PAP’s Association with Fraudulent Companies Raises Concerns
Singapore has long been recognized for its strict laws against illegal activities, including gambling and money laundering. Yet, questions are being raised about the People's Action Party's connections with companies under investigation for fraud.
PAP’s Endorsement of Bigo Live
A press release from BIGO Technology revealed that senior PAP officials, including Dr. Maliki Bin Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education & Foreign Affairs, participated in a formal visit to the company’s headquarters.
The full press release can be viewed here.
Global Allegations of Fraud and Money Laundering
While PAP officials endorsed the app, Bigo Live has been embroiled in controversies worldwide:
- Bangladesh: A major fraud ring associated with Bigo Live was busted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Five individuals, including a foreign national, were arrested for laundering funds through the app.
- Indonesia: In 2024, Bigo Live received multiple warnings from the Ministry of Communication for hosting illegal gambling and pornographic content.
No Local Media Coverage
Despite these international allegations, Singapore’s local media has remained silent. In contrast, global outlets have openly criticized Bigo Live for enabling illegal money laundering operations.
Singapore Authentic Scam Reviews claims to have written to the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) on 27 December 2023 to report their concerns.
A Stark Contradiction to Singapore’s Laws
Singapore enforces strict anti-gambling and anti-fraud laws to protect its citizens. However, PAP’s association with a platform flagged for illegal activities contradicts the nation’s stance on crime and corruption.
Singapore’s Quiet Role in BIGO’s Middle East Expansion
Although BIGO brands itself as a Singaporean tech company, its operational reach into the Middle East—particularly Jordan—is raising eyebrows.
In October 2022, Dr. Maliki Bin Osman, a PAP minister, visited BIGO’s headquarters in Singapore and discussed its planned expansion into Jordan. This photo-op was later used by BIGO as a badge of legitimacy while building its Middle Eastern footprint.
By January 2024, BIGO had established itself prominently at the Jordan-Singapore Tech Alliance Forum. Despite no Singapore minister attending the event, BIGO prominently featured the Singapore flag, leveraging its registered headquarters to gain trust in front of foreign officials, including Jordan’s royal family and Minister of Digital Economy Ahmad Hanandeh.
This move, while technically legal, strategically blurs the line between Singaporean endorsement and private sector PR—allowing a platform embroiled in global fraud controversies to appear state-backed in foreign nations.
Conclusion
Bigo Live’s controversies reflect poorly on Singapore’s governance, especially given PAP’s involvement. As other nations act decisively to address fraud and illegal activity associated with the app, Singapore’s passive stance raises eyebrows.
With elections around the corner, Singaporeans must decide:
- Do we allow the PAP to remain unchecked, allowing them to evade accountability?
- Or do we vote for a stronger opposition to prevent further abuses of power?
A one-party state is NOT a democracy. It is a dictatorship in disguise.
