SINGAPORE - The Public Service Division (PSD) is polling public officers about the ongoing spat between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his siblings, as the accusations involve the integrity of the public sector.
The PSD said in a statement on Tuesday (June 28) that "the allegations made go beyond private matters and extend to the conduct and integrity of the Government and our public institutions".
The statement comes after screenshots of the poll were circulated on Facebook and social media, with some people questioning whether public resources should be used to conduct a poll on "family matters".
PM Lee's younger siblings, Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang, have accused him of abusing his power and using a ministerial committee to harass them over their late father's house.
Responding to media queries about the poll, the PSD said: "We are polling public officers to understand their sentiments on this issue as it involves the integrity of our public institutions, of which they are an important part."
It added that it periodically polls public officers on issues that matter to them as part of "stakeholder engagement".
One of the screenshots of the poll included a note to respondents that says participation in the poll is kept strictly confidential and individual responses are not identifiable.
Another screenshot depicts questions in the poll.
In one question, respondent's were asked for their views on the matter.
The multiple choice answers included an option saying the incident would have a long-term impact on Singapore's reputation, and one saying the country's reputation will recover "after the incident has calmed down".
Another question asked public officers the extent to which the dispute has affected their confidence in the integrity and impartiality of Singapore's public institutions and the public service, while a third question asked whether or not they agreed that the issue should be addressed in Parliament.
PM Lee had said earlier that he will deliver a ministerial statement in Parliament on July 3 to refute his siblings' "baseless accusations".
