Governance & integrity — Topics

10 Sep 2018

Update on Investigation into Possible Misuse of Funds at Tiong Bahru Football Club

Ganesh Rajaram inquired about the progress of the investigation into possible misuse of funds at Tiong Bahru Football Club.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that police investigations are in their final phase and recommendations will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
It was stated that no further comments could be made at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

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10 Jul 2018

Evaluation of Public Construction Work Tenders after Incidence of PIE Viaduct Collapse

The Ministry evaluates construction tenders using the Price Quality Method, with non-price criteria such as design quality and safety accounting for 30% to 50% of the weight, depending on project complexity.
Multiple layers of checks are in place, including design reviews by a Qualified Person and Accredited Checker, sampling checks by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and targeted inspections during construction.
To prevent unauthorized works, BCA conducts enforcement actions against parties who contravene regulations, and all structural works must be certified by the Qualified Person and builder upon completion.
The procurement framework aims to ensure fair, transparent, and competitive evaluation of tenders while incorporating quality and safety considerations for public construction projects.

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19 Mar 2018

Criminal Justice Reform Bill

The bill introduces video-recording of police statements for certain serious offences like rape, aiming to enhance transparency and protect both the accused and investigators from allegations of coercion, though some members raised concerns about safeguards and the scope of implementation.
It expands community-based sentencing, including mandatory treatment orders for more offenders, to promote rehabilitation, while also strengthening victim compensation processes by allowing victims more participation and requiring judges to justify when compensation is not awarded.
A deferred prosecution agreement scheme for corporations is introduced to encourage cooperation and remediation, but concerns were raised about transparency, such as the lack of required public reasons for court approval and the potential for companies to avoid prosecution.

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19 Mar 2018

Limiting Use of Section 409 of Penal Code to Professional Agents

The Minister confirmed that 12 persons are serving sentences for offences under Section 409 of the Penal Code based on pre-2018 interpretations, with no plans for the Public Prosecutor to seek changes to their sentences.
The Minister clarified that the 12 cases differ from past cases where prosecution appealed on sentence severity, as they involve public servants and agents, not directors, and thus do not warrant similar review.
Regarding the Home Detention Scheme, the Minister stated that eligibility for the 12 cases requires further checking, while the City Harvest case convicts would not qualify under current policy as determined by the Commissioner of Prisons.

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8 Mar 2018

Response to Leader's Statement on 6 March 2018

Sylvia Lim defended her suspicion that the government might raise the GST before 2021, citing public statements and speculation leading up to the 2018 Budget, and stated she would not retract her remarks or apologize.
The Leader of the House accused Lim of making unfounded allegations that tarnished ministers' reputations, urged her to retract and apologize, and warned of referring the matter to the Committee of Privileges.
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat asserted that the government’s plans were clear and consistent, and called on Lim to withdraw her statements after reviewing the facts, which she declined to do.

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6 Mar 2018

Statement from Leader of the House

The Leader of the House accused Ms Sylvia Lim of making untruthful allegations that the Government floated "test balloons" for an immediate GST hike, citing consistent statements from the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman since 2013 about planning for a tax increase between 2021 and 2025.
The Government clarified that while it has sufficient funds until the end of the decade, it has consistently stated that structural deficits would arise without revenue increases in the next decade, particularly for healthcare spending.
Ms Lim admitted her claims were based on "suspicion" and not facts, and the Leader of the House demanded she withdraw her allegations and apologize to Parliament, as Parliamentary privilege does not protect unsubstantiated accusations.

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27 Feb 2018

False Information Provided to Secure Primary School Places

Darryl David questioned the Ministry of Education (MOE) about the number of parents providing false information to secure primary school places, how such cases are handled, and whether children can remain enrolled after parents are found guilty.
MOE stated that in the past 10 years, fewer than 10 such cases were reported; cases are referred to police for investigation, and if convicted, the child is transferred to another school with available vacancies.
MOE confirmed that counselling and support are provided to the affected child to help them adjust emotionally and educationally in the new school.

