SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party (WP) has announced that it will hold a media conference on Wednesday (19 July) to address a circulating video featuring Aljunied GRC MP Leon Perera and senior party member Nicole Seah. The video, which shows the two individuals touching hands, has raised concerns within the party and voters.
The media conference will be chaired by WP secretary-general and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and will take place at the party’s headquarters in Geylang.
Earlier this week, the WP acknowledged the existence of the video and stated that it was investigating the matter regarding “an inappropriate exchange between two senior party members.” The video, lasting approximately 15 seconds, depicts Mr Perera caressing the hand of a woman who appears to be Ms Seah at a restaurant.
Both WP members are married with children and hold positions on the party’s 15-member central executive committee (CEC), which serves as its highest decision-making body.
Following the circulation of the video, several CEC members, including Pritam Singh, WP chairman Sylvia Lim, and vice-chairman Faisal Manap, were seen entering the party’s headquarters in Geylang on Tuesday evening. Former secretary-general Low Thia Khiang arrived at a later time to join the meeting.
After the CEC meeting, which concluded around 10:30 pm, Mr Singh said that the party’s next steps would be communicated during the media conference on Wednesday.
Some news outlets have claimed that rumours of an affair between Mr Perera and Ms Seah had been circulating within party circles since late 2020 and early 2021. Allegations suggesting that the duo frequented hotels and engaged in inappropriate behaviour had allegedly been brought to the attention of party leaders in early 2021.
At the time, Mr Perera was mentoring Ms Seah, and although they were expected to spend more time together, some members felt that there was more to their relationship.
Text messages allegedly seen by The Straits Times indicate that party leaders, including Sylvia Lim, Jamus Lim, Pritam Singh, Gerald Giam, and Dennis Tan, had been informed about the affair allegations.
When questioned about these text messages, Pritam Singh responded that he would address the matter comprehensively during the upcoming media conference.
AsiaOne has also published an interview with a man claiming to be Mr Perera’s personal driver, who attested to an affair and alleged that WP leaders have been aware of the relationship for some time. He claimed he was fired after informing Mr Singh about the relationship, despite having served Mr Perera for 10 years.