Singapore designated real estate billionaire Robert Ng and three of his children as “politically significant persons” under a law designed to curb foreign influence.
Sino Group Chairman Ng and his family members declared their overseas political ties as required by law of Singapore citizens, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday. Individuals with that designation must adhere to various stipulations including the disclosure of political donations in excess of $10,000 they receive, the government website said.
“To be clear, the intended designations of the four individuals are not because they have engaged in any egregious activity,” it said.
Ng’s children Daryl Ng, Nikki Ng and David Ng — all Singaporeans — also received the PSP label, according to the MHA, which did not say what foreign political body they were members of.
Ng’s Hong-Kong based firm controls the Conrad hotel in the city. His net worth is US$3.2 billion ($4.31 billion), according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Ng’s biography on the Sino Group website says he served as a member of the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, an influential political advisory body on the mainland known as CPPCC for short.
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Passed in 2021, Singapore’s Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act also gives officials the authority to order social media platforms to disclose information behind posts. While the government said the measure is needed to prevent hostile information campaigns, opposition politicians expressed concerns it might be used to muzzle dissent.
Sino Group did not immediately respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment on Monday. A spokesperson for developer Far East Organization — affiliated with Ng — did not immediately comment when reached by Bloomberg.
