Governance & integrity — Topics

3 Aug 2023

Publication of Eligibility Criteria for IHL-specific Financial Aid Schemes

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Ministry of Education if it would require all Institutes of Higher Learning to publish the eligibility criteria for their financial aid schemes.
The Ministry of Education stated that most IHLs already publish general eligibility criteria and have recently advised all to do so.
The Minister’s response indicates that publishing eligibility criteria is encouraged but not yet mandatory for all IHLs.

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3 Aug 2023

Impact of Arrest of Managing Director of Hotel Properties Ltd on Running of F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023

Edward Chia asked whether the arrest of the managing director of Hotel Properties Limited would impact the 2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix and if an independent review of past races would be conducted.
Sharael Taha inquired whether the CPIB investigation into the owner of the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix would affect the renewed seven-year contract extension for hosting the event until 2028.
Gan Kim Yong stated that preparations for the 2023 race are advanced and the event will proceed as planned, with the government ensuring success through partners.
He noted that the Singapore Tourism Board has conducted audits since the race's inception but cannot comment on ongoing CPIB investigations.

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3 Aug 2023

Number of Voters' Names Expunged from and Added to Registers of Electors Since 2020 General Election

Hazel Poa asked the Prime Minister for detailed data on how many voters were removed from and added to the Registers of Electors since 2020, broken down by reasons such as death, non-voting, loss of citizenship, imprisonment, and others.
Chan Chun Sing responded that the Registers of Electors were certified on 20 July 2023 with 2,709,455 electors, an increase of 58,020 from the 2020 General Election, but noted the Elections Department does not track changes based on the specific profiles requested.
The government directed the Member to the Elections Department website for information on the number of electors at each election and after each revision, rather than providing the granular breakdown asked for.

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3 Aug 2023

Training Civil Servants on How to Identify, Refuse and Report Inappropriate Requests from Political Office Holders

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked if civil servants are trained to identify, refuse, and report inappropriate requests from political office holders, and what protections the Public Service whistle-blowing policies offer against retaliation.
Chan Chun Sing, for the Prime Minister, referred to a previous response given on 2 August 2023 regarding processes related to investigations and updates on recent cases.

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3 Aug 2023

Grassroots Organisations Giving Contracts to Debarred Contractors during Debarment Period

Leong Mun Wai asked which constituencies had grassroots organisations awarding contracts to debarred contractors during their debarment period and which transferred money to staff personal bank accounts, as noted in the Auditor-General’s report, and whether the People’s Association would centralise procurement for all grassroots organisations.
Edwin Tong Chun Fai stated that the question had already been addressed in a parliamentary reply on 2 August 2023, referring to the Official Report on grassroots organisations transferring money to personal bank accounts and actions taken.

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3 Aug 2023

IT Vendor Staff with Excessive Access Rights to File Transfer Servers and Encryption/Decryption Keys in PSD's Human Resource and Payroll System

Dr. Tan Wu Meng questioned the Prime Minister about excessive access rights found in the Public Service Division's HR and payroll system, including potential unauthorized access, malicious intent, and remedial actions against the vendor.
The Prime Minister's office confirmed the vendor created 12 administrative accounts with excessive rights for troubleshooting, but immediate steps were taken to reduce these rights after the Auditor-General's findings.
No unauthorized access, data compromise, or foul play was detected, and additional system checks were conducted, with the vendor receiving a stern warning for the lapses.

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2 Aug 2023

Process for Award of Contract to Run Formula One Singapore Grand Prix for Another Seven Years

Gerald Giam asked for a breakdown of the award process for the new seven-year Formula One Singapore Grand Prix contract and whether it is being reviewed due to possible conflicts of interest.
Gan Kim Yong explained that the contract was extended based on an independent study showing significant tourism benefits and that the decision was made to support post-COVID recovery and accommodate construction plans.
The Ministry declined to comment on any ongoing CPIB investigations related to the contract award.

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2 Aug 2023

Alleged Transactions over No-public Tender Leases of Maldivian Islands in 2014 and 2015 by Hotelier Ong Beng Seng

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether CPIB investigated alleged transactions involving no-public tender leases of Maldivian islands by hotelier Ong Beng Seng in 2014 and 2015, and if not, why.
Chan Chun Sing, for the Prime Minister, stated that CPIB generally does not comment on investigations due to operational considerations, but has made an exception for the ongoing probe into Minister S Iswaran.
The response did not provide specific details on whether CPIB was aware of or had investigated the alleged transactions involving Ong Beng Seng.

