Singapore law minister defends foreign interference bill as ‘best balance’ to face risks, check against abuse

Singapore’s law and home affairs minister K. Shanmugam has made an impassioned defence of the country’s soon-to-be-passed foreign interference legislation, which has been criticised by academics, civil activists, and the opposition for being too broad and lacking adequate oversight mechanisms.The Foreign Interference (Countermeasures), or Fica, bill has been touted by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) as an urgent necessity given increasing instances of foreign meddling in countries’ local…