Debate over the MP’s past involvement with Business China intensifies amid ongoing conflict of interest questions.
SINGAPORE: MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling is facing increased scrutiny over her previous role at Business China, a non-profit organization, after her recent appointment at Grab sparked controversy due to potential conflict of interest concerns. These concerns first emerged weeks ago, when her new position at Grab raised alarms about the overlap between her private and public roles. Although the People’s Action Party (PAP) addressed these concerns over her Grab appointment, public interest in her career continues to grow, especially regarding her time with Business China.
Social media users have revisited her past position, questioning her salary and the possibility of conflicts of interest. Critics highlight that Ms Tin’s husband, Ng How Yue, who is a senior government official and a board member of the Tote Board, was a key funder of Business China. This connection has led many to question if there were any undue influences during her tenure.
Ng How Yue, who has had a distinguished career in public service, was previously the Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. His role as a board member at Tote Board, which provides significant funding to Business China, has sparked concerns about the intertwining of political and business interests. The Tote Board, a statutory body under the Ministry of Finance, has donated millions to Business China, with recent agreements promising further financial support. This, coupled with her husband’s government position, has led to widespread debate over the propriety of Ms Tin’s professional roles.
Adding fuel to the fire, netizens are also raising questions about the salaries of ruling party politicians like Ms Tin, who were previously involved with Business China. Previous CEOs of the organization were also members of the PAP, including Sun Xueling, Low Yen Ling, and Josephine Teo. The potential earnings of these individuals are under scrutiny, with estimates suggesting Ms Tin could have earned over S$200,000 annually since taking on the CEO role in 2018. This has led to further calls for transparency regarding compensation within non-profit organizations with government ties.
In January, Ms Tin’s new role at Grab as Director of Public Affairs and Policy raised alarms for its potential conflict with her parliamentary duties, especially since she chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information. The role’s acronym, “PAP,” has also been pointed out for its similarity to the ruling party’s name, fueling speculation about overlapping responsibilities.
Despite these concerns, Ms Tin defended her position, stating that her work at Grab would be distinct from her political role. Initially cleared by the PAP, her appointment was later reconsidered when it became apparent that the separation between her political and private responsibilities could be blurred. Consequently, Grab modified her role to one that would not involve lobbying or government relations in Singapore.
