PM Lee to Talk About Iswaran CPIB Probe & Tan Chuan-Jin Saga in Parliament on Wed (2 Aug)

Some say deciding between Ronaldo and Messi is the ultimate challenge. Others are torn between Netflix’s latest drama and that new reality show everyone’s talking about. But, let’s be real, the real suspense is this: What’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong going to say in Parliament about the CPIB investigation of Transport Minister S. Iswaran and Tan Chuan-Jin? PM Lee will be delivering a ministerial statement tomorrow (2 August) and will be addressing the questions we all have.

So you’ve thought that the Ridout Road parliament sitting would be the highest-viewed sitting?

Ha.

What to Expect in 2 August 2023 Parliament Sitting

According to the order paper Parliament dropped on Tuesday, PM Lee will likely tackle a whopping 18 questions about the CPIB investigation.

For example, Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) is curious about the timeline: When did the CPIB discover the issues? Why start a formal investigation on 11 July when PM Lee got the lowdown on 5 July and gave the green light a day later?

Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) from the Workers’ Party and Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai are both itching to know: When does the CPIB need the PM’s nod to start investigations? And has the PM ever said “nope” to a CPIB probe?

Another WP MP, Gerald Giam from Aljunied GRC, wants to know if there’s a timeline for spilling the beans about a political figure’s arrest, especially if it might shake public trust in the Government.

On 14 July, the plot thickened when CPIB announced the arrest of Mr Iswaran and tycoon Ong Beng Seng on 11 July. Both were later released on bail. Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) asked if this saga would impact the Singapore Grand Prix contract, which Mr Ong holds till 2028?

For more context about why people are associating the Iswaran investigation to F1, watch this to the end:

It’s Not Just About the Sagas

Parliament’s got a full plate. From worker safety to concert ticket scams and the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s recent financial hiccups, there’s a lot to unpack.

Parliament’s kicking off at 11am with the election of a new Speaker, Seah Kian Peng from Marine Parade GRC. After that, nine Nominated MPs will swear in.

So, grab your popcorn, folks. We might get some answers soon.