SINGAPORE — Political scandals are rare in Singapore. The city-state has long touted its clean government and incorruptible image to bolster its position as Asia’s leading financial center to attract foreign investors.
But the Southeast Asian nation is now caught in a series of high-profile incidents that has entangled his political elite.
This is the “most severe crisis” facing Singapore as the latest events “have and could further erode public confidence” in the government, Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University, told CNBC. Singapore.
“The ruling party now looks vulnerable like never before,” he added. “Now he has a mountain to climb. How he recovers will be of immense importance.”
In the latest coup, the political crisis deepened after the sudden resignations of two legislators, including the president of Parliament, for an adventure this week. Both were members of the ruling People’s Action Party, which has ruled Singapore since 1959.
The disclosure came just days after authorities said Cabinet Minister S. Iswaran and a business leader in singapore were involved in a high-profile corruption investigation by the anti-corruption agency.
“These are severe blows to the reputation of the PAP government which has long prided itself on governing with honesty, integrity and probity. In turn, Singapore’s reputation and position are also affected,” said SMU’s Tan.
The spate of events “rapidly taking a toll on the image of the ruling party,” further noted Tan Ern Ser, an associate professor of sociology at the National University of Singapore.
This is especially true given that “being squeaky clean is one of the key pillars of the PAP brand,” he added.
On Monday, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he had decided that the incumbent speaker of the Singapore Parliament, Tan Chuan Jin, “had to leave.”
The decision came after receiving information that Tan and another PAP lawmaker, Cheng Li Hui, had continued their “inappropriate relationship” even after the prime minister advised them to end their relationship in February.
In Singapore, politicians are held to a much higher standard as the ruling party’s “entire foundation of its political legitimacy” has been built on a “clean and uncorrupted government,” SMU’s Tan told “Squawk Box Asia” from CNBC.
What the government does now is critical, he added.
“You have to go beyond damage control to revamp or even purge the system of its inadequacies, blind spots and fragilities,” Tan said. “This is the surest way to avoid undermining trust.”
The prime minister’s office did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
‘Moral High Ground’
Last week, Singapore’s Transport Minister S. Iswaran and prominent hotel magnate Ong Beng Seng were arrested before being released on bail, in the country’s most serious corruption investigation in nearly four decades.
Both men are currently helping with researchrevealed the Singapore Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
Singaporean government officials They are among the highest paid in the world as the country seeks to discourage corruption and attract top talent. Ministers are paid about S$1.1 million ($822,000) a year, according to the Utilities Division website.
The political “drama” that has unfolded is “a real surprise, maybe a shock” to Singaporeans, said Felix Tan, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Singaporeans, not used to political scandals, turned to memes to express themselves. Discussions on social media and comments in the local media have also delved into the implications for the country.
While the latest spate of incidents doesn’t “portray a system failure,” it certainly acts as a “test for the government” to reexamine its own high standards, NTU’s Tan said.
When similar scandals happen to the opposition, “the PAP would take the moral lead and insist that the opposition do the right thing,” the speaker said.
“And yet what these cases have shown is that the PAP is doing exactly the same things that it urged others not to do,” he said, adding that the government needs to be “more transparent” in its dealings with the people. .
damage control
The corruption scandal came on the heels of public scrutiny over two other ministers who rented state-owned bungalows for their personal use. Questions were raised as to whether they were paying less than market rates for the properties.
In June, a government review found no evidence of corruption or criminal wrongdoing on the matter.
“I think a lot depends on how the government deals with these consequences,” said NUS’s Tan. “I believe that state institutions are still strong and security barriers would be strengthened in the process of responding to these challenges.”
The prime minister sought swift damage control, emphasizing the government’s zero tolerance for corruption to allay public concerns.
“High standards of decorum and personal conduct, along with staying clean and uncorrupted, are the fundamental reasons Singaporeans trust and respect the PAP, and give us their mandate to form the government.” Lee said Monday.
But also recognized“No system can be completely foolproof.”
“Sometimes things clump together, but we make sure to get it right, and I hope we get it right and we’ll be able to set the right tone for a long time,” Lee added.
High political cost?
The political fallout comes at a delicate time for Singapore, which is undergoing a difficult leadership transition. The prime minister seeks to hand power over to the next generation of leaders in the near future.
“The longer the delay, the more concerns will arise about whether the next generation leaders are ready,” said SMU’s Tan.
At this week’s briefing, Lee said he has no plans to call immediate elections, despite vacant seats in Parliament. Singapore will hold its presidential elections in the coming months and the general elections will not take place until 2025.
“We are in the second half of the term of the current government, we have just recently opened Parliament,” he said. “We have a full agenda for this period, we are working on it and that is what we will focus on.”
NUS’s Tan said that if the elections were held now, “the negative impact on the electoral performance of the PAP would be significant.”
With the government facing the pressures of “persistently high inflation”, including growing concerns about housing affordability, the ruling party needs to close ranks and “stay on track” to deliver “a credible performance”, it added.
While it is difficult to gauge whether the scandals will hurt the ruling party and allow the opposition to advance, “there will surely be a heavy political price to pay,” SMU’s Tan said.
“How much is the political cost? We don’t know at this stage,” she added.
“At the very least, it could cause the element of doubt. So voters might be more prepared to see what other parties have to offer.”
Winning back the trust of the people will be difficult for the government, he added. “Rebuilding trust is demanding. It will also take time, but there is not much time until the next general election.”
