” that was aimed at changing Singapore’s foreign policy toward the country he was an agent for.

His employer, the National University of Singapore, has issued a statement confirming that Huang has been suspended without pay with immediate effect, while the university works with MHA on this matter.

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LKYSPP prof identified as foreign agent, to be stripped of PR status & entry permits

Here’s the official profile of Huang Jing as found on LKYSPP faculty site

Foreign agent Huang Jing was involved in a spat with a taxi driver in June 2016, over a $1 tip

Top image adapted from LKYSPP video