風蕭蕭_Frank
以文會友
YouTube 新加坡國會今天發生什麽事？為何總理李顯龍如此激動
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtN3lUxKtaE&ab_channel=RedAnts.SG
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau - cpib reports to somebody who is in
charge, can't report to God and if he is corrupt you are sunk you are sunk
nobody knew that Mr is might or might not have been doing something wrong,
cpiv founder0:20
nobody tipped them off
0:23
nobody
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blew a whistle
0:26
nobody raised a public Scandal no PQ in
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Parliament
0:31
not even from the Workers Party
0:34
but cpib found out it reached a point
0:36
where they needed to interview the
0:39
minister
0:41
and then they came to tell me and say
0:44
can I have your concurrence
0:47
we report to somebody it has to report
0:50
to somebody it can't report to God
0:52
the question at the root of it
0:55
is the age-old problem
0:58
who is to judge the people who judge the
1:00
people who judge the judges who is in
1:03
charge somebody has to be in charge
1:05
and in Singapore the prime minister is
1:08
in charge and if he is corrupt you're
1:09
sunk
1:11
but beyond that we decided to put in an
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extra safeguard
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and that is if the Prime Minister
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directs the cpib you don't do that
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cpiba can go
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to the president and say prime minister
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has refused me consent do you concur
1:28
and if a person says yes then the
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director cpib can proceed if the
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president agrees with the Prime Minister
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that the director's cpib does not have a
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case or has on row
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or is doing something ill-founded and
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says no well that's how two keys work
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and therefore the matter stops there is
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it guaranteed no because the Prime
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Minister may be corrupt the president may be mistaken, but it's as best it is possible to contrive a system with human beings, which will work provided you put honest people in charge that's how the system is supposed to work in Singapore
或涉貪腐 新加坡交通部長被捕
新華社北京7月16日電 新加坡貪汙調查局14日證實，新加坡交通部長易華仁近日被逮捕，隨後保釋在外，正在協助該局調查。
貪汙調查局12日披露易華仁正“協助調查”的消息。由於調查仍在繼續，該局暫時無法公開更多細節。同一天，新加坡總理公署在聲明中說，總理李顯龍已要求易華仁暫停履職，直至貪汙調查局完成調查。依據聲明，貪汙調查局局長鄧兆庭5日向李顯龍匯報案情，第二天獲得批準，正式調查於11日啟動。
貪汙調查局14日晚在發送給媒體記者的電子郵件中證實，易華仁和新加坡地產大亨王明星11日被逮捕，隨後獲得保釋。
王明星是新加坡上市企業旅店置業有限公司執行董事，促成世界一級方程式大獎賽(F1)“落戶”獅城並首創全球唯一的F1夜間街道賽。旅店置業有限公司在一份聲明中說，王明星目前沒有受到任何指控，貪汙調查局要求他提供與易華仁交往的信息。
易華仁1997年步入政壇，先後在多個政府部門任職，在貿易與工業部工作時間最長。他2015年出任分管國內經濟事務的貿工部長，2018年執掌通訊及新聞部，2021年轉任交通部長。據新加坡《聯合早報》報道，易華仁在貿工部任職期間，曾負責賭場興建和監管事項，推動新加坡引進F1大獎賽。
新加坡政府重視打擊貪腐，相關法製健全，執法嚴格。新加坡亞洲新聞台援引分析師說法報道，無論調查結果如何，易華仁的政治生涯都將受到影響。
新加坡前國務資政兼社會政策統籌部長尚達曼15日接受媒體記者提問時說，新加坡政府嚴肅對待任何涉及貪腐的事件，貪汙調查局被賦予充分調查的權力。
在尚達曼看來，這一事件對新加坡而言是“挫折”，但新加坡可以把“挫折”當作完善製度、展示透明度的機會。（包雪琳）
Ministerial Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on the CPIB investigation involving Minister Iswaran and the resignations of former Speaker and a PAP MP
Transcript of Ministerial Statement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the CPIB investigation involving Minister Iswaran and the resignations of former Speaker and a PAP MP on 2 August 2023.
