PM Lee Hsien Loong to address Singapore Parliament on corruption investigation and recent resignations

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will address in Parliament on 2 August the ongoing corruption investigation involving Transport Minister S Iswaran, as well as the resignations of former parliament speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and fellow ruling party lawmaker Cheng Li Hui.

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) disclosed on 12 July that Minister Iswaran was assisting in an undisclosed corruption investigation.

By 11 July, the Minister had been arrested in relation to the inquiry, with the information coming to light after inquiries from Channel News Asia.

The news outlet was following up on the revelation that Ong Beng Seng, a billionaire businessman, had been served with a notice of arrest by the CPIB and was investigated in connection with Minister Iswaran.

However, the CPIB has not yet revealed specific details of the investigation.Both Minister Iswaran and Ong Beng Seng had their passports impounded as part of their bail conditions.

The nature of the corruption case involving these two high-profile figures remains unknown, and the CPIB has yet to provide further information.

Amidst these developments, PM Lee has instructed Minister Iswaran, 61, to take a leave of absence until the investigation’s conclusion. During this time, the Transport Minister will stay in Singapore and be barred from access to official resources and government buildings.

In a separate development, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced on 17 July that former Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui had tendered their resignations from both parliament and the ruling People’s Action Party, following revelations of an extramarital affair since 2020. PM Lee has accepted both resignations.

In a letter addressed to PM Lee, Mr Tan admitted to using inappropriate language in Parliament, expressing regret and pledging to repair his family relationships. His behaviour raised concerns about his impartiality as Speaker.

In response to the issue, Mr Tan said, “I apologize to my fellow Singaporeans, residents, volunteers, colleagues, and friends for having let them down.”

PM Lee issued a statement confirming Mr Tan’s resignation from the PAP, saying, “His resignation is necessary to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years.”