• 10 months ago
Singapore's Transport Minister, S. Iswaran, facing corruption charges, resigned from the ruling People's Action Party and as a Member of Parliament. Arrested in July 2023 amid a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau probe, Iswaran emphasized innocence and returned salaries since the investigation's start. Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat replaces him, and Grace Fu assumes his trade relations portfolio.

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Transcript
00:00 Singapore's Transport Minister S Ishwaran facing corruption charges has resigned from
00:19 the ruling People's Action Party and as a Member of Parliament on 18th January. Arrested
00:24 back in July last year as part of the Corruption Practice Investigation Bureau probe, Ishwaran
00:29 has rejected the charges already. In his resignation letters to PM Lee, he stated he had returned
00:35 the salaries and allowances during the investigation. PM Lee emphasised the need for rigorous handling
00:41 of such matters to uphold the party and government handling.
00:46 Acting Transport Minister Che Hung Tat will now replace Ishwaran and Grace Fu will assume
00:50 his trade relations portfolio. Ishwaran's resignation comes in the wake of an ongoing
00:54 investigation into the allegations of corruption by the CPIB. He asserted his intention to
01:00 focus on clearing his name and deemed his resignation necessary in the light of the
01:05 circumstances. In a separate letter to PM Lee, he also stated his intention to return
01:10 all his salaries and Member of Parliament allowances received during the start of the
01:14 CPIB investigation back in July last year. He emphasised the ethical responsibility to
01:19 forego benefits while unable to fulfil ministerial and parliamentary duties. PM Lee has also
01:24 expressed disappointment on Ishwaran's departure, acknowledging the necessity of
01:28 handling such matters rigorously and upholding party and government integrity.
01:33 The Acting Transport Minister Che Hung Tat has now been appointed at Ishwaran's department,
01:37 effective immediately and will now serve as the second Minister of Finance.
01:41 The Minister of Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu is assuming Ishwaran's role as
01:45 the Minister in Charge for Trade Relations too. Ishwaran, who had held the position of
01:49 Transport Minister since 2021, has had a political career spanning 26 years and has
01:55 been elected back in 1997 as a Member of Parliament. His resignation amid the legal challenges
02:01 underscores the significance of maintaining ethical standards within the government and
02:05 the People's Action Party.
02:12 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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