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Business Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
MPs must separate business and politics, be wary of conflicts of interest: PM Wong
[SINGAPORE] Members of Parliament (MPs) must separate business and politics, and be shrewd in assessing the motives of those who seek to get close to them, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a customary letter to People's Action Party (PAP) MPs, dated May 28. The letter on 'Rules of Prudence' is traditionally sent by the prime minister to PAP MPs after each general election. PM Wong led the PAP to an improved vote share at the May 3 polls, his first electoral outing since taking the helm a year ago. In a letter largely similar to the one sent after GE2020, PM Wong called on MPs to separate their public political position from their private, professional or business interests. 'Be wary of potential conflicts between these interests and your public duties as MPs,' he urged. Those who are in business, occupy senior management positions in companies or are board directors should be 'especially vigilant', he said. They should not exploit their public position, close contacts with ministers and access to government for their personal interest or benefit of their employers. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up If MPs employed by companies or industry associations make public statements in that capacity, they should be clear that they are not speaking as an MP. Nor should they use Parliamentary questions or speeches to lobby the government on behalf of their businesses or clients. MPs may relay feedback and speak freely to political officeholders, who will 'listen carefully to arguments on principles', PM Wong said. But these officeholders will not 'change individual decisions without very good reasons which they can justify publicly', he added. 'The government must always base decisions on the merits of the issues, and not yield to pressure from interested parties.' 'Stand above' favour or influence MPs will meet many people, noted PM Wong, including 'altruistic, public spirited individuals' who will help serve residents without wanting anything in return. 'But a few will seek to cultivate you to obtain benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and statutory boards to make decisions in their favour,' he warned. He cited concert tickets among the 'countless social lubricants' – alongside gift hampers, dinners and entertainment – that people use to 'ingratiate themselves to MPs'. While PM Wong did not name examples, the letter comes after former transport minister S Iswaran was jailed for 12 months last October, upon pleading guilty to obtaining valuable items – including concert tickets – from Ong Beng Seng, the tycoon behind the Singapore Grand Prix. PM Wong urged MPs to be shrewd in assessing the motives of people who seek to get close to them. In his 2020 letter, then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told MPs to 'at all times be seen to be beyond the influence of gifts or favours'. In this year's letter, PM Wong said: 'Both in conduct and perception, you must stand above any hint of favour or influence.' Directorships Noting that MPs are often invited to serve on the boards of private and publicly listed companies, PM Wong said this shows that PAP MPs' integrity and experience are valued. MPs who are offered directorships must decide for themselves whether to accept, as the party is not in a position to vet or approve them, he said. 'Turn down directorships where you feel unable to make a significant contribution, or feel that the company is hoping to benefit from your status and connections as a PAP MP.' MPs must weigh the directorship's possible impact on their political life, he added. The company must understand that MPs will act in their private capacity and not lobby the government. The letter laid out what to consider before taking up a directorship, including how well the MP knows the company and its industry, their fellow directors, and the relationship between shareholders and the company. MPs must also examine if they face conflicts of interest and if so, whether they can manage them. 'If in any doubt, you should decline,' said PM Wong. Every MP must disclose to the prime minister, in confidence, information on directorships and related income, he added. This should be done by May 31 and submitted annually thereafter. Parliament and social media PM Wong's letter also addressed other expectations of PAP MPs, in areas such as their conduct in Parliament and on social media. In Parliament, he called on MPs to 'take ownership of causes or issues' that they feel strongly about and be ready for 'sharper questioning and debate'. In engaging the opposition, MPs should 'address the issues and not the person' and not get 'carried away playing to the gallery'. Meanwhile, social media has become an 'integral' part of daily life, as a key channel of communication and primary source of news for many. He urged MPs to embrace social media to share their views and engage residents. However, it is no substitute for face-to-face engagements, he added. 'You must establish personal bonds with your residents, and attend to their needs in person.' Party reputation The PAP has been able to retain the trust of Singaporeans because of its commitment to honesty and integrity, said PM Wong. 'As PAP MPs, your personal standing can contribute to, or detract from, this high standing of the party as a whole,' he said. Every MP must 'uphold the rigorous standards' of the PAP 'and do nothing to compromise them', he added. 'Never give cause for allegations that you are misusing your position, especially your access to ministers. That would discredit both you and the party.'
