SINGAPORE: A widely-circulated July 18 Reuters article described Singapore as “squeaky-clean” and noted that the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) “has long prided itself on its high ethical standards.”
However, the recent scandals involving Transport Minister S. Iswaran being investigated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau as well as the resignation of House Speaker Tan Chuan Jin over an alleged affair with fellow PAP member and MP Cheng Li Hui, who also resigned, occurring within one week “have some wondering if the party’s reputation of ‘whiter than white’ stands.”
White is the colour that the PAP has adopted as its own as part of its branding since 1959, the year founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew took office and pledged for leaders to be “whiter than white”.
The Reuters piece, shared in news outlets around the world, also mentioned that last month, two other ministers, PAP stalwarts K Shanmugan (Minister of Law and Home Affairs) and Vivian Balakrishnan (Foreign Affairs Minister), were also investigated regarding the properties they rented on Ridout Road, although no wrongdoing has been found.
The question is whether the recent scandals will have a lasting impact on the PAP, which has held power and enjoyed a supermajority for over six decades, and affect the next General Election, although it need not be held until 2025.
Some say that the current scandals will be weathered well.
“Singapore’s political sagas prompt memes but won’t hurt stability: ‘dark clouds will pass’,” reads the title of a July 18 piece in the South China Morning Post.
“It would be a mistake to rush to assume that it, or Singapore, is fundamentally compromised. Human failings are to be expected, no matter how regrettable. Recency effects of multiple episodes involving so many big names can create mulling dark clouds but most of these should pass soon,” wrote Mr Devadas Krishnadas, the owner of a public policy consultancy and a former civil servant, and who was quoted in the SCMP article.
National University of Singapore political scientist Chong Ja Ian, who was quoted by Reuters, seemed a bit more wary.
“These events appear to have created some public speculation about the PAP’s approach to privilege, restraint, and authority,” he said. /TISG