Six-Month Wait on Minister’s Corruption Probe Heightens Public Curiosity, Says Academic

SINGAPORE — January 11 marks six months since the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) began investigating Transport Minister S Iswaran for alleged corruption. Despite his arrest and subsequent release on bail, the investigation has largely been kept under wraps, fueling public speculation about the gravity of the case.

After months of silence, the Government provided an update in Parliament on January 9, revealing that the CPIB has completed its investigation, and findings are now with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). However, further details remain undisclosed, prompting questions about the implications for the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) as it gears up for a leadership transition and an impending election.

In response to a request for updates by Progress Singapore Party MP Hazel Poa, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing assured the public that the case would undergo “due legal process” and described the CPIB’s investigation as “robust and thorough.”

Some observers, however, question the lengthy timeline of the probe. Dr. Howard Lee, a lecturer at Murdoch University, told The Independent Singapore that the extended duration may raise public expectations. He suggested that such a delay typically indicates a complex investigation involving multiple parties, but warned that the longer the wait, the more serious the case may appear to the public.

Impact on West Coast GRC
The potential impact of the investigation extends to West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC), where Mr. Iswaran serves as a Member of Parliament. National Development Minister Desmond Lee recently expressed concern over the situation, noting that Mr. Iswaran’s absence has left the GRC operating with one less MP, forcing other MPs to share additional responsibilities. Desmond Lee, who was moved to West Coast ahead of the 2020 election, emphasized that his team remains focused on resident issues like cost of living and social inequality despite the disruption.

As the PAP prepares for the next general election, slated to be held by 2025, the future of West Coast GRC remains uncertain. Dr. Howard Lee anticipates boundary adjustments for GRCs across Singapore, although he believes this would be driven more by the retirement of senior ministers and a need for emerging leaders to assume anchor roles than by Mr. Iswaran’s case specifically. He noted that redrawing GRC boundaries is a regular feature of Singapore’s electoral landscape and is unlikely to be swayed by individual cases.