PAP will take political hit from Iswaran case, but leadership transition will go ahead as planned: Lawrence Wong

SINGAPORE: The People’s Action Party (PAP) will take a hit from S Iswaran’s case, but this will not affect the leadership transition timeline, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (Jan 18). 

“The PAP stance on corruption is non-negotiable, this is part of our DNA. There can be no compromise, no relaxation, no fudging on this, no matter the political price.” 

PAP is disappointed by what happened, said Mr Wong, adding that he has “no doubt” that the corruption case will have an impact on party morale. 

However, it will not affect the succession timeline, and the leadership transition will take place before the next General Election and before the next PAP party conference in November this year, he said. 

“This plan remains on track,” he added. 

The former Transport Minister was charged in court on Thursday morning with multiple offences, including corruption and obtaining valuables as a public servant, months after a probe into him was made public.

He pleaded not guilty to 27 charges in all, relating to his interactions with property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix and is chairman of race promoter Singapore GP.

Iswaran resigned from his positions in government on Tuesday. He is accused of corruptly receiving more than S$166,000 (US$123,500) worth of flights, hotel stays and tickets to events in exchange for advancing the billionaire's business interests.

He is separately accused of obtaining about S$218,000 worth of valuable items in his capacity as a minister who also dealt with Mr Ong and his company in his role as chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.

With Iswaran’s departure from PAP and from West Coast GRC, where he was the anchor minister, the remaining Members of Parliament and Minister for National Development Desmond Lee will continue to oversee residents there, said the Deputy Prime Minister. 

“As for the timing of elections … (the) leadership transition happens before the general election. So as and when that happens, we will think about when the elections have to take place thereafter,” said Mr Wong. 

When asked whether the government will tighten the process for political office holders to receive or reject gifts, Mr Wong noted that a code of conduct for ministers is already in place. “The key principles underpinning the code are clear, they are sound, they are valid.” 

For example, ministers should not receive gifts that place them under obligation or in a position of conflict of interest. 

“But I should also say when we look at our system in Singapore, it’s a system where we do our best to try and prevent and deter corruption. It doesn’t mean there will be no corruption,” said Mr Wong. 

Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, also acknowledged that there will be many civil servants who are disappointed, shocked and saddened by the case, including those who have worked directly with Iswaran. 

“But I hope the civil servants will also see that what has transpired is the determination of the PAP government to keep our system free from corruption.”