All PAP MPs
RULES OF PRUDENCE
BEYOND SG50
It is a tradition for the Prime Minister to send a letter on “Rules of
Prudence” to all the PAP MPs after an election. The context each time
may be different but the subject remains constant, because integrity,
honesty and incorruptibility are fundamental to our Party. We must
never tire of reminding ourselves of their importance.
2.
Our Party has won 83 out of 89 seats in the just concluded General
Election, with all seats contested. Overall, the PAP won 69.9% of the
votes.
3. The people have endorsed what we have done in
the previous term, and given us a clear mandate to take Singapore
forward beyond SG50. Now we must fulfil what we have promised to do in
our manifesto. We must never break faith with the people, but must
always carry out our duties to them responsibly, address their worries
and advance their interests.
4. Be humble in victory. As
MPs, always remember we are servants of the people, not masters. Do not
mistake the strong election result to mean that our efforts have
succeeded, and that we can afford to slacken. Much work remains to be
done tackling issues which concern Singaporeans, and finding new ways to
improve people’s lives. Listen hard to voter concerns, help them to
tackle pressing needs, and convey their worries and aspirations to the
Government. Persuade them to support policies which are in their own
long term benefit, while helping the Government to formulate good
policies and stay in close touch with the people.
UPHOLDING OUR REPUTATION AND INTEGRITY
5.
One vital factor that has enabled the PAP to retain the trust of
Singaporeans all these years is honesty and integrity. The PAP’s
reputation for clean, incorruptible government is one of our most
precious assets. As PAP MPs, your personal standing reflects this high
standing of the Party as a whole. I cannot stress strongly enough that
every MP must uphold the rigorous standards that we have set for
ourselves, and do nothing to compromise them. Never give cause for
allegations that you are misusing your position, especially your access
to Ministers. That would discredit both you and the Party.
6.
As MPs, you will come across many different sorts of people. Many
altruistic, public spirited individuals will help you without wanting
anything in return, spending time and money to get community projects
going and to serve residents. But a few will cultivate you to obtain
benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by
association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and
statutory boards to make decisions in their favour. Gift hampers on
festive occasions, entertainment, and personal favours big and small are
just a few of countless social lubricants which such people use to
ingratiate themselves to MPs and make you obligated to them.
7.
You must distinguish between these two groups of people, and be shrewd
in assessing the motives of those who seek to get close to you. At all
times be seen to be beyond the influence of gifts or favours.
8.
Be scrupulously proper in your contacts with government departments or
public officers. Do not lobby any ministry or statutory board on behalf
of anyone who is not your constituent or grassroots activist. Do not
raise matters with public officers on behalf of friends, clients,
contractors, employers, or financiers to advance their business
interests. Conduct business with government agencies in writing and
avoid making telephone requests. If you have to speak, follow up in
writing to put your requests on record.
9. MPs are often
approached by friends, grassroots leaders or proprietors and businessmen
to officiate at the openings of their new shops or other business
events. They usually offer a gesture, such as a donation to a charity or
constituency welfare fund. Though it may be awkward to refuse such
requests, once you accept one, you will be hard-pressed to draw a line.
As a rule, you should decline invitations to such business events. If
you feel you should attend, please obtain prior approval from the Whip.
SEPARATING BUSINESS AND POLITICS
10.
Separate your public political position from your private, professional
or business interests. MPs who are in business, who occupy senior
management positions in companies, or who sit on company boards should
be especially vigilant. You must not exploit your public position as
Government MPs, your close contacts with the Ministers, or your access
to government departments and civil servants, for your personal interest
or the benefit of your employers. Your conduct must always be above
board.
11. MPs who are employed by companies or industry
associations may at times have to make public statements on behalf of
their company or industry association. If you have to do so, make it
clear that you are not speaking as an MP, but in your private,
professional or business capacity.
12. Do not use
Parliamentary questions as a means to lobby the Government on behalf of
your businesses or clients. When you raise questions in Parliament
related to your own businesses or your clients, be careful to first
declare your pecuniary interest in the issue.