Mr Speaker, Sir
Recently, we witnessed a series of high-profile public cases involving Political Office Holders.
Members have asked several questions regarding these cases. Let me give the House an account of how these issues have been dealt with, and why. After that, Minister Chan Chun Sing will address the more detailed questions in his statement.
CPIB investigation
On the CPIB investigation involving Minister Iswaran.
Briefly, the facts of the case are these: While investigating a separate matter, CPIB came across some information concerning Minister Iswaran that merited investigation. CPIB alerted me on 29 May, and pursued this lead further on their own volition. On 5 July, Director CPIB briefed me on the findings he had at that point. He told me that CPIB would need to interview Minister Iswaran to take the investigation further, and he sought my concurrence to open a formal investigation. I gave my concurrence the next day, 6 July. On 11 July, Minister Iswaran was brought in by CPIB and subsequently released on bail. I instructed him to take leave of absence until the investigations were completed.
Subsequently, I interdicted Minister Iswaran from duty with a reduced pay of $8,500 per month, until further notice. Such incidents involving ministers are rare, and there is no rule or precedent on how to effect an interdiction on a Political Office Holder. Hence, I used the current civil service practice as a reference point. The specific details in Minister Iswaran’s case follow generally how the civil service would deal with a senior officer in a similar situation. But this was my decision as Prime Minister, because the political contexts for a minister and a civil servant being investigated and interdicted are different.
I should point out that CPIB investigations are still ongoing. I am unable to provide more details on the case, so as not to prejudice the investigations in any way. I ask Members of this House and the public to refrain from speculation and conjecture. We must allow CPIB to do its work, to investigate the matter fully, thoroughly and independently. When the investigation is completed, CPIB will submit its findings to the Attorney General’s Chambers, which will decide what to do with them. Whichever way the facts come out, the case will be taken to its logical conclusion. That has always been our way.
Resignations of Former Speaker and Former MP
Next, on the resignations of former Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and former MP Cheng Li Hui.
Let me recap some basic facts, that are mostly already public: I first learnt of their relationship sometime after the 2020 General Election – in fact, in November 2020. They were both spoken to, and counselled, separately. They both said they would stop the affair. But as it turned out, they did not. Most recently in February 2023, I spoke to them again, separately. Mr Tan admitted that what he did was wrong. He offered to resign, I accepted. But I told him that before he actually resigned, I had first to make sure residents in Kembangan-Chai Chee (his ward) and Marine Parade (his GRC) were taken care of. Meanwhile, his relationship with Ms Cheng had to stop. A few weeks ago, I came across information that strongly suggested that the affair had continued. I decided that Mr Tan had to go forthwith. Ms Cheng had to resign too, because she had not broken off the affair even after being told to stop.
I have been asked: Why did I take so long, more than 2 years, to act? It is a fair question. In retrospect and certainly now knowing how things eventually turned out, I agree. I should have forced the issue sooner. But let me explain my general approach, as well as my thinking at that point in time.
These sorts of relationships happen from time to time. They have happened in the past, and no doubt will happen again in the future. In such cases, what we do depends on many factors: the circumstances, how inappropriate or scandalous the behaviour was, the family situations. We also have to be conscious of the impact on innocent parties – particularly the spouses and children. I had explained this at my press conference on 20 July. So did DPM Lawrence Wong last week in a BBC interview. This is not a new position – it reflects the PAP’s long-standing practice, since the days of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
There is no single template that applies to all extra-marital affairs. But there can be at least three situations: The first situation – where the individuals involved will be talked to, and if they stop, the matter ends there. No further action need be taken. Second situation – where immediate action has to be taken. For example, when one party has supervisory power over the other party. And we have in the past taken immediate action, in a few cases. Third situation – where the relationship raises some questions of propriety, beyond it being an extra marital affair per se. The parties will be talked to, but the matter cannot end there. Even if the affair stops, some action has to follow. But what that action is and when it is taken, depends on the nature of the facts and the boundaries that have been transgressed.