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19 Feb 2018

Call for Thorough Investigation of Keppel Offshore and Marine's Business Affairs for Contracts in Countries Other Than Brazil

Dennis Tan asked if the CPIB will investigate whether Keppel Offshore and Marine engaged in bribery beyond Brazil during the same period.
The government stated it does not comment on ongoing or potential investigations to avoid jeopardizing agency work or prejudicing parties.
Authorities will investigate if there is good reason or a basis for doing so.
Keppel Corporation is reminded of its responsibility to ensure honest business practices and implement anti-corruption measures under its US deferred prosecution agreement.
Keppel's management has pledged zero tolerance for corruption and commitment to high ethical standards, with shareholders expected to hold them accountable.

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19 Feb 2018

Complaints of Wrongful Accusation Leading to Investigation of Innocent Parties

Gan Thiam Poh questioned the Minister about the number of complaints over wrongful arrests based on informant information, actions taken against those who made false accusations, and whether civil suits are allowed against willful accusers.
The Second Minister for Home Affairs responded that police do not arrest based solely on allegations, false information to police is a punishable offense, and wrongfully accused parties may pursue civil suits.
Gan Thiam Poh raised a specific case where police could not reveal the complainant’s identity, asking how police can assure the accused that action was taken against the wrongful complainant.
The Minister clarified that police only arrest if there are grounds to believe an arrestable offense was committed, and investigations may later conclude no offense occurred.

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19 Feb 2018

Update on Investigation into Possible Misuse of Funds at Tiong Bahru Football Club

The Second Minister for Home Affairs confirmed that police investigations into possible misuse of funds at Tiong Bahru Football Club and related entities are ongoing, with a large volume of records seized, and further commentary is avoided to prevent prejudicing the inquiry.
A follow-up question raised concerns about the accountability of S-League clubs implicated in the case ahead of the new season, to which the Minister responded that specific details cannot be shared but highlighted regulatory progress on fruit machines since 2017.
The Minister outlined that new, stricter regulations for fruit machines were implemented in July 2017, requiring clubs including football clubs to observe enhanced permits, reduced availability, and stronger safeguards, and these measures continue to apply despite ongoing investigations.

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5 Feb 2018

Singaporean Students Commuting from Homes in Johor Baru to Classes in Singapore

Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Education (Schools) for the number of Singaporean students commuting from Johor Bahru to Singapore for primary, secondary, and pre-university classes.
The Ministry of Education, guided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, decided not to release such data.

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10 Jan 2018

Clarification by Nominated Member of Parliament

Nominated Member of Parliament Chia Yong Yong declared her interest as President of SPD and Director of SG Enable, both regulated under the Charities Act, after her speech on the Charities (Amendment) Bill.
The Deputy Speaker noted the clarification and moved to address the Notice of Motion, indicating the debate proceeded to the next stage.
The exchange highlights the importance of transparency in parliamentary proceedings regarding members' affiliations with charitable organizations.

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9 Jan 2018

Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill

Members supported the Bill to strengthen governance and accountability for co-operatives, especially credit co-ops, citing a recent fraud case and the need for stricter regulations to protect members' deposits and savings.
Proposed enhancements included allowing more than two new members to be co-opted to management committees, subjecting credit co-ops to supervisory frameworks similar to finance companies, and introducing competency standards and training for key officers.
The Ministry clarified that regulatory powers are calibrated to protect members' interests in severe situations, with measures like special audits, a transition period for compliance, and financial support via the Central Co-operative Fund, while avoiding over-regulation for non-credit co-ops.

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9 Jan 2018

Charities (Amendment) Bill

The Charities (Amendment) Bill aims to strengthen governance and transparency in Singapore’s charity sector by updating disqualification and removal rules for key personnel and expanding regulatory powers for the Commissioner of Charities.
Key changes include disqualifying individuals convicted of terrorism, money laundering, or serious misconduct, and allowing the Commissioner to suspend fundraising appeals for up to two years during investigations.
The Bill also mandates electronic filing for charities, clarifies the definition of fundraising appeals to cover online and offline activities, and introduces measures to support smaller charities while ensuring accountability.

