17-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) The People’s Action Party (PAP) is facing its most severe public confidence crisis in recent times following a string of incidents involving its leaders, political observers say.
On Monday, Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui resigned from Parliament and the PAP after revealing they had an extramarital affair. Last week, Transport Minister S Iswaran was arrested in a graft probe. Earlier in July, Law Minister K Shanmugam and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan faced questions over the rental of colonial homes.
The affair involving Mr. Tan and Ms. Cheng “takes on greater importance” given the other recent issues, says Associate Professor Eugene Tan, reinforcing perceptions the PAP has “fallen from its high standards.” The party now faces its “severest crisis” with public trust severely impacted, he added.
The “string of bad news” about PAP MPs is “troubling” and will lead people to question the values of current leaders, says Dr. Gillian Koh. But the political leadership’s response is more important. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has reiterated the PAP’s commitment to high standards of conduct.
Analysts say the PAP must address questions about the gaps between when these incidents happened and when they were made public. PM Lee explained the gaps were “not attempts to hide or get away with anything” but due to how the timing of public release of information took place.
Some feel the delay in informing the public about Mr. Tan’s affair and his use of profanity after an opposition MP’s speech raise larger issues of party discipline and the integrity of his position as Speaker. There is a perceived “lack of information” given to the public on a “need-to-know basis,” says another analyst.
The WP says it is investigating a video suggesting an “inappropriate exchange” between MP Leon Perera and party member Nicole Seah. The video provides a “regrettable but still useful contrast” in how the PAP and WP handle personal conduct issues, says Dr. Koh. If Mr. Perera resigned, it would be “untenable” for his position but not the end of his career, an analyst says.
The controversies come ahead of the Presidential and next General Elections. The timing is “unfortunate” and will impact both races, says Dr. Felix Tan. However, another analyst says the impact on the Presidential Election is likely limited as Mr. Tharman is seen as independent.
Singapore’s political system will go through a period of “thinking about what matters, and what conduct we expect of our leaders and parties,” says Dr. Gillian Koh. The PAP will need time to resolve these issues and move on. In the end, how the leadership responds is more important than the fortunes of individual leaders.
