It was earlier reported yesterday (17 July) that (former) Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin and his fellow People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Cheng Li Hui had resigned from their posts and from he party.
It was later revealed that both Tan and Cheng had been engaging in an extra-marital affair, with the “inappropriate relationship” being one of the reasons for Tan’s resignation, on top of his now-infamous hot mic gaffe in Parliament where he muttered the phrase “f- populist” after Jamus Lim’s speech on a defined poverty line.
A statement was then issued by the Prime Minister’s Office before a press conference was called by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to address the situation.
Timeline of events
General Elections (GE) 2020
PM Lee said that he was made aware of Tan and Cheng’s illicit relationship after the GE2020, and although he doesn’t know when their “inappropriate relationship” had begun, both of them were spoken to and counselled about the matter.
February 2023
PM Lee had a conversation with Tan about the relationship that he had with Cheng, to which the former admitted to his wrongdoing and offered his resignation from his posts, which PM Lee duly accepted.
However, PM Lee said that he needed to ensure the residents under Tan’s constituency (the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward in Marine Parade GRC) were taken care of first, as well as settling the succession matters with the other MPs that included the Minister of Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong and Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng.
In the meantime, he had to stop his relationship with Cheng; PM Lee also spoke to Cheng about the relationship as well.
The period after February 2023
PM Lee revealed that he “came across information that strongly suggested that the relationship had continued,” despite his instructions to Tan to stop the inappropriate relationship with Cheng.
PM Lee then decided that regardless of whether the arrangements were ready, Tan “had to go”.
April 2023 Parliament Sitting
During a parliamentary sitting in April, Tan uttered a profanity under his breath, which was overheard on the microphone that was still on at the time, and subsequently circulated online.
Tan was heard muttering the phrase “f-g populist” at the 1:25:28 minute mark of MCI’s livestream after calling for MP Vikram Nair (PAP-Sembawang) to speak following a speech by Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim on the absence of an “official poverty line” in Singapore.
However, the remark went unnoticed at the time during the parliament sitting and in the live-streamed video.
10 July 2023
Tan’s “f-g populist” remark was discovered by a netizen who posted the clip online and subsequently went viral across social media platforms.
11 July 2023
Tan then took to his Facebook profile to issue a public apology, where he said:
“There is a recording of a Parliament sitting in April this year that has been circulating. I had to listen to the recording as I did not recall the occasion.”
“Based on the clip it appears that I had a reaction to a speech made in the chamber.”
“When I listen to speeches made, like everyone, I do form views on them. What was said were my private thoughts which I had muttered to myself and not to anyone.”
“However I should not have expressed them aloud or in unparliamentary language, and I apologise for that.”
“I have also spoken to the Member, A/P Jamus Lim, to make that apology as well; which he has kindly accepted.”
Jamus Lim then commented on Tan’s Facebook post and confirmed that “Speaker did indeed call, and I have accepted his apology.”
17 July 2023
Tan returned after going away for a while, submitting his resignation to PM Lee.
PM Lee said in his first public comments addressing the situation that he had “very recently” came across new information that Tan had continued his relationship with Cheng despite telling him to stop.
During their discussion, Tan agreed to leave immediately, because of his inappropriate relationship with Cheng, as well as the hot mic saga in Parliament.
At the same time, Cheng also resigned from her post.
A statement was then issued by the Prime Minister’s Office and a press conference was later held by PM Lee addressing the situation.