Governance & integrity — Topics

5 Jul 2023

Group Representation Constituencies

Minister Chan Chun Sing defended the GRC system as essential for ensuring minority representation in Parliament and preventing racial politics, arguing that Singapore must evolve its own governance model rather than blindly copying other countries' systems.
Pritam Singh and the Workers' Party acknowledged the importance of multiracialism but criticized the GRC system for being used for gerrymandering, citing examples like Fengshan and Joo Chiat, and called for more transparency in boundary reviews.
The PSP proposed alternative systems like a modified proportional representation or NCMP scheme to ensure minority representation, but Minister Chan argued these could lead to fragmented parliaments and race-based politics.
Senior Minister Teo Hean noted that gerrymandering accusations occur globally regardless of electoral systems, while PSP's Hazel Poa insisted their proposals could adapt to ensure minority representation without the drawbacks of GRCs.
The motion to abolish GRCs was ultimately negatived, with the PAP and others emphasizing that abolishing them would risk inadequate multiracial representation and could re-introduce racial politics.

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4 Jul 2023

Harmonising Financial Support Schemes for Students in Institutes of Higher Learning

The Ministry ensures harmony by applying the same income eligibility criteria across all IHLs for Government bursaries, which are publicly communicated.
Institution-based financial aid criteria vary due to scheme nature, donor conditions, and fund availability, with no mandatory transparency requirement.
IHLs are encouraged to communicate their aid criteria, and students can consult their institution's financial aid office for options.
The Ministry does not require IHLs to disclose eligibility criteria for IHL-specific aid, citing varying factors as reasons.

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4 Jul 2023

Impact of Leasing of Ridout Road Properties on Political Officeholders' Code of Conduct

Hazel Poa questioned whether Ministers' tenancies of 26 and 31 Ridout Road breached the Code of Conduct for political officeholders.
Teo Chee Hean, speaking for the Prime Minister, referred to a prior Ministerial Statement addressing the issue.
The referenced statement was delivered at the 3 July 2023 Parliament Sitting and reviewed rentals of state properties at those addresses.
The debate centers on potential code of conduct violations regarding the leasing of Ridout Road properties.

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4 Jul 2023

Policies and Processes for Cabinet Ministers to Declare Conflicts of Interest

Hazel Poa asked the Prime Minister about the current rules, conventions, policies, and processes for Cabinet Ministers to declare conflicts of interest and recuse themselves, and whether there are plans to strengthen them.
Teo Chee Hean, speaking for the Prime Minister, referred to a previous Ministerial Statement from 3 July 2023 that addressed these issues in detail.
The debate centered on the transparency and accountability of Cabinet Ministers in managing conflicts of interest.
The response highlighted existing procedures but did not introduce new plans for strengthening the rules at this time.
The discussion is part of ongoing parliamentary scrutiny of governance standards in Singapore.

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4 Jul 2023

Rules Applied to Political Officeholders for Speaking at Events Organised by Commercial Entities

Sylvia Lim asked about the rules and enforcement mechanisms for political officeholders when accepting invitations to speak at events organised by commercial entities, to prevent the promotion of commercial interests.
Chan Chun Sing, speaking for the Prime Minister, stated that officeholders consider whether events align with their ministry's policy objectives or government priorities before accepting such invitations.
He emphasized that officeholders must ensure their participation is not perceived as endorsing the commercial interests of the organising entities.
The response highlights a principle-based approach where discretion is guided by alignment with public policy rather than explicit prohibitions.
No specific enforcement mechanisms were detailed, implying reliance on individual judgment and accountability to avoid perceptions of commercial endorsement.

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4 Jul 2023

Submission of Impact Assessment Reports by Family Service Centres to Monitor Efficacy in Usage of Funds Disbursed

Carrie Tan inquired whether Family Service Centres (FSCs) must submit impact assessment reports to monitor fund usage and if not, whether extra funding could be provided to support such assessments.
The Minister responded that FSCs are already accountable under existing funding agreements to meet service and governance standards, making additional impact assessments unnecessary.
The Minister noted that for non-government-funded programmes, the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) offers capability development initiatives to help agencies demonstrate impact, referring to a previous debate for details.