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9 Jan 2018

Transparency of Racial Quota under Ethnic Integration Policy during Selling and Buying of HDB Flats

Mr Zainal Sapari questioned the transparency of the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) in HDB flat transactions, assistance for sellers unable to sell due to EIP limits, and flexibility for cases with no suitable ethnic buyers.
The Minister for National Development affirmed that the EIP ensures a balanced ethnic mix to promote social cohesion and is applied fairly and transparently through monthly updates on the HDB InfoWEB platform.
Most sellers can find eligible buyers, and HDB provides extensions and pricing advice to those struggling, while also exercising flexibility for mixed-ethnicity households or exceptional circumstances.

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8 Jan 2018

Alleged Roles of Singapore Banks in "The Russian Laundromat" Money-laundering Scheme

Sylvia Lim asked the Prime Minister whether Singapore authorities are investigating the alleged roles of Singapore banks in the "Russian Laundromat" money-laundering scheme, which reportedly involved the flow of US$77 million into Singapore.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, responding for the Prime Minister, noted that the Monetary Authority of Singapore's probe is ongoing but has not yet found evidence of major lapses in anti-money laundering controls at local banks, and that banks had taken appropriate measures where suspicious activities were detected.
He emphasized Singapore’s robust anti-money laundering regime, the requirement for financial institutions to conduct customer due diligence and report suspicious transactions, and the importance of international cooperation in tackling cross-border money laundering.

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8 Jan 2018

Ensuring Strong Governance for Government Funds and Grants

Zaqy Mohamad inquired about the robustness of the Government's funding and grant governance and potential measures for improvement.
Heng Swee Keat affirmed Singapore's sound governance system, highlighting the use of KPIs, regular reviews, and value-for-money assessments to ensure effective spending.
He detailed existing safeguards such as internal audits, rigorous approval processes for major expenditures, independent audits, and fraud detection systems.
The Government promotes best practices through learning platforms and guides, with a continuous commitment to strengthen financial governance and risk management.
Overall, the system is deemed effective, with ongoing efforts to enhance governance across all government-administered schemes.

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8 Jan 2018

Public Sector (Governance) Bill

The Public Sector (Governance) Bill seeks to standardize governance frameworks across Singapore’s Statutory Boards, formalizing Ministerial accountability, central policy compliance, and data-sharing rules to improve consistency and whole-of-government service delivery.
Key provisions include standardizing the appointment and removal of Chief Executives, mandating conflict-of-interest disclosures, and establishing a legal basis for data-sharing among public agencies to enhance efficiency while imposing criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure or re-identification of anonymized data.
During the debate, Members of Parliament expressed support for the Bill but raised concerns about potential politicization of the public service, data privacy and security, the need for stronger safeguards in data-sharing, and the exclusion of certain agencies like the Civil Service and uniformed bodies from some provisions, with the Minister clarifying and committing to address these issues.

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8 Jan 2018

Payment of Fines by Keppel Offshore and Marine to Settle Bribery Probe

The Singapore government coordinated with US and Brazilian authorities in a trilateral resolution where Keppel Offshore and Marine paid a US$422 million penalty for bribery, with Singapore receiving 12.5% of the sum, while emphasizing that each jurisdiction acted under its own domestic laws rather than under a single plea bargain agreement.
Investigations into individuals involved are ongoing and face challenges due to overseas evidence, with the Public Prosecutor set to assess culpability based on factors like knowledge, involvement, and cooperation, and the government defended the company's penalty as substantial while noting past prosecutions of individuals regardless of status.
The government clarified that Temasek, as a minority shareholder, does not interfere in Keppel's day-to-day operations, and that the US$422 million penalty would be paid by Keppel without impacting government finances, while also outlining measures like debarment for corrupt contractors and internal disciplinary actions by Keppel.

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8 Jan 2018

Investigation and Review into Fraudulent Claims for Government Schemes

Patrick Tay and Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Finance for details on recent fraudulent claims in government schemes like the Wage Credit Scheme, countermeasures taken, and whether a full review would be conducted to prevent future breaches.
The Second Minister for Finance confirmed that from 2014 to 2017, IRAS denied or clawed back $5.57 million in Wage Credit payouts across over 1,000 fraudulent cases, using a risk-based approach with upfront checks, analytics, and investigations for high-risk claims, and has prosecuted 14 cases for fraud.
IRAS emphasized that it does not conduct 100% audits due to administrative burden, instead focusing on higher-risk cases for detailed review, with periodic government scheme reviews conducted to ensure relevance and effectiveness.

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