SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Transport Minister, S Iswaran, will stay in the country while on leave during an ongoing investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO responded to queries from CNA, stating that Mr Iswaran will not have access to official resources or government buildings.
On Wednesday, the CPIB announced that Mr Iswaran was lending his assistance to their investigation, without providing further details about the case. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has instructed Mr Iswaran to take a leave of absence until the investigation is concluded, as per a statement.
As Mr Iswaran’s responsibilities cannot be undertaken by the Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong himself, other Members of Parliament from Mr Iswaran’s West Coast constituency will take charge, according to a statement by Mr Wong. Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will serve as the Acting Minister for Transport in Mr Iswaran’s absence.
Aside from his role as Transport Minister, Mr Iswaran is also in charge of trade relations at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). The ministry confirmed that other political officeholders will handle Mr Iswaran’s portfolio during his leave of absence.
