Governance & integrity — Topics

3 Jul 2017

Alleged Abuse of Power on 38 Oxley Road

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong responded to allegations of abuse of power from his siblings, denying them and stating they harm Singapore's reputation, and he is addressing them in Parliament to maintain public trust.
He detailed the history of 38 Oxley Road, including his father Lee Kuan Yew's wish to demolish it, family discussions, and after his death, Lee Hsien Loong recused himself from government decisions and transferred ownership of the house to his brother without financial benefit.
The Prime Minister refuted specific allegations, such as the setting up of a Ministerial Committee, the Deed of Gift for artefacts, and nepotism claims, asserting proper conduct and conflict-of-interest management.
He explained why he chose not to sue his siblings, to avoid further damaging the family and Singapore, and instead account for his actions in Parliament to uphold transparency and the rule of law.
The debate emphasizes upholding the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew through Singapore's values of equality, meritocracy, and integrity, with the government committed to serving the people and maintaining trust.

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3 Jul 2017

Personal or Pecuniary Interests of Ministers and Senior Officeholders

Parliamentarians questioned the rules and enforcement mechanisms to prevent conflicts of interest among Ministers and senior officeholders, particularly regarding the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's estate and the 38 Oxley Road property.
Several MPs asked about the transparency and composition of undisclosed Ministerial committees, including the one reviewing 38 Oxley Road, and whether independent experts and public consultation would be involved.
Concerns were raised about the use of state organs to advance personal interests or target critics, with calls for mechanisms to prevent, detect, and address such abuses.
A motion was proposed to establish a special Select Committee with public hearings to investigate allegations of abuse of power related to 38 Oxley Road.
Questions were posed on rules to prevent family members of officials from influencing civil servants, communication of these rules, and consequences for proven abuses, with some queries deferred to ministerial statements.

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8 May 2017

Government Oversight on Use of Monies by Official Sporting Bodies

The Ministry exercises oversight through Sport Singapore (SportSG), which provides grants to National Sports Associations (NSAs) that must meet strict governance and financial criteria, including registration as societies and charities, compliance with laws, and alignment with SportSG’s Vision 2030 plans.
Criteria for fair use include multi-year plans with key performance indicators, annual assessments of funding based on performance, governance capabilities, and diverse revenue sources; funding levels are adjusted yearly based on these factors.
To prevent and rectify misallocation, SportSG requires audited financial statements, allows audits of accounting records, and can suspend, terminate, or recover grants for non-compliance, while serious cases like misappropriation are referred to the Police.

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4 Apr 2017

Publication of Environmental Impact Assessments

Louis Ng asked whether all environmental impact assessments for Tengah’s development could be made public and what plans exist to protect existing wildlife in the area.
The Senior Minister of State replied that HDB is conducting an environmental baseline study with public findings to be shared, plans include a Forest Corridor and naturalised water bodies, and wildlife management strategies to minimise impact.
Ng followed up asking for a timeline, whether a full EIA would be conducted, and if nature groups were involved, to which the Minister confirmed the study would finish by mid-2017 and that stakeholders including nature groups are consulted.
Leon Perera questioned if all EIAs should be made public unless for national security, and the Minister confirmed findings are generally public unless specific considerations prohibit release.

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3 Apr 2017

Breakdown of Foreign Domestic Worker Numbers by Nationality

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Ministry of Manpower why it is reluctant to provide a breakdown of foreign domestic workers by nationality, questioning the rationale for withholding such data.
The Minister of State for Manpower explained that disclosing this information is not in Singapore's interest due to potential sensitivities among local groups and the countries of origin of the workers.
Dennis Tan clarified that countries like Australia publish similar data quarterly without issue and asked the Ministry to reconsider its position.
The Minister of State reiterated that Singapore's context differs from Australia's, emphasizing that the sensitivity of the data outweighs the benefits of disclosure for national and household interests.

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10 Mar 2017

Town Councils (Amendment) Bill

The Bill introduces stricter governance, transparency, and accountability measures for Town Councils, including mandatory reporting and government intervention powers to protect residents' interests.
It establishes a dedicated Lift Replacement Fund (LRF) requiring Town Councils to allocate a minimum percentage of income, supported by government grants to help cover future lift replacement costs.
The government will provide substantial financial support, including a $450 million Lift Enhancement Programme and additional matching grants, while emphasizing shared responsibility for long-term maintenance.
Opposition MPs raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, the role of civil servants in investigations, and the appropriateness of MND as regulator, but the government defended the framework as necessary after past governance issues.
The Bill was passed with dissent recorded from several MPs, primarily over Clause 24, which relates to the powers and oversight mechanisms in the new legislation.

