SINGAPORE. — Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has long prided itself on its high ethical standards but two political entanglements within a week have some wondering if the party’s reputation of “whiter than white” stands.
Within days, Singaporeans were shocked to be told that the transport minister had been arrested in connection with a graft investigation, and then that two lawmakers, including the house speaker, were stepping down because of an inappropriate relationship.
The incidents came after two cabinet ministers were cleared of wrongdoing in June in their rental of state-owned property.
Analysts said the events may not bode well for the PAP, which has ruled Singapore uninterrupted since 1959.
While the troubles are not expected to bring the party down, they could dent Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s legacy and cast a shadow on a delicate leadership transition and upcoming presidential election. Singapore’s next general election is in 2025.
Scandals are rare in Singapore where the repudiation of corruption has been a core principle since founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew took office in 1959 dressed with his team in white and vowing that leaders must be “whiter than white.”
Ministers are paid more than S$1 million ($757,300) a year to discourage corruption and attract the best and the brightest.
Until last week, the most recent graft case involving a minister was in 1987 and the last resignations of members of parliament were in 2012 and 2016.
“These events appear to have created some public speculation about the PAP’s approach to privilege, restraint, and authority,” said National University of Singapore political scientist Chong Ja Ian.
The government did not respond to requests for comments.
The party responded by emailing Reuters a four-minute video clip from a press conference that Lee, the son of Lee Kuan Yew, held on Monday to address the resignations of the two members of parliament.
When asked about the developments, Lee said: “From time to time these things happen. When they happen, we have to make sure we deal with them and deal with them rigorously as well as transparently and everybody can see that we are doing that.”
“No system can be completely infallible. You appoint people, sometimes things go wrong,” Lee added.
Minister of Transport S Iswaran has been put on leave. He has not commented publicly.
