Recap: Faishal Ibrahim resigns

'A very good MP': Some Kembangan residents saddened by Faishal’s resignation

Several Kembangan residents who spoke to ST today said they were shocked by Faishal’s resignation, as they had a good impression of him as an MP.

Describing him as “friendly and approachable”, retiree Rita Chan said it was a pity he had to step down in this manner.

“I feel very sad,” said Nor Mala, who works as a cook, adding that she hopes another Malay MP will be assigned to the ward.

Joreen Liu, who is self-employed, added that the Kembangan estate was clean and well taken care of.

“People always say MPs only visit during election time, but I see the MPs around,” she said. “(Faishal) was a nice guy, patient and sincere. It’s a waste.”

Earlier on Monday, MPs of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC said their immediate priority is to ensure Kembangan residents are taken care of.

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

What we know so far about Faishal Ibrahim’s resignation

• About a month ago, the Prime Minister’s Office received an e-mail from a female member of the public concerning her interactions with Faishal, who was Acting Minister for Muslim Affairs and MP for the Kembangan ward of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
• PM Wong said he had asked for the matter to be looked into immediately.
• Both Faishal and the woman were spoken to separately to understand their accounts. It was revealed that most of their interactions took place through online messages. They also met on the sidelines of public events.
• Both parties then made allegations of harassment against each other, and the matter was referred to the Police. 
• The Attorney-General's Chambers assessed that no criminal offence had been committed by either party.
• Faishal said while there was no physical relationship between him and the woman, there was a lapse of judgment in the way he had handled the interactions, and in failing to establish clearer boundaries at an earlier stage.
• Faishal accepted that his conduct fell short of the standards expected of a political office holder and MP so he tendered his resignation.
• Faishal, who is married and has two children, said he decided to step away from politics so that he can devote his time and attention to his family.
• Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad was appointed as Acting Minister for Muslim Affairs, while the remaining MPs in Marine-Parade Braddell Heights will continue to serve residents in Kembangan.
• It was revealed that Faishal was granted a leave of absence from his duties from June 29 to July 19.
• PAP chairman Desmond Lee said there will be no by-election for the GRC.

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PHOTO: MDDI

Faishal was on leave of absence from June 29 to July 19

Faishal was granted leave of absence from his duties as Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs from June 29 to July 19, according to a notification on the Government e-Gazette dated July 20.

His leave was granted by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, with the advice of PM Wong.

He had previously been on leave of absence from May 16 to June 3.

PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM E-GAZETTE

Seah Kian Peng assures residents of Kembangan that MPs will work ‘doubly hard’

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng told the media that his team will look after residents of the ward.

Said Seah: "We will step up, we will step forward and we will work doubly hard.”

Referring to the planned Meet-the-People session for the ward on Monday nights, he said “business will go on as usual”, adding that other MPs in the GRC “will be around”. 

He was flanked by Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC MPs Diana Pang and Goh Pei Ming. Seah explained that the other GRC teammate Tin Pei Ling is overseas.

Seah said Faishal’s departure from the team will be felt by the residents.

Seah recalled speaking to Faishal over the weekend and before he could utter his first words, the former minister had told him that he felt sorry for the residents and volunteers.

Seah said the MPs will ensure that all community activities continue because the mission does not end.

He also addressed a question on how the MP for Kembangan had changed for a second time over three years, saying that it was “unfortunate”.

Former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, who was MP for Kembangan, had quit in July 2023. 

Seah added: “As a team, we always focus on what we need to do going forward, and the commitment we made to the residents at Kembangan is that…with the team behind us, we got a good team, a strong team.”

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Code of conduct reminds office holders of standards to uphold, says Desmond Lee

When asked about the boundaries MPs should observe, given that they frequently communicate with residents through WhatsApp and social media, Desmond Lee said there is a code of conduct for all office holders and MPs, which applies to their everyday actions.

He added that it applies to MPs whether it involves physical interactions, online communications or in the things that they say or do.

“And I think when it comes to online communication, this applies with equal force,” he said.

He said that the standards that PAP holds all MPs and office holders to has been clearly outlined, and PM Wong sends the code of conduct to all of them every year.

He added that Faishal’s decision to resign is painful, but the correct one.

In response to a follow-up question about whether this has damaged public trust in the PAP, he said: “When these things happen, it’s always painful, it’s always difficult. People, of course, will be concerned... We will double down on looking out for their interests and needs in order to maintain public trust.”

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

No by-election will be called: Desmond Lee

When asked if there will be a by-election, PAP chairman Desmond Lee said: “There will be no by-election called.”

Citing the past cases of Jurong GRC and Sengkang GRC, Lee said the key is whether residents' needs are adequately provided for.

“We will make sure that all the existing MPs step up, step forward and look after the residents of Kembangan,” he said, adding that further arrangements on how the the team will be strengthened will be announced in due course.

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

PAP to make additional arrangements to strengthen Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team: Desmond Lee

PAP chairman Desmond Lee said that the party will make additional arrangements to strengthen the team at Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, following Faishal’s resignation.

Details will be made known in due course, he added.

Lee, who is also Education Minister, said: “We know that many residents and supporters will be disappointed by what has happened, and we are deeply sorry to have let them down.

“Maintaining high standards of integrity and conduct is fundamental to the PAP, and we will continue to hold ourselves to those standards.”

He added that for now, the other Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC MPs will continue to serve residents and ensure that their needs are well looked after. 

PAP chairman Desmond Lee, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng prepare to speak to media

Party chairman Desmond Lee, as well as MPs of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC are currently at the PAP Kembangan branch to deliver comments to the media.

The branch office at Block 413 Eunos Road is where Faishal’s Meet-the-People sessions are conducted.

We’ll bring you more on this shortly.

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Faishal resigns over online messages with woman: What happened

Faishal’s resignation a setback for 4G team, may hasten Cabinet reshuffle: Analysts

Faishal’s resignation is a setback for the 4G leadership and its connection to the Malay-Muslim community, said Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan.

He cited how Faishal was made Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs to shore up support of the Malay-Muslim ground after the 2025 General Election, and that he was similarly redeployed to Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to bolster the team.

Teo Kay Key, a senior research fellow at IPS Social Lab, said that with two 4G political office-holders leaving in short succession, the party leaders may need to now spend more effort thinking of how to update the slate.

Former senior minister of state for manpower and health Koh Poh Koon had stepped down from his posts in June.

“While the current front-bench numbers still look adequate, we also have to remember that most are balancing multiple portfolios on top of their regular MP duties, hence, it might not be always sustainable to look within the group for further succession planning, and instead expand to the backbenchers or newer MPs,” she said.

Political observer Zulkifli Baharudin noted that the position of a Minister for Muslim Affairs is unique to Singapore. It is the highest position in the Constitution that reflects how society and the Government want to preserve and protect the dignity of Malays, their race and religion, he said.

Given this, anyone holding the position must be someone of solid integrity and must have moral authority, said the former Nominated MP.

“Malays treat this position as a sacred position. It’s not an ordinary minister. If you are the Malay Muslim minister, you have to be able to stand up to certain moral positions,” he said.