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4 Jul 2023

Pay Ratio Disclosures for Ministries, Statutory Boards and Government-linked Companies

Mr Louis Chua proposed pay ratio disclosures for top vs median, lower and upper quartile staff across Ministries, Statutory Boards, and government-linked companies.
The Government declined, citing previous responses that such ratios are not meaningful for the Public Service and that existing governance and accountability measures suffice.
The Prime Minister's reply reiterated that safeguards already ensure proper governance and accountability in these entities without needing pay ratio disclosures.

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3 Jul 2023

Approvals for Rental of and Works to be Done at State-owned Bungalows

Multiple MPs asked about tree clearance at 26 and 31 Ridout Road, including approvals sought, who applied, the number of trees felled, and whether rare or endangered species were removed, with the Second Minister for Law deferring these points to a prior Ministerial Statement.
There were questions on whether state properties are always rented to the highest bidders, if other factors like tenant profile are considered, and whether Presidential assent is required when highest bidders are not selected, alongside suggestions to improve rental yield.
Queries were raised about the total land and built-in area of black-and-white houses, how many are rented out, and the Government’s annual rental income from these properties.
An MP asked if the SLA website lists all prior residential and commercial tender awards and, if not, the reasons for omissions, again pointing to the Ministerial Statement for answers.

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3 Jul 2023

Political Officeholders or Members of Parliament Renting or Occupying State Property for Residential Purposes

Hazel Poa asked whether any political officeholders or MPs are currently renting or occupying state property for residential purposes.
Teo Chee Hean, for the Prime Minister, responded that the issue had been addressed in Ministerial Statements during the 3 July 2023 Parliament Sitting.
The debate focused on transparency and accountability regarding state property usage by political figures.
The government's prior statements were referenced as the official response to the query.

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3 Jul 2023

Rental of 26 Ridout Road

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s review and the CPIB investigation concluded that Ministers Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan did not commit any corruption, abuse of power, or conflict of interest in renting state properties at Ridout Road, with all transactions conducted at market rates and proper recusal procedures followed.
The debate highlighted concerns over the rental of 26 Ridout Road, including the acquisition of adjacent land, the rental pricing methodology based on gross floor area rather than land size, and the absence of open tender, with Ministers clarifying that these were standard SLA practices and that no preferential treatment was given.
Minister Shanmugam explained his personal financial decision to rent the property, including his prior recusal from the process and his family’s property arrangements, while both Ministers emphasized their commitment to public service and integrity despite public perception issues.

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3 Jul 2023

Rentals of State Properties

The Minister confirmed that the rental transactions for 26 and 31 Ridout Road followed standard SLA procedures, with rents determined by independent valuers who were unaware of the tenants' identities, and the CPIB found no corruption or preferential treatment.
SLA's management of heritage Black and White bungalows involves balancing the preservation of historical and architectural value with optimizing their usage, including adapting marketing and leasing strategies to market conditions and exploring longer lease terms to encourage tenant investment in upkeep.
The works carried out on the properties, including conservation-mandated repairs and tenant-funded improvements, were conducted in line with standard practices, with any tree felling requiring NParks approval based on arborist reports due to safety concerns.

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3 Jul 2023

Review of the Rentals of State Properties at 26 and 31 Ridout Road

The CPIB investigation found no evidence of corruption, criminal wrongdoing, preferential treatment, or abuse of position by Ministers Shanmugam and Balakrishnan in the rental of 26 and 31 Ridout Road, and the Attorney-General's Chambers agreed with the findings.
Both Ministers and involved public officers properly declared and recused themselves from any potential conflict of interest, with Minister Shanmugam removing himself from the decision-making chain regarding his rental due to his oversight of SLA.
The rental transactions followed SLA's prevailing policies and processes, with rents determined at fair market value based on independent valuations and comparable properties, and tenancy terms aligned with standard practices for substantial tenant improvements.

