SINGAPORE – Transport Minister S. Iswaran is assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) with an investigation into a case uncovered by the anti-graft body.

CPIB had been investigating a separate matter, which it updated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on in May. On July 5, it told PM Lee that it needed to interview Mr Iswaran as part of further investigations, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday.

PM Lee gave his approval on July 6 for CPIB to conduct a formal investigation, which began on Tuesday, Mr Wong told reporters, adding that he could not provide further details as the probe is ongoing.

“We will be upfront and transparent, and we will not sweep anything under the carpet, even if they are potentially embarrassing or damaging to the PAP (People’s Action Party) and to the Government,” he pledged.

CPIB had earlier issued a statement on Mr Iswaran assisting with investigations, in which it acknowledged the interest from the public in this matter as a minister is being interviewed by the bureau.

It said: “CPIB will investigate this case thoroughly with strong resolve to establish the facts and the truth, and to uphold the rule of law.”

In a separate statement, PM Lee said the director of CPIB had briefed him on the case on July 5 and sought his agreement to open a formal investigation. This would involve interviewing Mr Iswaran, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, among other people.

“I gave the director of CPIB my concurrence on July 6, following which the formal investigation began on July 11. Minister Iswaran is currently assisting CPIB with the investigations, which are ongoing,” he said on Wednesday.

PM Lee added that he has instructed Mr Iswaran to take leave of absence until the investigation is completed.

In Mr Iswaran’s absence, Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will be Acting Minister for Transport, said PM Lee. Mr Iswaran’s leave of absence also applies to his duties as MP of West Coast GRC. 

In a Facebook post, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said he and the other West Coast GRC MPs – Ms Foo Mee Har, Mr Ang Wei Neng and Ms Rachel Ong – will cover Mr Iswaran’s duties, including the Meet-the-People Sessions.

“We would like to assure residents of West Coast division that we will continue to serve them and ensure that their needs are supported,” he added.

Mr Iswaran was elected into Parliament in 1997 as an MP for West Coast GRC, where he has served for the last 26 years. He was promoted to full minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2011, and has held ministerial positions in the ministries of Education, Home Affairs, and Communications and Information.

His involvement in a CPIB probe is the latest blow to the PAP Government, which in recent weeks has had to deal with allegations of misconduct by two Cabinet ministers in renting state-owned colonial bungalows in Ridout Road, and a video circulated on social media of Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin swearing during a Parliament sitting in April, which was caught on a hot mic.

On Wednesday, Mr Wong said the Ridout case was very different from the one involving Mr Iswaran.

“For the Ridout case, there were questions raised in public, including various allegations online about the two ministers,” he said, noting that the two ministers had sought an independent review of the matter and PM Lee asked CPIB to investigate.

The bureau found no wrongdoing by the ministers, and there was a full accounting of the matter in Parliament, he said.

In contrast, the case involving Mr Iswaran was completely driven by CPIB from the beginning – there was no public complaint, Mr Wong said.

He stressed that the Government will maintain a tough, zero-tolerance stance against corruption. “We will continue to uphold stringent standards of honesty, integrity and probity that Singaporeans expect of their political leaders.”

Prior to this year, the last time a Cabinet minister was involved in a CPIB probe was in November 1986, when then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew approved open investigations into then National Development Minister Teh Cheang Wan for allegedly accepting bribes.

Teh died before he could be charged in court.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said the latest case is a severe reputational hit for the PAP Government, which has long prided itself on incorruptibility and high standards of probity.

“It’s been a bad run for the PAP Government in the past few weeks. Trust and confidence in it would be affected to varying degrees. It has lots to do to repair the damage,” he said.