Progress S’pore Party expels member who made video alleging party had been ‘infiltrated by foreign proxies’
Mr Daniel Teo (second from the left) seen on a walkabout in Chua Chu Kang Representation Constituency on March 22, 2020.
SINGAPORE — The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) on Friday (May 1) expelled a member who confessed to making an anonymous video which made allegations against fellow PSP members as well as others.
This is the second expulsion by the opposition party in slightly over a month, and it is also the second time a member was expelled after being implicated in police investigations.
Mr Daniel Teo Weilong, a 36-year-old who had featured prominently on PSP’s social media engagements, admitted to party chief Tan Cheng Bock that he was behind the video which claimed that PSP “has been infiltrated by foreign proxies”.
The video also named 10 members whom it claimed had been working with Singapore People’s Party chairman Jose Raymond and historian Thum Ping Tjin.
A number of those named, including Mr Raymond, have made police reports on the matter. Mr Raymond’s lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam said the allegations in the video are “completely false and baseless”.
“We will be asking for (the maker of the video) to admit that there is no basis for his statements, to apologise, to undertake not to repeat these allegations, and to pay damages," said Mr Thuraisingam.
In response to TODAY’s queries, PSP said: “The party was informed by one of our members, Daniel Teo, about his involvement in the production of an anonymous video. Upon the completion of internal investigations, the Progress Singapore Party has decided on the expulsion of this member.”
Dr Tan had announced the expulsion of Mr Teo, who was seen on walkabouts in Choa Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency, via a broadcast message — which was seen by TODAY — on the party members’ Telegram chat group on Friday night.
The message from Dr Tan read: “There has been a very serious breach of party discipline and potential breach of the law by a member of our party, Daniel Teo.
“Daniel has confessed to me that he has committed this serious offence against the party and a few of our members. This case is now under police investigations.”
Dr Tan said in his message that PSP’s central executive committee has decided unanimously to expel Mr Teo “with immediate effect”, despite Mr Teo making an offer himself to resign from the party.
Dr Tan also said the party leadership was not at liberty to provide details of Mr Teo’s transgression at this stage. Even so, he said it was a matter that “the party has absolutely no tolerance for”.
“We have taken decisive action on this to preempt any rumour or speculation that may be detrimental to our party’s reputation,” he added.
“Any action that hurts the party’s credibility cannot and will not be tolerated.”
When contacted on Saturday, Mr Teo said he confessed to Dr Tan via a phone call on April 29, the same day he recorded a statement with the police.
Mr Teo claimed he had made the video "in good interest of the party".
However, his actions have “backfired”. “Now, I don’t know if my life is going to be ruined or what,” he said.
Mr Teo works in a marine engineering firm and owns a wellness company. His sacking came after PSP expelled 30-year-old technology consultant Jan Chan on March 21, following his admission that he was behind a Facebook post which was the subject of a police investigation.
The Facebook post, made on the NUS Atheist Society Facebook page, depicted the Bible and Quran as alternatives to be used in the event of a toilet-paper shortage. The Ministry of Home Affairs had said police were investigating it after receiving a number of complaints.