The present situation falls into this third category. It is wrong. Mr Tan and Ms Cheng had to stop their affair. I told them to stop.
In deciding what more should be done, consider this: Would we object to having a Speaker being married to an MP? I think the answer is no – that would be perfectly alright. There is no direct reporting line between the Speaker and an MP. Thus, an open, legitimate relationship between the Speaker and an MP is not in itself objectionable. Hence, this situation of the Speaker having an affair with an MP does not fall into the category where immediate action has to be taken. However, the Speaker has some official capacity vis-a-vis MPs. An extra-marital affair between him and an MP is therefore problematic. It puts other MPs and staff in an awkward position, and it is just not proper. After I spoke to Mr Tan in November 2020, he told me that the relationship would end. I took it to be so. I therefore felt there was some leeway to take some time, to decide what further steps to take.
In this context, the possible actions that could have followed were: On the basis that the extra-marital affair had stopped, I would have asked Mr Tan to step down as Speaker some time before the end of the term, but in a way which would reduce the public embarrassment to him and his family. As to whether one or both should also resign as MPs – I had not decided at that time, but quite likely both would have had to leave at some point. By giving the matter some time, I had hoped to give them a softer exit, and save them and their families the pain and embarrassment that they are suffering now. I placed much weight on protecting their families – perhaps too much.
Regrettably, in the end Mr Tan and Ms Cheng did not stop the affair, and both had to go. On reflection, as I said, I should have forced the issue earlier, certainly before mid-term.
Let me add a personal plea at this point: while there is no doubt the two persons behaved improperly, there are also innocent family members involved. Likewise for the case involving a former member across the aisle, in the Workers’ Party. All their families are suffering. I hope that MPs and the public can empathise and have compassion for the families, and give them the privacy and space they need to heal.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, Sir – there has been a great deal of public interest over the recent series of incidents – CPIB arresting and investigating a Minister, MPs resigning, and before that the allegations about the Ridout rentals.
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.
Let me assure Members: When such issues come up, we will deal with them properly and transparently – as we have done. With the Ridout rentals, when allegations of preferential treatment surfaced, the two Ministers involved were thoroughly investigated, including by CPIB, and eventually fully exonerated. The investigation reports were tabled in Parliament, and we had a long session answering MPs’ questions in this House. When CPIB discovered, on its own, that it had reason to arrest and interview a Minister, it opened a formal investigation. Nobody tipped them off. There had been no public scandal. CPIB came across something that needed investigating, and proceeded to do their job. When the Speaker of Parliament and a government MP fell short of the standards of propriety and personal conduct expected of them, they were asked to resign. We took some time to sort it out, probably longer than we should have. But we did what we needed to do, and put the situation right.
The two CPIB investigations, and the response to the personal misconduct case, show two aspects of how this PAP Government works. One, when there is suspicion or allegation of wrongdoing in the discharge of official duties, especially possible corruption, there is zero tolerance. Two, when people slip in their personal lives, the PAP will look at the facts of each case carefully, and deal with the matter as humanely and sensitively as possible, according to the principles that the Party has established.
Systems are composed of human beings. In any system, however comprehensive the safeguards, sometimes something will still go wrong. The PAP Government does our utmost to minimise that possibility. We work hard to identify the right people to bring into politics, and appoint into responsible positions. We vet them carefully, test and stretch them, before entrusting them with heavier responsibilities. Often they measure up, but sometimes they fall short. Occasionally they transgress norms of conduct, or commit wrongdoing.
