Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam asserted that he "has nothing to hide" regarding the rental of 26 Ridout Road, a colonial bungalow, lab
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam asserted that he “has nothing to hide” regarding the rental of 26 Ridout Road, a colonial bungalow, labeling the allegations surrounding the matter as “outrageous.”
Speaking to the media outside the People’s Action Party (PAP) branch at Block 107 Yishun Ring Road on May 23, 2023, Shanmugam addressed the public’s inquiries about the rental of the government property, acknowledging that people are entitled to ask questions about public assets.
“I know what I did. I kept to the rules. However, when questions arise, you know how it works. The government will look into the matter,” he stated.
In light of the serious allegations, Shanmugam revealed that he contacted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last week, suggesting an independent review to investigate any potential wrongdoing. He emphasized his confidence in both himself and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan regarding their conduct.
“We need this approach, regardless of who is involved, to ensure the system operates with integrity. We cannot allow doubts about the integrity of ministers to fester and remain unaddressed,” he explained.
Shanmugam promised that all relevant questions would be addressed in Parliament in July 2023, urging the public to allow the review to proceed without prejudice.
He specifically refuted allegations claiming illegal tree removals, work funded by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), and potential conflicts of interest, asserting that these claims were unfounded.
“I don’t want to comment much until SM Teo’s review is completed. But speaking from a personal perspective – the allegations are outrageous,” he concluded.
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