Amidst accusations of corruption, S Iswaran, the Transport Minister of Singaporean Indian descent, declared his departure from the ruling People’s Action Party. Furthermore, according to The Straits Times newspaper, the 61-year-old politician would resign from his position as a member of parliament.
Iswaran was taken into custody in July of last year as a result of an inquiry conducted by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
According to media sources, his detention was made public on July 14; however, no information regarding the nature of the inquiry was given. Property magnate Ong Beng Seng, who chairs the race promoter Singapore GP and holds the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix, was detained and questioned about his contacts with Iswaran.
Iswaran refuted the numerous crimes the CPIB accused him of in a January 16 resignation letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. “I refute the accusations contained in the charges, and I’ll now concentrate on cleansing my record. I believe it is appropriate for me to step down from Cabinet, as well as from my roles as a member of Parliament and the PAP, in light of the current situation,” the letter stated.
Iswaran said in a separate letter on January 17 that he would be returning his MP stipend and salary that he had been receiving since the CPIB investigations started in July 2023.
He stated that he will not be requesting the return of the funds if he is found not guilty, saying, “My family and I have decided to return the monies because we cannot in all good conscience benefit from them when I was unable, on account of the investigations, to discharge my duties as a minister and Member of Parliament.”
The prime minister expressed his disappointment and sadness that Iswaran was quitting politics under these circumstances in response to Iswaran’s letter on Wednesday.
However, it is imperative that I handle these situations strictly in accordance with the law. It is the proper course of action. The integrity of the government and the Party (PAP) must be upheld. You recognise the significance of doing this, I’m sure. No less is expected by Singaporeans,” added Lee.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced in a separate statement that Iswaran will be replaced on Thursday by Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat. In addition, he will be named Finance’s Second Minister.
Meanwhile, Iswaran’s position as the Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations would be assumed by Grace Fu, the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
When Iswaran went before a district judge earlier on Thursday, he was accused with two charges of corruption involving bribery.
According to a Channel News Asia report, he showed up at the State Courts at around eight in the morning and did not answer questions from media as he walked to the court entrance.
He entered a not guilty plea to 27 accusations, including two under the Prevention of Corruption Act, one for obstruction of justice, and 24 under the Penal Code, which dealt with receiving gratification while working as a public servant.
In order to further the hotelier’s commercial interests in a Singapore Grand Prix contract with the Singapore Tourism Board in September and December 2022, Iswaran is charged with taking more than SGD 160,000 from Ong.
In addition, he faces one allegation of obstructing justice in May 2023 and 24 charges of accepting expensive items worth more than SGD 218,000 from Ong while he was a public worker between November 2015 and December 2021, including Singapore Grand Prix tickets.
Since May 2021, Iswaran has served as the Transport Minister. Since his initial election as a Member of Parliament in 1997, he has been involved in politics for almost 26 years.