1. The Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures (“Registrar”) has designated Chan Man Ping Philip (“Chan”) as a Politically Significant Person (“PSP”) under section 48(1) of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 (“FICA”) with effect from 26 February 2024.[1]
2. The Registrar has considered the representations Chan had submitted in response to the Notice of Intended Designation issued to Chan on 2 February 2024. The Registrar remains of the view that Chan should be designated as a PSP, as Chan’s activities are directed towards a political end in Singapore, and, in the Registrar’s opinion, it is in the public interest for countermeasures under FICA to be applied to Chan.
3. Chan was issued a notice on 26 February 2024 informing him of the designation.
4. As a designated PSP, Chan is required to disclose the following to the Registrar annually: (i) political donations of $10,000 or more that he receives and accepts, (ii) foreign affiliations, and (iii) migration benefits.[2] These are transparency requirements to help detect foreign interference.
5. Chan has a right to appeal to the Minister for Home Affairs against the Registrar’s decision.
[1] The Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures is the competent authority appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs under FICA to be responsible for the administration of the provisions relating to PSPs (except election candidates and election agents).
[2] “Political donation” is defined in section 51 of FICA. Foreign affiliations and migration benefits are defined as “reportable arrangements” in section 78 of FICA.
