Presidential hopeful and former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on a walkabout in Teck Whye on Saturday. - ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): The Singapore system is one that is transparent and it has never had a prime minister who prevented the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) from doing its work.
Presidential hopeful and former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said this on Saturday while speaking to reporters during his campaign trail in Teck Whye.
He was responding to questions from the media regarding the CPIB probe into Transport Minister S. Iswaran.
“We’ve never had a prime minister (who) prevents the CPIB from doing its work. If ever the day comes, the president will be there... that’s the Singapore system,” he said.
He stressed that anything to do with integrity and incorruptibility is taken seriously, and that CPIB is given full rein.
He said: “It may not matter to some other countries, but Singapore is different and Singapore has to be different, because we don’t have much else.
“We’ve got our people with our skills and talents, much more now than when we started, but ultimately it’s the Singapore system.”
He added: “That’s what makes Singapore special, that’s what makes us admired around the world.
“So each time there’s a setback, treat the setback as an opportunity to strengthen the system, to display full transparency.”
Regarding his former long-time colleague, Mr Iswaran, Mr Tharman is confident he will cope with the situation.
He said: “It’s not the end of his life or end of his future. He will go through with this. But let the investigation take its course, and let us not make judgments at this point. The system works and it must work.”
The former coordinating minister for social policies stepped down on July 7 after four decades in public service to run for the Singapore presidency.
The veteran economic policymaker has several other community engagements on Saturday, including a korban meat distribution and a Singapore Indian Development Association volunteers appreciation ceremony.
He was also asked whether the matter will affect the ruling People’s Action Party Government’s reputation.
“That’s for the PAP to consider, I’m not in the PAP any more... that’s a political question for the PAP to consider,” he said, adding that confidence in the Singapore system is critical to the Republic’s future both domestically and internationally.
“Our whole system is set up to ensure there’s no compromise when it comes to integrity,” he added.
CPIB confirmed on Friday that Mr Iswaran was arrested on Tuesday, released on bail, and had his passport impounded. CPIB had said on Wednesday that Mr Iswaran was assisting the bureau with an investigation into a case it had uncovered.
He was arrested on the same day as tycoon Ong Beng Seng, founder and managing director of Hotel Properties Limited. Mr Ong was also released on bail.
Mr Iswaran was instructed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to take leave of absence until the investigation is completed.
The Prime Minister’s Office said on Thursday that Mr Iswaran will remain in Singapore during his leave of absence and he will have no access to any official resources and government buildings.
Meanwhile, CPIB said Mr Ong was granted a request to travel overseas, with his bail quantum increased to $100,000.
When he returns, he must report to CPIB and surrender his passport to them. - The Straits Times/ANN