Singapore has seen corruption cases involving political office holders in the past: Mr Tan Kia Gan in 1966, he was then former Minister of National Development, Mr Wee Toon Boon in 1975, he was then a Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Mr Teh Cheang Wan in 1986, he was Minister for National Development and earlier in 1979, Mr Phey Yew Kok, then President of NTUC and also an MP. All these cases were handled by Mr Lee Kuan Yew who was then Prime Minister – thoroughly, transparently, and applying the full force of the law. That is still how the PAP Government deals with such cases. It has not changed under my charge; and it won’t change under my successor either.1
Now Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission may I say a few words in Mandarin.
議長先生
人民行動黨一直以來致力於維持清廉政治。一個廉潔的政府，良好的治理體係對我們的民主製度至關重要，因此我們製定嚴厲的法律製度，以遏製違規行為。在價值觀或是個人操守方麵，部長和議員的個人行為也必須符合社會規範。
在新加坡，很少發生政治領袖貪汙的事件，但不是完全沒有,曾經發生過。因為，最好的製度也會防不勝防。最近發生的幾件事就體現了這一點，但也反映了我們決心維護廉政的原則，堅決反貪的立場。
我們確信，要繼續維持廉潔的政治體係，要讓人民繼續信任人民行動黨政府，我們必須不隱瞞事實，公開處理問題。因此，如果任何人，包括部長或議員，涉嫌貪汙或違法的行為時，我們絕不姑息，一定會查的水落石出。如果調查結果證實當事人並沒有不妥當的行為，也沒有任何利益衝突，事情就會了結，還他一個清白。如果調查發現當事人犯錯，我們會按照法律，采取嚴厲的行動。
至於個人的行為操守，人民行動黨對部長和議員的要求是：大家必須能夠分辨是非、嚴以律己。但是，有關個人行為不檢的事件，情況都不一樣，所以我們會因事製宜。例如，前議長跟前議員發生婚外情，這是不應該發生的。當時，我希望他們能夠妥善的結束關係，因為事件一旦暴露就會嚴重地傷害到家人。在整個過程中，我的重要考量是這個事件對他們的家人的影響。如果他們當時就結束關係，他們不用在這麽不堪的情況下，離開政壇，導致家人受到傷害。可是很遺憾，他們最終還是沒有好好地處理。現在回顧這件事的發展，如果可以重新處理這個事件，我會更早做個了斷。
在任何婚外情事件，家人必然會被牽累，很可能受到重大打擊。我希望無論是涉及行動黨或工人黨議員的事件，大家能夠尊重當事人和他們的家人的隱私，給予他們時間和空間來麵對。
我們不能排除這種事情，有一天再次發生的可能性。當類似事件發生時，我們依然會按照人民行動黨一貫的原則來處理。我和我的團隊都清楚地知道，維持清廉政治風氣對我們的民主製度至關重要。我們會一如既往，保持自律，堅持廉正的原則。這是人民行動黨政府的承諾。
Mr Speaker, Sir
Let me assure Singaporeans that we will protect the integrity of our system of government. 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. I will not flinch or hesitate to do my duty, to keep our system robust and clean. This is how the PAP Government can continue to deserve the trust that Singaporeans have placed upon us.
I have spoken often about how precious trust is and how crucial it is for our democracy to work well. The founding generation built up Singapore and entrusted it to our generation in good shape. It is incumbent on us to protect and uphold this system, to keep it incorruptible and clean, and maintain high standards of propriety. With the investigation into Minister Iswaran, and the resignations of the Speaker and an MP, the PAP has taken a hit, but we will show Singaporeans that we will uphold standards and do the right thing, so that trust is maintained, and the Singapore system continues to work well.
This is my approach, and I am confident it will be my successor’s approach too. This is how we will keep Singapore safe, strong and prosperous for many years to come.
[1] PM made two clarifications in the afternote below.
(Afternote)
Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to make two quick factual corrections to what I said just now?
First, Mr Tan Kia Gan by 1966 was a former minister, no longer Minister because he had lost in the previous 1963 general elections.
Secondly, Mr Wee Toon Boon was Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and not in MINDEF.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
