Huang Jing denies MHA’s allegations
Professor Huang Jing has been suspended from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) and is facing explulsion from Singapore. Photo: LKYSPP
SINGAPORE — Professor Huang Jing, who has been suspended from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) and is facing expulsion from Singapore, has denied the allegations made against him by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“It’s nonsense to identify me as ‘an agent of influence’ for a foreign country,” he said in an interview with Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on Friday (Aug 4).
Referring to an earlier statement by the MHA, which did not name the country, the United States citizen said: “And why didn’t they identify which foreign country they’re referring to? Is it the US or China?”.
Prof Huang, whose permanent residence (PR) status has been revoked, along with his wife’s, added that he would seek help from his lawyer and the US embassy in Singapore.
The 60-year-old, who was director of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at LKYSPP before his PR was revoked, also told the Post: “My family and my home are all here. I have property in Singapore, too. How can they treat me like this? If they have evidence, they should take me to court.”
Prof Huang said he had not been given a deadline to leave Singapore.
The MHA did not address TODAY’s queries on which country Prof Huang was working for, as well as the identity of the LKYSPP “senior member” whom the academic was allegedly influencing.
The ministry also declined to comment if the authorities are investigating any other individuals in relation to this case.
In its reply to TODAY, the MHA said: “Huang Jing and his wife can appeal to the Minister for Home Affairs... If their appeals are unsuccessful, Huang Jing and his wife will be required to leave Singapore within a grace period.”
Earlier on Friday, the MHA announced that Prof Huang has been identified as an “agent of influence of a foreign country”, and that he and his wife, Madam Shirley Yang Xiuping, will not be allowed to re-enter Singapore.
Prof Huang’s employer, LKYSPP, said later that he has been suspended without pay with immediate effect.
