2-8-2023 (SINGAPORE) Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has pledged that the government will continue to deal with corruption and allegations of improper conduct thoroughly, transparently and by applying the full force of the law. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Mr Lee addressed recent controversies surrounding the People’s Action Party (PAP), including the arrest of Transport Minister S Iswaran by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), the resignations of Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Member of Parliament (MP) Cheng Li Hui over an extramarital affair, and allegations over the rental of properties at Ridout Road by Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
Mr Lee stated that the way these incidents were handled shows how seriously the PAP takes its responsibility of governing Singapore and being accountable to parliament and Singaporeans. He noted that when allegations over the Ridout rentals arose, the two ministers involved were thoroughly investigated, including by CPIB, and eventually fully exonerated. The investigation reports were tabled in parliament, and a long session was held to answer MPs’ questions.
Mr Lee also highlighted the two aspects of how the PAP government works. Firstly, when there is a suspicion or allegation of wrongdoing in the discharge of official duties, especially possible corruption, there is zero tolerance. Secondly, when people slip in their personal lives, the PAP will look at the facts of each case carefully, and deal with the matter as humanely and sensitively as possible, according to the principles the party has established.
He acknowledged that in any system, however comprehensive the safeguards, something will still go wrong. But the PAP government does its utmost to minimise that possibility by identifying the right people to bring into politics and appointing them to responsible positions after vetting them carefully, testing and stretching them before entrusting them with heavier responsibilities.
Mr Lee noted that the PAP has dealt with past corruption cases involving political office holders thoroughly, transparently, and by applying the full force of the law. He assured Singaporeans that the PAP will protect the integrity of Singapore’s system of government and carry out what needs to be done in accordance with the law, even if it may be politically embarrassing and painful to the party.
He concluded that trust is crucial for a democracy to work well, and it is incumbent on this generation of leaders to protect and uphold Singapore’s system, to keep it incorruptible and clean, and maintain high standards of propriety. The PAP has taken a hit, but it will uphold standards and do the right thing, so that trust is maintained, and the Singapore system continues to work well.
