Google, the ubiquitous search engine, has once again provided a snapshot of the world’s curiosity with its release of the most searched news and trends for 2023. Among the myriad of global searches, Singapore stands out with its unique interests and curiosities.
Singapore News Highlights
In the realm of Singaporean searches, a few topics have managed to capture the attention of the populace. Among the top 10 searches in Singapore for the year 2023, sees former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin and former Workers’ Party senior member Nicole Seah in the top 3 most searched terms for the year, following their respective extra-marital affairs.
And sitting in 6th place on the most searched terms in Singapore for 2023 is Minister for Transport, S. Iswaran, who was investigated by the Corrupt Practices and Invetigation Bureau (CPIB).
Tan Chuan Jin
It was earlier reported on 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.
Nicole Seah
A video emerged online by Facebook user Victoria Wang, showing an alleged “inappropriate exchange” between Workers’ Party senior members Leon Perera and Nicole Seah.
The two were seen in the video having dinner with what appeared to be glasses of red wine, with the person alleged to be Perera appearing to be holding on to Seah’s right hand and stroking it gently before Seah leaned in closer to say something inaudible to him.
The Worker’s Party subsequently held a press conference, helmed by WP chief Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim, addressing the extra-marital affair between WP member Nicole Seah and MP for Aljunied Leon Perera following the emergence of a video on 17 July suggesting an “inappropriate exchange” between the latter two.
Both Seah and Perera are married to other people and have two children of their own.
Singh said that he was made aware of the allegations sometime between late 2020 and early 2021 by Perera’s driver via Whatsapp, that both Seah and Perera had been meeting each other at restaurants and hotels very often, holding hands and hugging each other.
Singh said that at the time, there was no evidence or corroborating information to support the driver’s allegations and that he didn’t know Perera’s driver personally.
Initially denied the allegations
He then questioned Perera about the allegations and asked him if there was anything going on between him and Seah, Perera then denied the allegations, telling Singh that he was in the midst of an ongoing dispute with his driver and was about to terminate his services, and was seeking legal advice against his driver for the allegations.
The driver also shared the same information with other Central Executive Committee (CEC) members of the party over the next few months, with the party members seeking to verify the allegations with Perera, who once again denied the allegations.
The CEC then approached Seah about the allegations by the driver and she also denied the allegations of anything going on with Perera.
Eventually confessed to the affair
When the now-viral video of both Seah and Perera first emerged on 17 July, Singh said that it was the first time they saw it and he immediately got in touch with Perera and arranged a meeting with him in the afternoon, where he admitted to having an affair with Seah after the General Elections 2020.
Singh also arranged a separate meeting on the same afternoon with Seah where she also admitted to having an affair with Perera, but claimed that it had “stopped some time ago”.
Singh added that Perera told him that he should have been more “forthcoming” when approached by the WP members about the allegations.
Resignations
Both Seah and Perera have since resigned from the Workers’ Party, with Perera also resigning from his position as MP of Aljunied GRC.
Singh added that on 18 July, he received a letter of resignation from Seah; as well as Perera’s letter of resignation from the WP and informing the acting speaker of parliament that he was also resigning from his seat in Parliament.
He also added that Perera’s conduct and not being truthful when the party leadership asked him about the allegations were “unacceptable”, and that had he not offered his resignation, Singh would have recommended for Perera to be expelled from the party.
Singh added that from the moment the WP was made aware of the video, they moved as quickly as they could to get to the bottom of the matter and put things right.
S. Iswaran
Snippet of PM Lee’s Ministerial Statement
On the CPIB investigation involving Minister Iswaran.
Briefly, the facts of the case are these: While investigating a separate matter, CPIB came across some information concerning Minister Iswaran that merited investigation. CPIB alerted me on 29 May, and pursued this lead further on their own volition. On 5 July, Director CPIB briefed me on the findings he had at that point. He told me that CPIB would need to interview Minister Iswaran to take the investigation further, and he sought my concurrence to open a formal investigation. I gave my concurrence the next day, 6 July. On 11 July, Minister Iswaran was brought in by CPIB and subsequently released on bail. I instructed him to take leave of absence until the investigations were completed.
Subsequently, I interdicted Minister Iswaran from duty with a reduced pay of $8,500 per month, until further notice. Such incidents involving ministers are rare, and there is no rule or precedent on how to effect an interdiction on a Political Office Holder. Hence, I used the current civil service practice as a reference point. The specific details in Minister Iswaran’s case follow generally how the civil service would deal with a senior officer in a similar situation. But this was my decision as Prime Minister, because the political contexts for a minister and a civil servant being investigated and interdicted are different.
I should point out that CPIB investigations are still ongoing. I am unable to provide more details on the case, so as not to prejudice the investigations in any way. I ask Members of this House and the public to refrain from speculation and conjecture. We must allow CPIB to do its work, to investigate the matter fully, thoroughly and independently. When the investigation is completed, CPIB will submit its findings to the Attorney General’s Chambers, which will decide what to do with them. Whichever way the facts come out, the case will be taken to its logical conclusion. That has always been our way.