AsiaOne
25-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
RDU aims to form 'shadow government' to take party forward, Singapore News
Opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) on May 24 said it wants to move beyond being a check and balance on the ruling PAP, and is aspiring towards being an 'alternative government' instead. To do this, it wants to work with other 'like-minded' opposition parties to build a digital platform, tentatively called to flesh out policy positions. 'We want to make ourselves better known, so if the PAP fails, people will know there is a shadow government in place to take the country forward,' RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said. He was speaking at an event at the party's headquarters in Ubi Crescent to thank volunteers after the 2025 General Election. 'I think that is the responsible thing to do. We do not want to be checks and balances any more,' said Mr Philemon as he addressed the media while flanked by his RDU teammates Sharon Lin, Ben Puah and Harish Mohanadas. RDU in its media invitation to the May 24 event said that there is a necessity to change its outlook and how it approaches politics in Singapore. It will also be looking to the next 10 to 15 years to recalibrate the party, which was founded in 2020 and also took part in GE2020. The party's so-called '3B strategy' involves 'Breaking away' from being a check and balance on the People's Action Party, 'Believing' in RDU's younger generation and 'Building' a brand for the party, which may even see RDU changing its name to a more serious-sounding one. When asked whether RDU has reached out to other mainstream opposition parties about setting up a 'shadow government', Mr Philemon said that it has not done so officially. 'We have communicated to some of them on a personal basis, but not in an official capacity,' he told The Straits Times. 'But this is something that we will consciously and intentionally try to do in the next five years.' After GE2025, Parliament will have 12 Workers' Party representatives, including two who will fill the Non-Constituency MP seats. RDU contested Jurong East-Bukit Batok, Holland-Bukit Timah and Nee Soon GRCs as well as Jurong Central SMC at GE2025. Among the issues raised during its campaign were ministerial salaries, cost of living and ageing, employment and the goods and services tax. On RDU's 23.35 per cent popular vote share, Mr Philemon had said previously that it indicates the party 'remains recognised as a small but formidable force that punches above its weight'. On May 24, he noted from feedback from the ground that some of the candidates the party fielded were less known to voters. Yet they are professionals such as engineers and scientists, as well as entrepreneurs. In terms of publicity, he pointed out that compared with RDU putting up 1,000 posters in Nee Soon GRC, PAP printed an estimated three times that number. Mr Philemon was part of the RDU team that contested the group representation constituency. He added that he was 'not sure if the name Red Dot United worked in our favour' in the recent general election. When the party began its political journey at the 2020 election, where it contested only Jurong GRC, a name like Red Dot United had 'piqued people's curiosity', he said. It was a different time then with the Covid-19 pandemic which saw people staying home. 'So a unique name like Red Dot United caused people to go and look us up or read up more about us,' said Mr Philemon. 'And I think a name like Red Dot United worked in our favour in GE2020.' This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
RDU aims to form ‘shadow govt' to take party forward: Philemon
RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon (second from right), flanked by teammates (from right) Ben Puah, Sharon Lin and Harish Mohanadas, speaking at a press conference on May 24. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI SINGAPORE – Opposition party Red Dot United (RDU) on May 24 said it wants to move beyond being a check and balance on the ruling PAP, and is aspiring towards being an 'alternative government' instead. To do this, it wants to work with other 'like-minded' opposition parties to build a digital platform, tentatively called to flesh out policy positions. 'We want to make ourselves better known, so if the PAP fails, people will know there is a shadow government in place to take the country forward,' RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon said. He was speaking at an event at the party's headquarters in Ubi Crescent to thank volunteers after the 2025 General Election. 