SINGAPORE – Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Tampines GRC MP Cheng Li Hui have resigned over an affair, in the latest incident to rock the ruling People’s Action Party.
Making the announcement in a statement on Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said their resignations are necessary to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years.
At a press conference after, PM Lee said he had learnt about the “inappropriate relationship” between Mr Tan and Ms Cheng some time after the 2020 general election, and counselled both of them – most recently in February 2023.
But he came across recent information that “strongly suggested that the relationship had continued”.
At around the same time, a video, in which Mr Tan was heard muttering “****ing populist” on the microphone during the first day of debate on the President’s Address on April 17, was uploaded on social media platform Reddit.
PM Lee said he met Mr Tan after he returned from overseas leave.
“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,” he added.
Mr Tan and Ms Cheng’s resignations come on the heels of the arrest and release on bail of Transport Minister S. Iswaran last week. The corruption probe involving Mr Iswaran is ongoing.
In his letter to PM Lee, Mr Tan said that he was resigning as a member of the PAP, as well as Speaker of Parliament and an MP for Marine Parade GRC, with immediate effect.
He said that he had made a mistake in Parliament when he uttered words which were “rude and unparliamentary” in nature.
He added that this was wrong, and he had apologised publicly for it, as well as conveyed his apologies to Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim.
Personal misconduct
Mr Tan said the hot mic episode had added to the hurt he caused his family.
“I have let them down. We have spoken about my personal conduct before. There are areas where I have fallen short,” said Mr Tan.
“I need to take responsibility for them, and help heal my family. We need space to recover and work through the issues,” he added.
He said he had discussed the matter with his wife and agreed that he must step away from politics and devote himself to his family.
Responding in a letter, PM Lee said he appreciated Mr Tan’s admission that he had fallen short in his personal conduct. He said he understood Mr Tan’s desire to “step away from politics and help heal your family”.
He added that he was saddened Mr Tan was not leaving politics in happier circumstances.