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10 Mar 2017

Town Councils (Amendment) Bill

The government introduced amendments to the Town Councils Act to strengthen governance, financial management, and oversight, citing the need to protect public funds and residents' interests as Town Councils manage larger assets and face higher public expectations.
The opposition Workers' Party supported improved governance standards but opposed the enhanced regulatory powers granted to the Ministry of National Development (MND), arguing they could be politically misused against opposition-led Town Councils and proposing independent oversight instead.
Debate arose over the handover process between Town Councils, with PAP MPs highlighting operational difficulties during transitions, while opposition MPs defended their management and called for fairer systems and dispute resolution mechanisms.

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3 Mar 2017

Committee of Supply ‒ Head B (Attorney-General's Chambers)

Sylvia Lim raised concerns about the significant increase in AGC headcount, questioning the necessity for more officers and the recruitment of senior lawyers from the private sector who may not have the right public service mindset.
Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah explained that the increased headcount was necessary to address understaffing and manage a growing workload, including more complex cases and new functions, and defended the appointment of mid-career recruits, including former MPs, as common and acceptable in many countries.
Sylvia Lim clarified her concerns, emphasizing the vast prosecutorial discretion of the AG and Deputy AG, and questioned whether the Deputy AG would recuse himself in politically charged cases.
Minister K Shanmugam defended the appointment, stating the Deputy AG is eminently qualified and that the system ensures individuals of character and competence are chosen, with clear rules on recusal.
Sylvia Lim withdrew her amendment to reduce funding but maintained her reservations, and the sums for Head B were approved.

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2 Mar 2017

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

Multiple MPs raised concerns about the sudden 30% water price increase and questioned the timing and necessity of recent utility hikes, while the government defended the increases as necessary for long-term sustainability and infrastructure investment.
Discussions emphasized the need for greater accountability and evaluation of past economic schemes, with specific examples cited about the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme's effectiveness and fraud cases.
The debate highlighted the importance of social values such as graciousness, unity, and support for elderly workers, with calls for stronger community and government partnership to address societal challenges.

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2 Mar 2017

Ex-offenders Hired in Civil Service

Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister for the number of ex-offenders hired by the Civil Service over the past five years and their distribution across ministries or statutory boards.
The Deputy Prime Minister responded that the Public Service does not track this data, as spent criminal records need not be disclosed since 2006, and recruitment is based on individual merit.
Ex-offenders may be hired considering factors like the offence's seriousness, time since conviction, and job responsibilities, with extra caution for roles involving children.

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7 Feb 2017

Government Tenders for Public Opinion Polls

Low Thia Khiang questioned the Minister about the number, total cost, respondent coverage, and publication criteria for government-tendered public opinion polls between 2014 and 2016.
Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim responded that all opinion poll tenders are posted on GeBIZ, with 14 commissioned via a whole-of-government framework in that period.
He noted that polls average 1,000 to 2,000 respondents to represent the national population and that spending aligns with market rates.
REACH releases poll findings on topical issues to provide a holistic, objective sense of public sentiment, aiding government policy and communication adjustments.
The government uses opinion poll data to understand public sentiment, assess policy awareness, and improve service delivery and policy implementation.

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6 Feb 2017

Attendance at Meetings of Presidential Council for Minority Rights from 2012 to 2016

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Prime Minister for the average number of absences per member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights during 31 meetings from 2012 to 2016.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declined to disclose attendance details, citing the private nature of Council proceedings and noting sufficient quorum was always maintained.
Lee emphasized that the Council’s effectiveness is not measured by meeting duration or attendance, but by its responsible execution of constitutional duties.
The Council’s work is reported to the President and its annual report is presented to Parliament.
Council composition and meeting frequency vary based on membership terms and the volume of legislation scrutinised.