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2 Aug 2023

Authenticity of Quotations for Star Rate Items in Development Project under State Courts

Murali Pillai inquired about the authenticity of quotations for star rate items in the State Courts development project, asking if they came from the contractor or subcontractors and whether there was a proactive review following the previous year’s AGO report.
K Shanmugam stated that the quotations were provided by subcontractors to the project consultant, with independent checks by the consultant and other parties to ensure fair market pricing, but due to AGO’s concerns, a police report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.
The State Courts have implemented segregated duties, independent validations, and engaged in training and reminders to officers and contractors, while also adopting additional measures from the Ministry of Finance to strengthen controls.

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2 Aug 2023

Former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone's Alleged S$650 Million Trust in a Singapore Bank Account

Ms He Ting Ru asked whether the Singapore government received any UK requests for assistance regarding Bernie Ecclestone's alleged S$650 million trust and what support was provided, while Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired if MAS was satisfied with the bank's anti-money laundering measures.
Lawrence Wong, speaking for the Prime Minister, stated that the government does not comment on specific foreign assistance requests but confirmed that MAS, the police, and the Attorney General's Chambers collaborated with UK authorities on the Ecclestone case, with Singapore proactively sharing information to aid the investigation.
MAS conducted a 2017 inspection of the bank involved, finding room for improvement in anti-money laundering processes but no systemic weaknesses, and noted the bank had enhanced monitoring of Ecclestone's account since 2013.

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2 Aug 2023

Impartial Speaker of Parliament

The debate centered on whether the Speaker of Parliament must be politically independent or merely impartial, with PSP's Leong Mun Wai advocating for an independent Speaker while others argued impartiality suffices.
Amendments were passed to reaffirm the Speaker's duty to discharge duties independently and impartially, and to uphold parliamentary rules, replacing the original motion's call for political independence.
Supporters of the amended motion cited constitutional provisions, international practices, and past Speakers' conduct as proof that party-affiliated Speakers can be impartial.
Opponents, including PSP members, recorded dissent, arguing the amendments maintain the status quo rather than advancing democratic reforms.
The final motion passed with amendments, emphasizing impartiality over independence and reinforcing adherence to parliamentary procedures.

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2 Aug 2023

Impartial Speaker of Parliament

The debate centers on a motion reaffirming the need for the Speaker of Parliament to be independent and impartial, with PSP highlighting the need for public trust in the Speaker’s office.
The Speaker strictly limited references to former Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin’s conduct, citing Standing Orders, and redirected the debate to the principle of impartiality rather than specific past events.
Vikram Nair proposed amendments emphasizing the Speaker’s duty to discharge duties impartially and uphold Parliament’s rules, arguing that being from the ruling party does not inherently compromise independence.
Assoc Prof Jamus Lim underscored the importance of respectful, evidence-based debate in Parliament, stressing that an impartial Speaker is essential for fair discussion of policy trade-offs.

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2 Aug 2023

CPIB Investigation Involving Minister S Iswaran and the Resignations of Former Speaker and a PAP MP

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed two major issues: the CPIB investigation involving Minister S Iswaran and the resignations of former Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui, emphasizing accountability and the PAP's standards of integrity.
Minister Iswaran was placed on leave and interdicted with a reduced salary of $8,500 per month after CPIB uncovered information warranting a formal investigation, which is ongoing; the Prime Minister clarified that CPIB operates independently but seeks his concurrence for investigations involving Cabinet Ministers.
The Prime Minister explained that the affair between Tan and Cheng was mishandled, as they did not end it despite counseling, leading to their resignations; he acknowledged regret in not acting sooner to protect their families and reduce public embarrassment.
Minister Chan Chun Sing provided details on CPIB's operational disclosures, the Code of Conduct for Ministers, and Public Service whistle-blowing policies, stressing that investigations follow legal protocols and that systems are in place to address misconduct.
The debate highlighted the government's commitment to transparency, zero tolerance for corruption, and humane handling of personal misconduct, while also addressing public concerns about delayed actions and the need for continual review of governance standards.

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2 Aug 2023

Points of Order Relating to PSP’s Video and Facebook Post, and Unparliamentary Language Used by Former Speaker

The Leader of the House stated that the Progress Singapore Party had removed an edited video and issued an apology, concluding the matter without further action.
She addressed the former Speaker's expletive remark, noting his public and personal apologies, and read his formal apology to the House, recommending no further action.
Opposition MPs raised concerns about the delayed release of the hot-mic video and suggested a police investigation, but the Leader responded that no offence was apparent.
Clarifications were sought on the authority to address unparliamentary language by the Speaker, with the Leader stating she acted persuasively, not authoritatively.
The Leader reminded all Members to maintain decorum during debates, concluding the discussion on the incidents.

