Tan Chuan-Jin, Cheng Li Hui persisted in 'inappropriate relationship': PM Lee
Singapore's Prime Minister reveals counselling the duo in February, but recent information suggest they continued relationship
SINGAPORE — Former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin had engaged in an "inappropriate relationship" with Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui, which persisted despite being told to end it, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
During a press conference held on Monday (17 July), PM Lee conveyed that he had discussed this relationship with Tan, with their most recent conversation occurring in February this year. At that time, Tan acknowledged his mistake and offered his resignation.
"I had accepted his resignation," Lee disclosed. "But I told him, first, I needed to make sure the residents of Kembangan-Chai Chee and Marine Parade continued to be taken care of. Meanwhile his relationship with Ms Cheng had to stop.”
However, PM Lee said he obtained information "very recently" that strongly suggested Tan and Cheng's relationship was still ongoing. Consequently, he decided that Tan needed to depart immediately, regardless of the readiness of alternative arrangements.
Around the same time, a video clip of Tan caught on a hot mic using inappropriate language was circulating. PM Lee said, "I asked to see him...During our discussion, he agreed to leave immediately - both for his unparliamentary conduct as well as his inappropriate relationship with Ms Cheng, which he had told me he would break off but he did not.”
PM Lee vows to uphold party discipline
The Prime Minister emphasised that their inappropriate relationship was a "more serious matter" than Tan's use of unparliamentary language because Tan held the position of Speaker of Parliament, while Cheng was an MP for Tampines GRC. "There should not have been a relationship," he said.
Cheng had also received counselling from PM Lee in February, but continued the relationship with Tan.
Tan, 54, is married with two children while Cheng, 47, is not married.
“It saddens me to discover that these two PAP MPs have fallen short of the high standard of propriety and personal conduct that we expect from all PAP MPs,” PM Lee 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 further acknowledged the difficulty of taking such actions against their friends and comrades-in-arms and the potential political embarrassment and cost involved.
Nonetheless, he believes the PAP must uphold party discipline and standards of conduct. Their duty lies with parliament and the people of Singapore, and "that is paramount", he added.
The Straits Times reported that, when questioned about whether the affair would have become public knowledge without the recent incident involving Tan's hot mic, PM Lee responded that it probably would have been revealed sooner or later, as it had already reached that point.
“But it so happened that the hot mic incident came up and therefore precipitated this moment," he added.
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