Ministerial statement: Vivian Balakrishnan on rental of 31 Ridout Road
In Parliament on Monday (Jul 3), Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan explained why and how his family came to rent the property at 31 Ridout Road. He said it was because he and his wife wanted to bring their extended family together under one roof. Dr Balakrishnan said the couple had not known the guide rent or even that there had been two previous bids to rent the bungalow at significantly lower amounts. He said he only found out when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau published its report on the case. The minister said he and his wife had been “acutely aware” that though they were dealing with a property agent, “the ultimate counterparty to (the) tenancy agreement was the Government of Singapore” and they were “scrupulously careful” to ensure that everything was above board. He said the property agent and Singapore Land Authority staff had also always conducted themselves professionally and with utmost integrity during the process.
In Parliament on Monday (Jul 3), Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan explained why and how his family came to rent the property at 31 Ridout Road. He said it was because he and his wife wanted to bring their extended family together under one roof. Dr Balakrishnan said the couple had not known the guide rent or even that there had been two previous bids to rent the bungalow at significantly lower amounts. He said he only found out when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau published its report on the case. The minister said he and his wife had been “acutely aware” that though they were dealing with a property agent, “the ultimate counterparty to (the) tenancy agreement was the Government of Singapore” and they were “scrupulously careful” to ensure that everything was above board. He said the property agent and Singapore Land Authority staff had also always conducted themselves professionally and with utmost integrity during the process.
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