Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and Tampines GRC MP Cheng Li Hui resign over affair

Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Tampines GRC MP Cheng Li Hui have resigned over an affair, in the latest incident to rock the ruling People’s Action Party.

Making the announcement in a statement on Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said their resignations are necessary to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years.

At a press conference after, PM Lee said he had learnt about the “inappropriate relationship” between Mr Tan and Ms Cheng Li Hui sometime after the 2020 general election, and counselled both of them - most recently in February this year.

But he came across recent information that “strongly suggested that the relationship had continued”.

At around the same time, a video, in which Mr Tan was heard muttering “****ing populist” on the microphone during the first day of debate on the President’s Address on April 17, was uploaded on social media platform Reddit.

PM Lee said he met Mr Tan after he returned from overseas leave.

“During our discussion, he agreed to leave immediately – both for his unparliamentary conduct as well as his inappropriate relationship with Ms Cheng, which he had told me he would break off but he did not,” he added.

Mr Tan and Ms Cheng’s resignations come on the heels of the arrest and release on bail of Transport Minister S. Iswaran last week. The corruption probe involving Mr Iswaran is ongoing.

In his letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Tan said that he was resigning as a member of the PAP, as well as Speaker of Parliament and an MP for Marine Parade GRC, with immediate effect.

He said that he had made a mistake in Parliament when he uttered words which were “rude and unparliamentary” in nature.

He added that this was wrong, and he had apologised publicly for it, as well as conveyed his apologies to Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim.

Personal misconduct

Mr Tan said the hot mic episode had added to the hurt he caused his family.

“I have let them down. We have spoken about my personal conduct before. There are areas where I have fallen short,” said Mr Tan.

“I need to take responsibility for them, and help heal my family. We need space to recover and work through the issues,” he added.

He said he had discussed the matter with his wife and agreed that he must step away from politics and devote himself to his family.

Responding in a letter, PM Lee said he appreciated Mr Tan’s admission that he had fallen short in his personal conduct. He said he understood Mr Tan’s desire to “step away from politics and help heal your family”.

He added he was saddened that Mr Tan was not leaving politics in happier circumstances.

During the press conference, PM Lee said Mr Tan had offered to resign in February, which he accepted but held off to ensure Mr Tan’s residents in the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward of Marine Parade GRC continued to be taken care of.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who is also an MP in Marine Parade GRC, will take care of Mr Tan’s ward. 

In her resignation letter, Ms Cheng said: “I am very sorry to be resigning in these circumstances, and would like to apologise to the party, as well as to my residents and volunteers.”

Replying, PM Lee said he regretted the circumstances in which she was resigning.

Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli will stand in for Ms Cheng in Tampines East.

Both Mr Tan and Ms Cheng have deleted their social media accounts.

Hot mic incident

Last Monday, a video, in which Mr Tan was heard muttering “****ing populist” on the microphone during the first day of debate on the President’s Address on April 17, was uploaded on social media platform Reddit.

It was titled “SG Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin insults Jamus Lim: ‘****ing Populist’”.

Mr Tan had been responding to Associate Professor Lim, who was making a speech on doing more to help lower-income Singaporeans.

“Deservedly, there has been much disquiet over my remarks. Many felt that I was not impartial,” wrote Mr Tan.

He added that others also felt that it was “conduct unbecoming” of a Speaker of Parliament, and that some have called for his resignation.

When such mistakes happen, Mr Tan said all members, himself included, will have to apologise and withdraw their comments.

However, he said as the Speaker, he “should have known better and held myself to a higher standard” and that the issue at hand is not just about the mistake itself.

“My mistake raised broader questions over my neutrality and impartiality as Speaker. The credibility of Parliament and the Chair is critical and cannot be compromised.”

Ms Cheng, who stepped down with immediate effect as a member of the PAP, and also resigned as MP for Tampines GRC, said in her resignation letter: “I am very sorry to be resigning in these circumstances, and would like to apologise to the party, as well as to my residents and volunteers.”

PM Lee, in his reply to Ms Cheng, said he regretted the circumstances in which she was resigning.

In his letters to both MPs on their resignations, PM Lee said: “Your resignation is necessary, to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years.”

Mr Tan was elected by MPs as the 10th Speaker of Parliament on Sept 11, 2017. He was also MP for Marine Parade GRC since May 7, 2011.

Prior to his election as Speaker, he was the Minister for Social and Family Development from April 9, 2015 until his appointment. He was also the Minister for Manpower from May 1, 2014 to April 8, 2015.

Ms Cheng made her political debut in the 2015 general election in Tampines GRC. She was also appointed Deputy District Advisor in the PAP Women’s Wing in 2016.