Singapore parliament speaker quits, adding pressure to ruling party

Two members of Singapore's ruling People's Action Party announced their resignations on Monday, dealing further blows to the political group that has ruled the city-state for over 50 years, report informs via Nikkei Asia.

Tan Chuan-Jin stepped down as speaker of parliament and as a member of parliament, while also leaving the PAP. Another PAP member, Cheng Li Hui, similarly resigned as a parliamentarian and from the PAP.

Singapore's ruling party is grappling with the fallout of incidents involving its politicians. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong issued statements regarding their departures, with each saying the resignations were necessary "to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years."

Tan, a former cabinet minister, drew criticism last week for using inappropriate language during a debate. He had said the words to himself in parliament but his voice was picked up by an active microphone. He later apologized.

"For me personally, this recent episode has added to the hurt I have caused my family," Tan said to Lee in a letter that was made public. "There are areas where I have fallen short. I need to take responsibility for them and help heal my family."

As speaker, Tan presided over parliamentary debates. He oversaw discussions on national issues, letting both the ruling and opposition parties have their time to address lawmakers.

"My mistake raised broader questions over my neutrality and impartiality as Speaker," he wrote in his letter. "The credibility of Parliament and the Chair is critical and cannot be compromised."

This is not the first time that a parliamentary speaker who was also a PAP member has stepped away from the role over matters of personal conduct. In 2012, then-speaker and PAP member Michael Palmer quit due to his involvement in an improper relationship.

The PAP has been under closer scrutiny of late. Singapore's Transport Minister and PAP member S Iswaran as well as Ong Beng Seng, the head of a listed hotel company in Singapore, are currently under investigation by the city-state's anti-corruption agency in a high-profile graft probe.

During a news conference on Monday, Prime Minister Lee said he will nominate a new speaker. "High standards of propriety and personal conduct, together with staying clean and incorrupt, are the fundamental reasons Singaporeans trust and respect the PAP," he said.

"Without party discipline, without integrity, we are nothing," Lee added. "So this is an absolute requirement."