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6 Feb 2017

Conflict-of-interest Issues in Competition Commission of Singapore's Investigations against Government-linked Companies

Pritam Singh asked about safeguards to ensure Conflict of Interest issues in Competition Commission of Singapore's (CCS) investigations against Government-linked Companies (GLCs) or companies predominantly owned by Statutory Boards/GLCs
Lim Hng Kiang stated that all private sector entities, regardless of ownership, must comply with the Competition Act, though certain regulated sectors like media and telecommunications are excluded
The First Schedule of the Competition Act requires CCS members with a vested interest in a business under investigation to declare this interest and recuse themselves from relevant deliberations or decisions

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6 Feb 2017

Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill

The bill amends the Presidential Elections Act to implement constitutional changes, including a hiatus-triggered reserved election system, by establishing a Community Committee to certify candidates' racial community eligibility based on self-declaration and community acceptance.
It introduces procedural updates, such as extending nomination deadlines, requiring candidates to declare understanding of the President's limited role, and adjusting ballot design and vote-counting rules to enhance clarity and efficiency.
The government announced campaign reforms to depoliticise presidential elections, such as increasing televised airtime and eliminating designated rally sites, and shifted polling day to September to avoid overlapping with National Day celebrations.
The Workers' Party opposed the bill, arguing that an appointed presidency would better serve unity than an elected one, and raised concerns about the arbitrary counting of presidential terms and the delegation of eligibility criteria to ministers.
The bill was passed with dissent recorded from Workers' Party members and one nominated member, reflecting ongoing debate over the balance between meritocracy and multiracialism in Singapore's presidential system.

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6 Feb 2017

Town Councils (Amendment) Bill

The Bill seeks to amend the Town Councils Act to refine regulatory and operational frameworks for town councils in Singapore.
It was presented by the Senior Minister of State for National Development and read for the First Reading, with the Second Reading scheduled after the conclusion of the 2017/2018 financial year expenditure proceedings.
The amendment aims to enhance governance and accountability measures within town councils.
The debate focuses on ensuring town councils remain effective in managing public housing estate affairs and community resources.
Key considerations include balancing local autonomy with national standards for urban management and resident welfare.

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9 Jan 2017

Civil Claims for Negligence Arising from Safety Breaches during SAF Training

Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan proposed amending the Government Proceedings Act to allow civil claims for negligence during SAF training when safety protocols are conspicuously violated, arguing this would enhance accountability and public confidence.
The Minister for Defence opposed the change, citing the importance of Section 14 in protecting military training efficiency and decisiveness, and highlighting that current systems already provide compensation and criminal accountability for breaches.
The Minister noted that removing similar protections in the UK led to reputational risks and hindered operational effectiveness, and emphasized that Singapore’s system balances high safety standards with realistic training needs.

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9 Jan 2017

Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill

The Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill was presented to amend the Presidential Elections Act and make consequential changes to the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Prime Minister's Office Minister Mr Chan Chun Sing introduced the bill, which was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading in a future sitting.
The bill aims to update legal frameworks governing presidential and parliamentary elections in Singapore.

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9 Nov 2016

Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean defended the reserved presidential election for minorities as a necessary step to address minority representation, citing 25 years of experience with the Elected Presidency and the success of the GRC system.
Opposition members raised concerns about the lack of a referendum, potential politicization of the presidency, and the need for public disclosure of the Attorney-General's advice on counting terms for reserved elections.
The government clarified that the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) has no veto power and that resources would be provided for the President and CPA, while also noting that the NCMP provisions guarantee opposition voices in Parliament.
The bill passed its second and third readings with overwhelming support (77-6), meeting the two-thirds requirement for constitutional amendments.
An amendment was made to Clause 22 to ensure that presidential refusals or decisions on certain entities cannot be overruled without a Cabinet resolution following a request from the entity's chairman.

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9 Nov 2016

Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean defended the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, emphasizing that the proposed changes—based on recommendations from an independent Constitutional Commission—aim to strengthen the Elected Presidency’s custodial roles and ensure multiracial representation.
He criticized the Workers’ Party’s late introduction of an elected Senate proposal as unconsultative and poorly thought out, contrasting it with the Government’s transparent 10-month process and urging the WP to detail their plan before campaigning for it.
The Bill adjusts eligibility criteria for presidential candidates, harmonizes the Council of Presidential Advisers’ functions, and introduces a hiatus-triggered mechanism to ensure minority representation, while rejecting calls for a referendum as potentially confusing and unnecessary.

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9 Nov 2016

Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

The Workers' Party proposes replacing the Elected Presidency with an elected Senate, but the Minister for Law argues the proposal is fundamentally flawed, noting it would create eight presidents with the same elitist qualifications, exacerbating issues of politicisation and gridlock.
The debate highlights concerns about the Elected Presidency’s dual roles—symbolic unifier and custodian of reserves—with some members questioning how these tensions can be managed, while the government defends the system as necessary for safeguards.
The Bill introduces a reserved election mechanism to ensure minority representation, with support for multiracialism, though some members express concerns about tokenism and the need for genuine minority inclusion beyond symbolic gestures.

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