PM Lee Hsien Loong sends letter to PAP MPs on rules of prudence and proper conduct

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong taking questions during a press conference in the Istana on Sept 28, 2015. He is flanked by (from left) incoming Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Teo Chee Hean, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat. ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

SINGAPORE - People's Action Party MPs must "never tire of reminding" themselves of the importance of integrity, honesty and incorruptability, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday.

Noting that the PAP was returned to power on the Sept 11 general election with a resounding mandate of 69.9 per cent, and 83 out of 89 seats in Parliament, Mr Lee said: "The people have endorsed what we have done in the previous term, and given us a clear mandate to take Singapore forward beyond SG50."

" Now we must fulfil what we have promised to do in our manifesto," he added.

Mr Lee made these points in a letter to PAP MPs on Tuesday, titled "Rules of Prudence".

The letter, which was also released to the media, is a code of conduct that the prime minister, who is also secretary-general of the PAP, traditionally issues to the party's MPs after each general election. As in years past, the bulk of the code of conduct focused on the need to uphold the PAP's reputation for clean and incorruptible government.

Mr Lee urged the PAP MPs to be humble in victory, and to "always remember we are servants of the people, not masters".

"Do not mistake the strong election result to mean that our efforts have succeeded, and that we can afford to slacken," he said, as he added that much work remains to be done in tackling issues that concern Singaporeans.

"Listen hard to voter concerns, help them to tackle pressing needs, and convey their worries and aspirations to the Government" he said, as he spelt out the responsibilities of MPs in Parliament, and in separating private business or professional interests from an MP's public position, which he also did in the 2011 edition of the letter.

This means that MPs should, among other things, be careful of the invitations and gifts they accept, and ensure they do not lobby public officers on behalf of friends or clients.

Neither should they solicit for directorships in companies "lest you appear to be exploiting your political position to benefit yourself". They should also not accept directorships where their role is to "just dress up the board with a PAP MP or two, in order to make the company look more respectable", he added.

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