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3 Jul 2023

Update on CPIB Investigation into Seatrium

CPIB is investigating Seatrium and individuals for alleged corruption offences in Brazil, but no further details can be provided as the probe is ongoing, with the government reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Temasek's capital injection into Sembcorp Marine during the pandemic was based on public disclosures and due diligence, with the decision driven by commercial considerations to protect jobs and value, without prior knowledge of the specific Brazilian allegations.
The government emphasises ongoing vigilance and engagement with portfolio companies like Seatrium to enforce anti-corruption standards, acknowledging that while controls are in place, corruption can remain hidden and requires constant review.

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3 Jul 2023

Circumstances Surrounding Leasing of Ridout Road Properties by Ministers' Families

Multiple MPs raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, transparency, and the conduct of Ministers who leased state properties at Ridout Road, citing concerns over privileged information, the Code of Conduct for Ministers, and the fairness of the Singapore Land Authority's (SLA) tender and bidding processes.
Specific inquiries focused on whether SLA followed standard procedures, how rental rates and terms were set, the involvement of Ministers in official decisions regarding the leases, and the costs and maintenance of the properties.
The Prime Minister's response, delivered by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, deferred answering the 23 questions to a later ministerial statement during the same parliamentary sitting.

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10 May 2023

Suspicious Property Transaction Reports Filed and Cases Linked to Money Laundering

Member of Parliament Louis Chua asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of suspicious real estate transaction reports filed and money laundering convictions linked to residential and commercial properties over the past five years.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs responded that the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office does not publicly release detailed statistics on suspicious transaction reports and that the police do not track money laundering convictions by asset class.
Chua raised a supplementary question about safeguards for secondary market transactions once new anti-money laundering rules for developers take effect in June 2023, noting potential risks if bad actors shift to secondary markets.
The Minister explained that licensed housing developers must report suspicious transactions under the Developers (Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2018, which aligns with existing legal requirements to disclose matters suspected to involve proceeds of crime.

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8 May 2023

Reports of Misuse of People's Association Events or Venues and Outcome of Investigations

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Ministry and People’s Association for data on reported misuse of PA venues or events, investigations conducted over the past five years, and a breakdown of investigation outcomes.
The People’s Association stated that its facilities are for social and recreational use, with booking forms prohibiting religious, political, or unlawful purposes.
The PA said it investigates any reported misuse and takes appropriate action as needed.

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8 May 2023

Reasons for not Pressing Charges against Mr Liew Kai Lung Karl under Section 177 of Penal Code

The Minister clarified that the Attorney-General’s Chambers preferred charges against Mr Liew under Sections 177 and 193 of the Penal Code, and he eventually pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 182, with the Section 177 charge considered for sentencing.
The Minister explained that using amended charges and considering other charges for sentencing is standard practice in guilty plea cases and that the prosecution's decision was based on normal factors like case strength and cooperation.
The Minister noted that the Attorney-General had recused himself from the case and that the AGC, not the Minister, would decide on making any reasons public.

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18 Apr 2023

Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) (Amendment) Bill

The Bill aims to amend the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 and introduce related changes to other legislation.
It was presented by the Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mrs Josephine Teo, and read for the first time in Parliament.
The Bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and will be printed for further deliberation.

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22 Mar 2023

Ministerial Statement on Police Disclosure

Minister Shanmugam criticized Leong Mun Wai for making misrepresentations on Facebook after failing to respond during the parliamentary debate, and demanded he delete the post and apologize for abusing parliamentary privilege.
The debate centered on the disclosure of investigations into Lee Hsien Yang and Mrs Lee Suet Fern, with the Minister asserting they have absconded and lied under oath, while Leong argued the government applied a double standard by not naming individuals in the Keppel case.
Leong defended his use of the phrase "muddy the waters" as a call to focus on the core issue of fairness, but refused to withdraw his allegation, leading the Minister to consider further action for breach of parliamentary rules.

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21 Mar 2023

Forgery of In-principle Approval Letters for Migrant Workers

Louis Ng asked whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigates collusion between Singapore employers or agencies and overseas agents in forging in-principle approval (IPA) letters for migrant workers, and if not, whether it will start doing so.
MOM stated it conducts thorough investigations to identify parties involved in forgery cases and will check for collusion between local employers or agencies and overseas agents.
From 2018 to 2022, only one local employer was charged and convicted for forging IPA letters, and MOM will take enforcement action against any errant parties found complicit.

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