'I think that is the responsible thing to do. We do not want to be checks and balances any more,' said Mr Philemon as he addressed the media while flanked by his RDU t eammate s Sharon Lin, Ben Puah and Harish Mohanadas. RDU in its media invitation to the May 24 event said there is a necessity to change its outlook and how it approaches politics in Singapore. It will also be looking to the next 10 to 15 years to recalibrate the party, which was founded in 2020 and also took part in GE2020. The party's so-called '3B strategy' involves 'Breaking away' from being a check and balance on the People's Action Party, 'Believing' in RDU's younger generation and 'Building' a brand for the party, which may even see RDU changing its name to a more serious-sounding one. When asked whether RDU has reached out to other mainstream opposition parties about setting up a 'shadow government', Mr Philemon said it has not done so officially. 'We have communicated to some of them on a personal basis, but not in an official capacity,' he told The Straits Times. 'But this is something that we will consciously and intentionally try to do in the next five years.' After GE2025, Parliament will have 12 Workers' Party representatives, including two who will fill the Non-Constituency MP seats. RDU contested Jurong East-Bukit Batok, Holland-Bukit Timah and Nee Soon GRCs as well as Jurong Central SMC at GE2025. Among the issues raised during its campaign were ministerial salaries, cost of living and ageing, employment and the goods and services tax. On RDU's 23.35 per cent popular vote share, Mr Philemon had said previously that it indicates the party 'remains recognised as a small but formidable force that punches above its weight'. On May 24, he noted from feedback from the ground that some of its candidates who were fielded were lesser known to voters. Yet, they were professionals such as engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs. In terms of publicity, he pointed out PAP printed an estimated three times the number of posters in Nee Soon GRC compared with RDU's 1,000 posters. He was on the RDU team that contested Nee Soon GRC. Mr Philemon added he was 'not sure if the name Red Dot United worked in our favour' in GE2025. When the party began its political journey in GE2020 when it contested only Jurong GRC, a name like Red Dot United had 'piqued people's curiosity'. It was a different time then during the Covid-19 pandemic when people were staying home. 'So a unique name like Red Dot United caused people to go and look up for us or read up more about us,' said Mr Philemon. 'And I think a name like Red Dot United worked in our favour in GE2020.' Zaihan Mohamed Yusof is senior crime correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
10-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
'We're not running away': PSP's Tan Cheng Bock reflects on GE2025, says party will move forward, Singapore News
The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) will continue their groundwork and return at the next election, said its founder Tan Cheng Bock. The PSP team for West Coast-Jurong West GRC — featuring Dr Tan, Leong Mun Wai, Hazel Poa, Sani Ismail and Sumarleki Amjah — made their rounds and greeted supporters and residents at West Coast Market on Saturday (May 10) morning, a week after the General Election (GE2025). "We are not running away. We'll be back soon," said Dr Tan. Despite the loss, he said that it was a good journey, having given the younger members a chance to experience "what it is like to fight in the election, with all the odds against you". The PSP failed to emerge victorious during the rematch in West Coast-Jurong West GRC against the People's Action Party (PAP) on May 3. The PAP slate, led by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, received 60.01 per cent of votes over the PSP who lagged behind with 39.99 per cent of votes. "At the end of the day, we didn't do that well," he said, adding that the focus now is to see how the PSP can move forward and train a new generation that will enter Parliament. Noting his 26 years of experience, he emphasised that his participation in GE2025 was in hopes of bringing more young people into Parliament. "I think maybe (the public) thinks we're not ready, but it's okay, because the Workers' Party took about 60 years to just gain 10 seats. I told them, 'Don't be discouraged'," he said. Dr Tan also confirmed that he will be retiring from electoral politics, but will remain in the party as an advisor. Leong reiterated Dr Tan's sentiments and said that the party will "reflect, regroup and return". He also said that internal discussions are still ongoing, and promised to make an official statement regarding the future of the party once it has been decided. The PSP's vote share for GE2025 was significantly lower than GE2020, where they received 48.31 per cent in West Coast GRC and earned two Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) seats. Following their losses in all six constituencies that were contested, the PSP did not secure any NCMP seats and will no longer have a presence in Parliament for the next five years. [[nid:717675]]
