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Inappropriate relationship between Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui continued despite counselling: PM Lee
Political Correspondent
Updated 2 Mins Ago
SINGAPORE – An affair between Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and fellow People’s Action Party (PAP) MP Cheng Li Hui continued despite their being counselled by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in February.
PM Lee said he had learnt about the relationship some time after the 2020 General Election, but did not know when it began.
He was speaking at a press conference at the Istana on Monday afternoon following his announcement of Mr Tan’s and Ms Cheng’s resignations from the PAP.
PM Lee said he spoke to both of them most recently in February, and counselled them.
However, in July, he came across information that “strongly suggested” that the relationship had continued.
“I decided then that Mr Tan had to go forthwith, whether or not the arrangements were ready. It could not wait any longer,” he said.
“I think it’s simply inappropriate to have a Speaker having a relationship with one of the MPs… It is not appropriate, it’s not acceptable.”
In February, Mr Tan had admitted to PM Lee that what he did was wrong. He offered his resignation, which PM Lee said he accepted.
But, added PM Lee, he had to first make sure that residents in his Kembangan-Chai Chee ward and Marine Parade GRC continued to be taken care of. Meanwhile, Mr Tan’s relationship with Ms Cheng had to stop.
Earlier in July, when a video clip of Mr Tan’s unparliamentary language circulated, Mr Tan was away. PM Lee asked to see him when he was back.
During the discussion, Mr Tan agreed to leave immediately, due to both his unparliamentary conduct as well as his inappropriate relationship with Ms Cheng.
The latter was something which Mr Tan had told PM Lee he would break off, but did not.
Ms Cheng had also been counselled, including by PM Lee in February, but “nevertheless she had continued the relationship with Mr Tan”, said the Prime Minister.
“It saddens me to discover that these two PAP MPs have fallen short of the high standards of propriety and personal conduct that we expect of all PAP MPs,” he said.
“When such a situation arises, it is my duty as secretary-general of the party to deal with them and put things right. This means to counsel, to correct, to admonish and ultimately, if necessary, to remove the MP from the party and Parliament.”
He said it was painful to do this to “our friends and comrades-in-arms”, and it can also be politically embarrassing and costly.
“But the PAP has to maintain party discipline and standards of conduct. Our duty is to Parliament and the people of Singapore, and that is paramount.”
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Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, MP Cheng Li Hui resign over “mistake in Parliament” amid rumours of an affair
By Obbana Rajah
https://theindependent.sg/speaker-tan-chuan-jin-mp-cheng-li-hui-resign-over-mistake-in-parliament-amid-rumours-of-an-affair/
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Singapore speaker, PAP MP resign
The prime minister’s office said the resignations were necessary to maintain high standards of propriety.
Reuters – 17 Jul 2023, 1:52pm
SINGAPORE: Two of Singapore’s ruling party lawmakers including the house speaker have resigned, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday, calling the moves necessary to uphold the party’s standards.
Resignations of senior People’s Action Party (PAP) members are rare in Singapore, where the party has been in power since 1959, before the city-state’s independence in 1965.
In a statement, Lee said speaker Tan Chuan-Jin had “fallen short” in the matter of his personal conduct and he understood his desire to step away from politics and “help heal your family”. Lee did not elaborate.
The office gave no reason for the resignation of the other MP, Cheng Li Hui, who has been in parliament since 2015. Cheng could not immediately be reached for comment and her Facebook page had been taken down at the time of the announcement.
The resignations were necessary to “maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years”, Lee’s statements said.
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weehingthong 