Faishal Ibrahim’s exit: Are the PAP’s moral standards turning people away from politics?

**Natasha Ann Zachariah** (0:07)
It's been quite a week in Singapore politics. Yesterday evening, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced changes to the cabinet line-up that saw younger office holders and backbenchers being promoted. Now, this comes days after news that acting minister in charge of Muslim Affairs, Faishal Ibrahim, had resigned over online messages with a woman. He said that there was a lapse of judgment on his part and accepted that his conduct fell short of what is expected of a political office holder and an MP.
So far, two big political events for the government and the PAP this week. What do the changes signal about leadership transition? And will the party's high standards for moral conduct make it harder for them to attract talent?
Welcome to another episode of The Usual Place, the podcast where we have real conversations about the headlines. I'm Natasha, and to deep dive into what we should make of this, I have SMU Associate Professor of Law, Eugene Tan, a political analyst and former nominator MP. Thank you for being here. Welcome back again.

**Eugene Tan** (1:05)
No, thank you for having me.

**Natasha Ann Zachariah** (1:07)
And we also have Independent Political Observer, Dr Felix Tan, and it's been a year since you've been on The Usual Place, but welcome back to talk about the very exciting week that has happened in politics. I want to start with your thoughts on the changes to the cabinet. What was the most surprising move?
And should we actually see this as a reshuffle? Since most of the heavyweight ministries didn't actually change the ministers in charge. So Felix, let's start with you.

**Felix Tan** (1:33)
The first question is whether it's a real surprise, because I think like what you mentioned, it wasn't a real shake up of a certain position. I mean, you've got David Neo, Jeffrey Seow, acting minister, now to full minister. I mean, it's expected.
So it's kind of like, no surprises there. I mean, there have been a few surprises. I mean, for example, Sim An, who's been in politics for a very long time, has finally been pushed up and promoted. And you've got Sean Loh and Fu Teh Siam coming into the fold from first timers and then now put in place in the cabinet. So I think these are interesting, which you call it promotion or whatever it is, but interesting, but not surprises.

**Eugene Tan** (2:15)
You know, Natasha, the reshuffle, I think, needs to be put in context, right? So we have had two vaccinations in the first, Dr. Kopukun, several weeks back due to family reasons, and then the more recent one involving Prof. Faishal.
So I think in many ways, PM probably had to bring forward the cabinet reshuffle. And we know that there are regular cabinet reshuffles. I mean, PM actually used the word adjustments, right? So I think one way to look at it is, this is really an adjustment, right? There were no, all ministries continue to have the same ministers helming them, say for Ministry of Manpower. And of course, the Ministry of Manpower, in a way, was a very counterintuitive, but also bold move where you have all the pillow office holders are fifth generation leaders. All of them elected just last year.
And I don't know, it could be an experiment of sorts, but certainly, I think PM is confident that the 5G leaders there will be able to get the job done. But otherwise, I think it was really also intended to signal that the government has sufficient depth and breath, that despite the departures, there are people who can step up. And I think, like it or not, it is also to shift the focus away from Dr. Faishal's resignation, which is something that is done. But let's look to the future with this new Blue Office holders' promotions.

**Natasha Ann Zachariah** (4:01)
So it was a calculated play in a way to announce it yesterday?

**Eugene Tan** (4:06)
I say that's the nature of politics, right? Because otherwise, you know, Dr. Faishal will still be the focus of much discussion. But now, yes, you will still be the focus, but we will talk about some of the changes, like we are going to do in this particular podcast.

**Natasha Ann Zachariah** (4:25)
I mean, we have to address it, but I think, as you mentioned, the cabinet changes or adjustments really dominated yesterday's and today's headlines.
And I'm glad you brought up the changes to the manpower ministry because Jasmin Lau, biggest mover, biggest promotion. So she gets promoted to Senior Minister of State for MDDI, and she also becomes Acting Minister for the manpower ministry. So what do you both make of that? Because why, I mean, maybe some people might think like, why is the PM giving these relatively newcomers big portfolios about 15 months after the general election? And as you mentioned, Simen just became Minister. I think she came into politics in 2011, right? Yeah. So what do you make of this push to like elevate?