Prime Minister pledges unwavering commitment to accountability and transparency under his leadership and that of his successor.
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reaffirmed the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) strict stance against corruption and misconduct, pledging that the party’s approach to accountability will remain unchanged when Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong takes over as Singapore’s leader. Speaking in Parliament on Aug 2, Mr. Lee addressed recent controversies involving the PAP, including the arrest of Transport Minister S. Iswaran and the resignations of Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui.
Highlighting the party’s transparency, Mr. Lee cited the thorough investigations into allegations surrounding the Ridout Road property rentals and the swift action taken in the cases of Mr. Tan and Ms. Cheng’s personal misconduct. “The way we have handled these incidents shows how seriously the PAP takes our responsibility of governing Singapore, and being accountable to Parliament and to Singaporeans,” he said.
The Prime Minister underscored the PAP’s dual approach: zero tolerance for corruption and a humane, fact-based assessment of personal lapses. Acknowledging that no system is immune to human error, Mr. Lee emphasized the party’s commitment to identifying, vetting, and testing individuals for leadership roles.
Reflecting on past corruption cases involving political office holders, Mr. Lee noted that these incidents were dealt with thoroughly and transparently under Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, a standard that remains unchanged. “It has not changed under my charge; and it won’t under my successor either,” he said.
Mr. Lee concluded by stressing that trust is fundamental to Singapore’s democracy. Despite the recent challenges, he pledged that the PAP would uphold high standards of propriety and take necessary actions to maintain public confidence. “For the good of our country, we will carry through what needs to be done in accordance with the law, even if it may be politically embarrassing and painful to the party,” he said.
