But WP Supporters Aren’t Deterred
$477,653. That’s how much the 3 Workers’ Party MPs have raised in the day since they first appealed for donations.
It’s an impressive feat, but will it be enough?
If the courts rule in favour of the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council and awards the requested damages, the 3 MPs and others being sued would have to fork out $33.7 million.
At the current rate, it would take 2 months to reach that sum.
And as anyone can tell you, it’s highly likely that the current rate of donations isn’t sustainable.
But as MS News discovered, grassroots efforts are springing up online in a bid to help the WP MPs.
WP Junior
Leading the way is this adorable WP t-shirt for toddlers.
An ardent WP fan posted the t-shirt to auction it this weekend. She also shared details of how the party had changed her life, as well as the impact it had on her young daughter.
But the post has since been modified in response to negative comments from some, who accused her of “brainwashing” her child.
The woman will no longer be auctioning the t-shirt but instead hopes to share her story of a PAP-turned-WP supporter.
You can read her post here.
Several others have pledged to donate their SG Bonus to the cause as well.
Helping WP MPs, not the WP
WP has clarified that all donations made to the 3 MPs are not political donations and should not be treated as such.
In a Facebook post on Friday (Oct 26) morning, the party wrote,
We understand the three MPs are undertaking a private fundraising effort. The Workers’ Party is not involved in that effort.
We urge members of the public to be extremely wary of donating money to any persons claiming to represent the Workers’ Party.
Casual observers might see it as a distancing of the party from the ongoing lawsuit. But as many netizens have pointed out, it might be a clever way of avoiding a lawsuit against the party itself.
The AHTC trial is scheduled to end next week.
Featured image from Workers’ Party’s Facebook.