After an eight-month investigation, the authorities have decided no charges will be filed over the altercation involving volunteers from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) during a walkabout in Bukit Gombak earlier this year.
A political incident in Bukit Gombak that sparked intense debate earlier this year has officially concluded, with no charges filed against any parties involved. On January 4, volunteers from both the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and the People’s Action Party (PAP) crossed paths during separate walkabouts at Goodview Gardens, leading to an altercation. Allegations soon followed, with both sides accusing the other of harassment, intimidation, and even physical assault.
The case became a hot topic on social media after video clips of the confrontation circulated widely. A PSP volunteer lodged a police report, while PAP representatives, including Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling, alleged that PSP members had slapped and taunted PAP volunteers. The matter escalated further when political figures such as Minister K. Shanmugam, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, and PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock weighed in publicly.
Following an eight-month investigation, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) informed four PSP volunteers by telephone that no charges would be filed. The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) also decided not to issue a public statement explaining the decision. According to PSP, the authorities indicated the matter is now closed.
The PSP issued a statement on August 29 expressing disappointment at the lack of a full public report. The party argued that without an official account of the investigation’s findings, unanswered questions remain chiefly whether PSP volunteers had engaged in physical violence and whether PAP volunteers had harassed or intimidated their counterparts. PSP stressed that such ambiguity leaves a “cloud hanging” over all individuals involved, potentially casting doubt on their reputations.
The opposition party said it accepts the conclusions of the SPF and AGC but stressed that transparency would have served the public interest, echoing Low Yen Ling’s earlier statement in January calling for “the whole truth” to be revealed. The PSP also warned that closing the case without disclosure could discourage Singaporeans from stepping forward as opposition volunteers due to fears of political intimidation.
In its statement, PSP emphasized that harassment has no place in politics and called for mutual respect in Singapore’s democratic process. “The contest of ideas and political perspectives should always be carried out with mutual respect,” the party wrote. It also underlined its decision not to pursue the matter further, choosing instead to focus on national issues and challenges facing Singaporeans.
The party thanked its volunteers for their commitment, pledging continued support for those who dedicate their time to political participation. The statement concluded by reiterating PSP’s belief in fair, respectful political engagement, and its hope that such incidents will not recur in the future.
This development marks the official closure of a politically sensitive case that spanned eight months and overlapped with the 2025 General Election campaign. While no charges have been filed, questions raised by both sides remain unresolved in the public eye.
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