00:00 Singapore's Transport Minister S Ishwaran facing corruption charges has resigned from
00:19 the ruling People's Action Party and as a Member of Parliament on 18th January. Arrested
00:24 back in July last year as part of the Corruption Practice Investigation Bureau probe, Ishwaran
00:29 has rejected the charges already. In his resignation letters to PM Lee, he stated he had returned
00:35 the salaries and allowances during the investigation. PM Lee emphasised the need for rigorous handling
00:41 of such matters to uphold the party and government handling.
00:46 Acting Transport Minister Che Hung Tat will now replace Ishwaran and Grace Fu will assume
00:50 his trade relations portfolio. Ishwaran's resignation comes in the wake of an ongoing
00:54 investigation into the allegations of corruption by the CPIB. He asserted his intention to
01:00 focus on clearing his name and deemed his resignation necessary in the light of the
01:05 circumstances. In a separate letter to PM Lee, he also stated his intention to return
01:10 all his salaries and Member of Parliament allowances received during the start of the
01:14 CPIB investigation back in July last year. He emphasised the ethical responsibility to
01:19 forego benefits while unable to fulfil ministerial and parliamentary duties. PM Lee has also
01:24 expressed disappointment on Ishwaran's departure, acknowledging the necessity of
01:28 handling such matters rigorously and upholding party and government integrity.
01:33 The Acting Transport Minister Che Hung Tat has now been appointed at Ishwaran's department,
01:37 effective immediately and will now serve as the second Minister of Finance.
01:41 The Minister of Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu is assuming Ishwaran's role as
01:45 the Minister in Charge for Trade Relations too. Ishwaran, who had held the position of
01:49 Transport Minister since 2021, has had a political career spanning 26 years and has
01:55 been elected back in 1997 as a Member of Parliament. His resignation amid the legal challenges
02:01 underscores the significance of maintaining ethical standards within the government and
02:05 the People's Action Party.
02:12 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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