The Ministry of National Development (MND) has confirmed that the Workers' Party (WP)-held Sengkang Town Council (SKTC) will be taking over the management of the lawsuit initiated by the People's Action Party (PAP)-held Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC), The Straits Times (ST) reported on Thursday (Jul. 23).

In response, He Ting Ru, chair of SKTC, released a statement on Facebook on Friday (Jul. 24) reiterating her team's commitment to ensuring a smooth takeover from the previous town councils and fair decision-making in relation to the management of the lawsuit.

PRPTC lawsuit background

Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC), run by an independent panel, and PRPTC had filed lawsuits against WP chairman Sylvia Lim, former party chief Low Thia Khiang, and six other defendants.

PRPTC became involved in the lawsuit as it was managing the affairs of Punggol East SMC.

The WP won Punggol East SMC in a by-election in 2013. It then became part of the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC).

During GE2015, the PAP won back the seat.

Punggol East SMC then became part of the PRPTC.

With the redrawing of electoral boundaries for GE2020, the SMC was absorbed into Sengkang GRC.

Punggol East SMC is now back in WP's hands, when the WP team, consisting of He, Raeesah Khan, Jamus Lim, and Louis Chua, won the Sengkang GRC in GE 2020.

The handover of PRPTC and Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC) to SKTC will also mean that the WP team will take on the responsibility of handling the lawsuit.

ST reported that MND stated the following:

"As the former Punggol East SMC has become a part of Sengkang GRC, its rights and duties, including the management of the lawsuit initiated by PRPTC, will be handed over to the new town council."

MND also added that it is unable to comment on specific legal actions or arrangements as it is not a party to the suit, and that those specifics are up to the respective town councils, wrote ST.

Workers' Party statement

On Friday, He took to Facebook to release a statement on behalf of the Sengkang MP-elects, in response to the MND statement reported in ST.

She stated that the WP team in Sengkang is "committed to ensuring a smooth takeover from the previous town councils."

She added that they will ensure that all decisions taken regarding the management of the lawsuit are "fair, transparent and in accordance with the law."

"Throughout this process, we remain guided by our overriding duty to always act in the best interests of the residents of Sengkang GRC," she wrote.

You can read her full statement here:

Top photos via Facebook / He Ting Ru and Punggol.com.