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2 Aug 2023

Practice of Grassroots Organisations Transferring Sums of Money to Personal Bank Accounts for Official Operational Needs and Actions Taken

The AGO found two GROs used personal bank accounts for official transactions, with one GRO issuing crossed cheques to staff for cash withdrawals for welfare distributions and another using similar methods for CDC voucher reimbursements, but no funds were lost and practices ceased.
The Minister confirmed three additional similar cases were identified, with staff counselled and no disciplinary actions taken due to no misappropriation; PA is implementing AGO recommendations and strengthening internal governance.
PA is digitalizing processes to reduce cash handling while assisting elderly residents, and an independent committee has been set up to review AGO findings, though public reporting of its results is under consideration.

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2 Aug 2023

Processes Related to Investigations into Political Office Holders and Civil Servants, and Updates on Recent Cases

Multiple MPs raised questions about the CPIB investigation into Minister S Iswaran, seeking clarity on timelines, the Prime Minister's concurrence for formal investigations, and differences in handling compared to other ministers.
Key concerns included the lack of immediate public disclosure of Iswaran's arrest, calls for transparent guidelines on announcements involving political office holders, and queries about whistleblowing channels and civil servant protections.
The debate also touched on the need to potentially review the Code of Conduct for Ministers and clarify disclosure thresholds for meals and gifts received by officials.

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2 Aug 2023

Election of Speaker

The Leader of the House congratulated the new Speaker on his election, highlighting his extensive parliamentary experience, past roles including Deputy Speaker, and commitment to fairness and impartiality.
The new Speaker thanked members for their support, acknowledged his predecessor’s efforts, and pledged to conduct proceedings firmly and fairly while maintaining decorum.
The Speaker emphasized the importance of rules and integrity, urged vigilance in personal conduct, and reminded members that their work and words in Parliament have lasting impact beyond their terms.
Both speakers welcomed the new cohort of Nominated Members of Parliament and expressed hope for productive sessions ahead.
The debate concluded with a focus on serving the people of Singapore and upholding high standards during parliamentary debates.

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6 Jul 2023

Follow-up Statement on Point of Order Raised on 5 July 2023

The Leader of the House, Indranee Rajah, stated that the Progress Singapore Party’s revised video and post still misrepresent Parliamentary proceedings by suggesting the Deputy Speaker suppressed debate, which is a breach of rules, and she demanded their removal and a formal apology by 10 pm or she will refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges.
Leong Mun Wai argued that the PSP corrected factual inaccuracies, did not intend to defame, and that the video is a form of expression; he offered to take it down but resisted apologizing, proposing an open letter of regret instead.
Indranee Rajah countered that the video and post together create a misleading narrative about Parliamentary conduct, which undermines public trust in democracy, and emphasized that an apology is necessary to uphold the integrity of Parliament.
The debate highlighted a clash over the interpretation of the video’s impact, with the government viewing it as a deliberate misrepresentation and the PSP defending it as legitimate political expression.
The session ended with a firm deadline for compliance, underscoring the seriousness with which Parliament treats potential breaches of its privileges and the public’s perception of its proceedings.

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6 Jul 2023

Actions and Lessons Resulting from SPH Media Trust's Internal Review of Overstated Circulation Numbers

The Minister confirmed that the overstatement of circulation figures occurred before SPH Media Trust (SMT) was formed and before any government funding was disbursed, so no public funds were affected, and a police report has been filed for investigation.
SMT is implementing several measures to address the issues, including benchmarking reporting to international standards, improving internal controls and risk management, and committing to regular updates, with the government expecting full compliance.
The government will continue its $900 million funding support for SMT, emphasizing digital transformation and public trust, with safeguards in the funding agreement allowing for audits and potential funding adjustments if accountability is not met.

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5 Jul 2023

Authorisations Sought and Granted for Statement to be Recorded in Absence of Appropriate Adult

Louis Ng asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of times authorisation to record a statement without an Appropriate Adult was sought and granted over the past five years.
The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, responded that the Ministry does not track such instances where an Appropriate Adult was not activated for an interview.
This clarification was referenced from a previous parliamentary statement made on 8 May 2023.
The debate highlighted a lack of specific data on the sought and granted authorisations for recording statements without an Appropriate Adult.

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