Election surprises and certainties: Dissecting Tharman’s presidential win

In the 2023 Presidential Election, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam secured a stunning 70.4% landslide victory, surprising many, including himself. Despite expectations that TKL would win the opposition votes, voters from both camps showed a preference for Tharman’s charisma and perceived competency. As Singapore reflects on the outcome, questions arise about the election’s fairness and the real implications of Tharman’s dominant win.

A scrutiny of Ng Kok Song’s self-professed independence in the upcoming presidential race

Opinion: Despite president aspirant Ng Kok Song’s assertions of his independence, his ties to PAP-linked entities and overlaps with former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s career cast doubts on his political neutrality. Is his candidacy a sincere bid or a strategic move to prevent a shameful walkover?

Singapore’s High Commissioner refutes The Economist’s allegations of CPIB’s lack of independence, but without a POFMA direction

In a diplomatic counter, Singapore’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Lim Thuan Kuan, has refuted allegations made by The Economist, questioning the CPIB’s independence. In defence of Singapore’s anti-corruption mechanisms, he cited constitutional safeguards and a commitment to thorough investigations. Intriguingly, Singapore’s government chose this diplomatic route, rather than issuing a POFMA directive – a law previously used to counter foreign ‘falsehoods’ – as it has done in similar past instances.

Desmond Lee’s attack on Lee Hsien Yang: The irony of PAP’s selective outrage

Opinion: Minister for National Development Desmond Lee’s recent fervent personal attack on Lee Hsien Yang highlights a glaring irony – the PAP’s selective outrage. As serious misconduct within their own ranks is met with silence, the party’s integrity is being questioned, throwing a harsh light on the double standards in their crisis management. “While Desmond Lee vehemently defends the government’s backing of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau’s investigation into potential corruption within its ranks, there appears to be a contrasting silence or lack of definitive action surrounding the case of Christopher de Souza, a fellow PAP member and Deputy Speaker of Parliament… …Similarly, the decision to retain Tan Chuan-Jin as Speaker of Parliament amidst the controversy of an extramarital affair, which the PAP has known about since at least 2020, highlights a troubling pattern within the PAP: a selective and biased response to allegations of misconduct based on party affiliation.”

A call for equitable accountability: Should a Committee of Privileges investigate PAP’s Tan Chuan-Jin scandal?

Opinion: Recent scandals within Singapore’s political landscape underline the need for equal accountability across parties – urging the question: should a Committee of Privileges probe into the Tan Chuan-Jin scandal as rigorously as it did the Workers’ Party’s Raeesah Khan case?

PM Lee’s troubling decision: The reappointment and maintenance of Tan Chuan-Jin as Speaker despite knowledge of his affair

Opinion: The recent resignation of Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, after revelations of an extra-marital affair, has forced Singapore into a state of political introspection. More critically, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s decision to reappoint and maintain Mr Tan in a position of authority, despite knowledge of the affair, has profound implications for Singapore’s political landscape. Could there be instances where individuals are appointed to positions of authority, despite knowledge of their personal indiscretions, potentially subjecting them to undue influence?

Ng’s entry: Signifying a two-cornered fight in the upcoming presidential race instead of a walkover

Opinion: Ng Kok Song’s potential bid for presidency intensifies the upcoming electoral race, transforming what could have been a walkover into a two-cornered contest, yet it remains a clear victory for the ruling party.

Why did PAP leaders keep mum about Iswaran’s arrest? What happened to being ‘upfront and transparent’ about the CPIB investigation?

Opinion: Despite assurances of transparency and accountability, the PAP government’s piecemeal disclosure of Minister Iswaran’s arrest raises questions about their commitment to being ‘upfront and transparent.’

Charles Yeo’s allegations on career progression of Minister Shanmugam’s son geoblocked in Singapore

Singaporean asylum seeker Charles Yeo’s allegations regarding the career progression of Minister Shanmugam’s son have unexpectedly been geoblocked in Singapore, sparking further controversy in the ongoing Ridout saga.

Why did the Ministers get their wives to sign the tenancy agreements for Ridout Road properties?

Opinion: Despite clearing Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan of corruption, questions remain: Why were their wives, who seemingly do not meet the necessary financial criteria, permitted to rent state properties at Ridout Road? According to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) bidding form, an individual bidder should have an average monthly income at least three times the bid rent. In this instance, Mrs Shanmugam and Mrs Balakrishnan would need to earn $79,500 and $57,000 per month, respectively, to qualify as bidders under these criteria. However, while it appears that both wives fall short of these income requirements, their husbands would meet the criteria. This discrepancy prompts the question: Why did the wives sign the tenancy agreements, and why didn’t the SLA ask the Ministers to be the ones officially listed as the bidders?