Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered his National Day message yesterday (8 August), where he touched on a number of topics that have been on Singaporeans’ minds.
Snippet of PM Lee’s National Day message
“Recently, we have seen a series of cases involving Ministers and MPs. Some have asked what these incidents say about the Government.
My answer is this: such issues come up from time to time. When they do, we deal with them properly and transparently. That is what we have always done; and that is what we have done this time too.
In one case, allegations about preferential treatment surfaced. The two Ministers concerned were thoroughly investigated, and completely exonerated.
In a second case, CPIB found cause to arrest and investigate a Minister. It opened a formal investigation, which is still ongoing.
In a third case, the Speaker of Parliament and a Government MP fell short of the standards of personal conduct expected of them. They resigned.
In all three cases, for the good of the country, we sought to do the right thing, protect the integrity of our system of government, and carry through everything that needed to be done.
Let there be no doubt: my Government is determined to keep our system free of corruption and wrongdoing. We will maintain our high standards of honesty, integrity, and propriety. Singaporeans have come to expect this of us, and so have our international partners.
This is how we can preserve, protect, and strengthen the trust that Singaporeans have in the Government and in the Singapore system.
Trust is what enabled us to get through the last three years of the pandemic and emerge stronger. Trust is what allows political leaders to work closely with Singaporeans to deliver a better life for all. And trust will enable us to move forward safely in a troubled world.
Looking to the Future
We have a full agenda ahead. DPM Lawrence Wong and the 4G team have embarked on the Forward Singapore exercise. Over the past year, they have held dialogues with thousands of Singaporeans.
The goal of Forward Singapore is to refresh our social compact. Every citizen has a meaningful part to play in our society and our shared future. Collectively, we will forge a vision of the Singapore that we seek to create, and chart how we can turn our dreams into reality.”