Edwin Tong: Kembangan-Chai Chee volunteers ‘downcast and shocked’ by Tan Chuan-Jin scandal

SINGAPORE: In a Facebook post on Monday night (July 17), Mr Edwin Tong wrote that the scandal involving former House Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, had left volunteers and activists in the ward Mr Tan represents “understandably downcast and shocked”.

Mr Tan resigned on July 17 due to an affair with fellow People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui. Ms Cheng has resigned as well.

The former Speaker had been the Member of Parliament for the Kembangan-Chai Chee (KCC) ward at Marine Parade GRC since 2011, succeeding Mr Tong, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

After the resignations of Mr Tan and Ms Cheng were made public, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Mr Tong would again take care of the residents of KCC.

He will also serve as Grassroots Advisor to KCC Grassroots Organisations and be the anchor minister for the GRC.

In his post, Mr Tong wrote, “The immediate priority now is to ensure that KCC residents are taken care of and that their interests are served well.”

He added that two other MPs are being brought in to assist the PAP team at Marine Parade.

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson SMC) and Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten SMC) will be assisting the remaining Marine Parade GRC MPs—Dr Tan See Leng, Mr Seah Kian Peng, and Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman—in looking after KCC, Mr Tong wrote, adding “We will all pitch in to support KCC fully, and I assure residents that we will do our very best to look after them.”

He also said that he and Dr Tan See Leng met with the ward’s volunteers and activists on Monday night.

“They are understandably downcast and shocked at the turn of events, but are resolute and determined not to let their good work and rapport be undermined by this incident. There is a very good team of volunteers at KCC who care deeply about the well-being of KCC residents. They are dedicated, focussed and have been doing very well. In turn, I assured them that my team and I will work hard to support them to the best of our abilities.” /TISG

Tan Chuan-Jin and fellow PAP MP Cheng Li Hui caught red-handed having an affair, both resigned after multiple warnings from PM Lee