SINGAPORE: Law Minister Edwin Tong on Saturday (Nov 8) slammed Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh’s comment that “the court of public opinion can be a bigger court than any court in the world”, calling it “an outrageous statement, plainly wrong and also completely unacceptable”.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Our Community Gallery, an immersive showcase at the National Community Leadership Institute, Mr Tong criticised Mr Singh’s remarks – made during an interview on CNA’s The Assembly earlier this week – as an attempt to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the court that convicted him of lying to a parliamentary committee.

“Let’s be clear what happened in this case,” said Mr Tong. “Mr Singh was investigated and then he was charged. He went through a full and open trial and was convicted by the court for lying to a parliamentary Select Committee.

“The judge gave detailed grounds, setting out the basis for the conviction.”

The Workers’ Party chief was found guilty in February and fined S$14,000 (US$10,800) for two charges linked to how he handled former MP Raeesah Khan’s lie in parliament.

On Tuesday, the High Court reserved judgment on Mr Singh’s appeal against his conviction.

In the latest episode of The Assembly – filmed months before his appeal was heard – Mr Singh was asked how he felt about being called a liar due to “Raeesah Khan’s case”.

“This is something which I don’t lose much sleep over. I will say that because I’m 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,” Mr Singh said.

“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’t think I’ll be sitting here today.

“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.”

Mr Tong said on Saturday that no one should “dismiss or denigrate” the court’s judgment, or suggest that public opinion can somehow “trump” a court’s decision.

“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 we do not have rule of the mob,” he added.

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.

“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,” he added.

“What Mr Singh said also undermines public trust in our system, in our law enforcement and in our judiciary.

“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.”