Online Citizen
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Leong Mun Wai vows PSP will regroup and return stronger despite GE2025 defeat
Leong Mun Wai, Secretary-General of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), has vowed that the party will not be deterred by its defeat in the General Election 2025, emphasising its enduring commitment to transparency, fairness, and an inclusive society. In a message posted on Facebook on the morning of 7 May 2025, Leong addressed supporters with what he described as 'a heavy heart,' but maintained a determined tone. 'Though this result is disappointing for us, it is not the end,' he wrote. 'Our call for checks and balances, an inclusive society and fairer opportunities for all remains unshaken. We will regroup, reflect, and return stronger.' Leong's remarks come in the wake of PSP's defeat in all six constituencies it contested in GE2025. These included West Coast–Jurong West GRC, Chua Chu Kang GRC, Pioneer SMC, Kebun Baru SMC, Marymount SMC, and Bukit Gombak SMC. In West Coast–Jurong West GRC — the contest that drew the most public attention and anticipation for the party — PSP's team, led by Leong, party chairman Dr Tan Cheng Bock, and vice-chair Hazel Poa, secured 39.99% of the vote. They were defeated by the People's Action Party (PAP) team, led by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, which garnered 60.01%. Final results confirmed on 4 May 2025 showed PAP with 88,347 votes and PSP with 58,863, out of 147,210 valid votes. A total of 1,437 ballots were rejected. Leong thanked residents, volunteers, and supporters, saying it had been an 'honour to walk alongside' the community and promising to continue advocating for the people. Despite the defeat, Leong congratulated PAP and Minister Desmond Lee, calling him 'a worthy opponent' and acknowledging the professionalism of the ruling party's campaign. The outcome marks a significant shift from GE2020, when PSP nearly won West Coast GRC with 48.31% of the vote and was awarded two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats. With a reduced vote share of 39.99% this year, PSP no longer qualifies for NCMP representation, leaving it without any parliamentary presence for the first time since its formation. This result also coincides with the planned retirement of PSP founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock from electoral politics. In a separate Facebook message on 4 May, Dr Tan acknowledged the party's defeat while highlighting systemic challenges. He cited 'boundary line changes and limitless resources' as key structural disadvantages faced by opposition parties during the campaign. The newly configured West Coast–Jurong West GRC, formed through changes that absorbed parts of Jurong and West Coast GRCs, expanded the electorate to 158,581. Dr Tan also congratulated the PAP team and praised their campaign conduct, while encouraging supporters not to be discouraged by the outcome. 'You have punched above your weight for PSP,' he wrote, urging supporters to continue engaging with the party's values. PSP's 2025 campaign, run under the slogan 'Progress for All,' proposed policy measures including a reduced Goods and Services Tax, a universal minimum wage, and mandatory asset declarations for Members of Parliament. Observers have drawn comparisons between GE2025 and GE2015, both of which saw electoral swings in favour of the ruling party during times of national uncertainty. Many analysts believe concerns over rising costs of living and global instability led voters to favour political continuity, even if the concerns themselves were linked to government policies. The loss of its two NCMP seats, previously held by Leong and Poa, removes a key avenue for parliamentary engagement and deprives the party of funding support tied to those positions. Leong and Poa had donated their annual NCMP stipends of S$28,900 to help finance party operations, including maintaining its headquarters in Bukit Timah. The loss of this funding may impact future organisational stability. Nevertheless, Dr Tan concluded his message with a call to PSP's younger members, stating that 'the scars we carry will not be marks of defeat, but lasting reminders that we dared to stand up… for the common good of all Singaporeans.' In his closing remarks, Leong reiterated his commitment to public service and PSP's founding principles. 'I will continue to speak up, to serve, and to uphold the values we hold dear — transparency, independence and accountability,' he affirmed.
