2-2-2024 (SINGAPORE) Businessman Philip Chan Man Ping, a 59-year-old naturalized Singapore citizen, has been served notice by the authorities stating their intention to designate him as a politically significant person under Singapore’s foreign interference laws. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on February 2 that Chan has been assessed to be susceptible to foreign influence and willing to advance their interests.
This notice makes Chan the first individual to be dealt with under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica), a law that empowers Singaporean authorities to address foreign interference in domestic politics. The MHA stated that Chan’s activities are directed towards a political end in Singapore, and it is in the public interest to apply countermeasures under Fica.
As a designated politically significant person, Chan will be required to make annual disclosures to the authorities regarding political donations of $10,000 or more that he has received and accepted. He will also need to declare his foreign affiliations and any migration benefits. These transparency requirements aim to detect and prevent any foreign interference directed towards a political end in Singapore, as stated by the MHA without explicitly naming any country.
In May 2023, The Straits Times reported that Chan, the managing director of several real estate investment firms, was invited to attend China’s annual Two Sessions parliamentary meetings in March 2023 as an “overseas Chinese representative.” The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), an advisory body to the Chinese government, invited him as one of 30 representatives from around the world. The activities publicized during the meetings included a briefing by Chinese officials on topics such as the easing of visa restrictions and a meeting with CPPCC secretary-general Wang Dongfeng.
The Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica) was passed in Parliament on October 4, 2021, following a 10-hour debate. Its purpose is to address foreign meddling in domestic politics through hostile information campaigns and the use of local proxies. An individual can be designated as a politically significant person if their activities are directed towards a political end, and the competent authority, the Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures, assesses that countermeasures against foreign interference are in the public interest.
Designated politically significant persons are required to disclose political donations and foreign affiliations. However, if there is a higher risk of foreign interference, stepped-up countermeasures can be imposed. These include prohibitions on receiving anonymous or foreign donations, which are already imposed on defined politically significant persons, including Members of Parliament, political parties, and political officeholders.
In a March 6 interview with Chinese media during the Two Sessions, Chan emphasized the duty of overseas Chinese communities to promote China’s story and called for cooperation among overseas Chinese in various countries to coordinate their efforts. He stated, “If you want to have a future, you must stand with the country that represents the future. China is the country that represents the future,” as reported by Chinese Headline New Media (Huawen Toutiao).
Mr. Chan was a patron of Kampong Chai Chee Citizens’ Consultative Committee and the Bukit Timah Community Club management committee, according to the People’s Association. However, he has since stepped down from all grassroots appointments.
In October 2019, Mr. Chan facilitated a public assembly discussing the Hong Kong protests without a permit and received a warning from the police. The gathering took place at Kimoto Gastro Bar, which was reported to be owned by Mr. Chan at the time, located at The Sail@ Marina Bay. Participants were seen chanting in support of the Hong Kong police in a video of the event.
Mr. Chan is the president of Kowloon Club, an organization that assists new Chinese immigrants in Singapore, and he also serves as the president of the Hong Kong Singapore Business Association. He is recognized as an altruistic philanthropist and is listed as the managing director of property firms Wen Way Investments, Mutual Benefits Realty, and C&H Properties.
Chan has 14 days from February 2 to submit representations to the registrar. If designated, he can appeal to Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam against the registrar’s decision.
