Two Singaporean MPs resign after admitting to inappropriate relationships

Singapore’s government suffered a further blow on Monday after two lawmakers from the ruling party admitted to an “improper relationship” with each other.

One of them was the Speaker of the Parliament, Tan Hsuan-jin, who resigned over his recent “unparliamentary language”. Another lawmaker, Cheng Li Hui He immediately resigned as a Member of Parliament. Both belong to the ruling People’s Action Party.

“Apart from Mr Tan’s recent unparliamentary language, there is also the issue of his inappropriate relationship with fellow PAP MP Ms Seng Lee Hui. Comparatively, this is a more serious matter because he was the Speaker and she was the MP. There was no relationship,” he said. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong During a press conference on Monday.

Prime Minister Accepting both resignations, Tan said the resignation was “necessary” to “maintain the high standards of privacy and personal conduct that the PAP has upheld over the years”.

Sudden resignations of senior PAP members are rare in Singapore, where the ruling party has been in power since 1959, before the city-state gained independence in 1965.

The resignations come a week after the government said a cabinet minister and the head of a Singapore-listed company were part of an investigation into a high-profile corruption probe by the city-state anti-corruption agency.

On Friday, Singapore’s Corruption Investigation Bureau issued a notice to arrest billionaire Ong Peng Seng as part of its investigation. Interrogation with Transport Minister S Iswaran.

Earlier last week, Lee said he asked Iswaran to take one Leave After CPIB disclosed The Transport Minister is assisting with the investigation.

In His resignation letter to LeeTan said he made a mistake when he uttered “indecent and unparliamentary” words to an opposition member in Parliament.

His resignation comes after a recent controversy surrounding a comment He has donned a hot mic during a parliamentary session. A video footage came to light last week as the comment was widely circulated on social media and sparked public criticism.

Chosen Dan 10th Speaker of Parliament In September 2017, in his resignation, he said: “Quite rightly, there was a lot of concern about my comments. Many thought I was impartial.”

“My lapse has raised wider questions about my neutrality and impartiality as Speaker. The credibility of Parliament and leadership is paramount and cannot be compromised,” he added.

During Monday’s briefing, Lee said a new speaker would be appointed by the next session of parliament on August 1.

“High standards of privacy and personal conduct, being clean and corruption-free are the fundamental reasons why Singaporeans trust and respect the PAP and give us their mandate to form the government and work with us to improve the lives of Singaporeans,” Lee said. said.

“PAP MPs – whether they are ministers or backbenchers – must uphold these cardinal values ​​at all times. Without party discipline, without integrity, we are nothing, so this is an absolute necessity.”