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Mediacorp apologises for airing Pritam Singh interview that was in contempt of court
They have also taken down the video.
Mediacorp has apologised and taken down an interview featuring Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh that the Attorney-General's Chambers said was in contempt of court.
The interview on CNA's The Assembly Programme, in which Singh made comments about the court case relating to former Workers Party Member of Parliament Raeesah Khan, was aired on Nov. 5.
Singh was later found guilty of lying on oath to the Committee of Privileges.
That was a day after Singh's appeal against his conviction was heard by the court, which the court has called contempt of court.
Mediacorp said it had been notified by the AGC about the violation and "wholly and unreservedly [apologises] to the court".
"We have taken down the interview from our platforms and channels and will avoid publishing matters that are in contempt of court in future.”
What Singh said
The interview, which was recorded in July 2025, featured Singh speaking to neurodivergent interviewers.
On being called a "liar" in Raeesah Khan's case, Singh said it was not something he lost sleep over, and made the comment about the court of public opinion.
His comments drew flak from Minister of Law Edwin Tong, who said in an interview on Nov. 8 that "no one is above the law".
"No one should dismiss or denigrate the court's judgment or suggest that public opinion can somehow trump a court's decision," he said in response to Singh's claim.
To that, Singh clarified in a Facebook post that his comments were not directed at Singapore’s judicial system, its judges, or their independence.
He pointed out that the judgment was released in February 2025, while the People’s Action Party (PAP) called for elections two months later, in April 2025.
Despite the possible impact of the court verdict on voters, Singh said the WP still performed respectably in the general election.
"This was the important context that came before the remarks I made about the court of public opinion on the CNA program," he said.
Full apology
Singh later gave an "unreserved" apology on Dec. 13.
"I accept that my statements may be construed to be in contempt of court, including to impugn the integrity, propriety or impartiality of the court.
Given that, I wholly and unreservedly apologise to the court and will avoid making comments to the same or similar effect in future."
MinLaw response
In response the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) released a press statement acknowledging Singh's apology.
The statement recounted the incident thus far, again criticising his initial comments, and acknowledging Singh’s apology.
The statement said that on Nov. 28, the AGC had put Singh on notice that his statements were in contempt of court, and had invited him to apologise.
It then said that Singh confirmed that he accepted the court’s judgment in the dismissal of his appeal “fully and without reservation,” and “rightly acknowledged that it is unacceptable for politicians to question or impugn the integrity of the Courts.”
MinLaw said it welcomed these comments, and that “ the Judiciary is a key pillar of Singapore’s success, and it is critical that public trust in our justice system is maintained.”
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Top images via Mediacorp & CNA's The Assembly
