Singapore’s Ruling Party Grapples with Resignations and Scandals.
Singapore’s political landscape faced an unexpected shake-up as two senior lawmakers from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) resigned due to an “inappropriate relationship”, as stated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The departure of house speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and lawmaker Cheng Li Hui has garnered attention, given the rarity of senior PAP members stepping down in the city-state’s history.
Prime Minister Lee emphasized that their resignations were essential to uphold the party’s standards and principles. Tan Chuan-Jin’s personal conduct was deemed unsatisfactory, leading him to voluntarily withdraw from politics to focus on healing his family.
Lawmaker Cheng, who has been in parliament since 2015, has yet to comment on the situation. Her Facebook page was taken down following the announcement.
This incident follows a recent graft probe involving transport minister S Iswaran and hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who was arrested and subsequently released on bail. Their responses to the investigations are still awaited.
In June, two cabinet ministers were cleared of any wrongdoing after public scrutiny regarding their rental of state-owned bungalows at unusually high rates.
Separately, the opposition Workers’ Party (WP) encountered its own issues when a video emerged online, showing two senior members seemingly holding hands in a restaurant. The WP confirmed that they are looking into the matter.
Singapore, known for its low corruption and high moral standards in politics, rarely witnesses such scandals. Despite the recent developments, political analysts believe that Singapore’s political stability remains intact. However, the events have highlighted the need for greater transparency within both the ruling and opposition parties’ systems.
Prime Minister Lee expressed his intention to nominate a new house speaker by August 1, but he has no immediate plans to call for a general election, which is scheduled for 2025. As the nation continues to navigate these unusual circumstances, Singaporeans will keenly observe the unfolding developments in their political landscape.