13. You may,
however, speak freely to Cabinet Ministers, who are your Parliamentary
colleagues. Ministers will listen carefully to arguments on principles,
especially when they relate to the general policy of their Ministries.
But Ministers will not exercise their discretion to change individual
decisions without very good reasons which they can justify publicly.
Parliamentary Secretaries and Ministers of State who intervene in their
Ministries to reverse or alter decisions should promptly report the
matter to their Ministers to protect themselves against possible
accusations of misconduct. The Government must always base decisions on
the merits of the issues, and cannot yield to pressure from interested
parties.
DIRECTORSHIPS
14. MPs are often invited
to serve on the Boards of private and publicly listed companies. This
is a sign that the private sector values PAP MPs’ integrity and
experience, and reflects the high standing of the Party and of PAP MPs
in general. The Party permits MPs to serve as directors, provided you
keep your private and public responsibilities rigorously separate, and
your private appointments do not compromise your duties and performance
as an MP.
15. The public will closely scrutinise your
involvement in companies, because you are a PAP MP. Conduct your
business activities so as to bring credit to yourself and to the Party.
Adverse publicity on your performance as a director, or lapses in the
companies you are associated with, will tarnish your reputation as an MP
and lower the public’s regard for the Party.
16. You should
not solicit for Directorships in any companies, lest you appear to be
exploiting your political position to benefit yourself.
17.
You should not accept directorships where your role is just to dress up
the board with a PAP MP or two, in order to make the company look more
respectable.
18. Some grassroots leaders are businessmen who
own or manage companies. You should not sit on any boards of companies
owned or chaired by grassroots leaders appointed by you, so as to avoid
the perception that you are obligated to them or advancing their
business interests.
19. If you are offered a Directorship,
you have to decide for yourself whether to accept. The Party is not in a
position to vet or approve such decisions.
20. Before
accepting, consider the possible impact of the Directorship on your
political life. Ensure that the company understands that you are doing
so strictly in your private capacity, and will not use your public
position to champion the interests of the company, or lobby the
government on its behalf.
21. Make every effort to
familiarise yourself with the business, track record and background of
the key promoters of the company. Satisfy yourself that the company is
reputable, and that you are able to make a meaningful contribution.
Specifically, just like anyone else contemplating a Directorship, you
should ask yourself:
a. How well do you know the company,
its business strategy, financial status, shareholding structure and the
underlying industry?
b. Do you know your fellow directors,
the way the Board and its committees fulfil their responsibilities, the
reporting structure between Board and Management and the relationship
between shareholders and the company?
c. Do you have
sufficient industry, financial or professional expertise to fulfil your
expected role and responsibilities as a Director? Do you understand
your obligations under the law and the Code of Corporate Governance?
Will you be able to discharge your fiduciary duties properly and without
fear or favour?
d. Will you face any conflicts of interest, and if so can you manage them? If in any doubt, you should decline.
22.
Once you have decided to take up a Directorship, please inform the
Whip. Detailed reporting requirements are listed in the Annex.
PARLIAMENT
23.
MPs are expected to attend all sittings of Parliament. If you have to
be absent from any sitting, seek permission from the Government Whip.
Please inform the Whip if you have to leave the Parliament premises
while a sitting is on.
24. If you travel abroad, or need to
be absent from Parliament for any reason, you must apply to the Speaker
for leave, with copies to the Leader of the House and the Government
Whip. You should also inform the Whip where you can be reached while
abroad.
25. I have asked the Speaker to give all MPs,
particularly new MPs, ample opportunity and latitude to speak in
Parliament. Your first opportunity will be during the debate on the
President’s Address at the opening of Parliament in January 2016.
Following that, at the Budget Debate, all MPs should speak up. Script
your speeches or put your key points in note form to structure your
presentation and help the media.
26. The public expects PAP
MPs to express their views frankly, whether for or against Government
policies. During debates, speak freely and with conviction. Press your
points vigorously, and do not shy away from robust debate. However,
please exercise judgement when putting your points across, and do not
get carried away playing to the gallery.
27. Bring out
questions and issues that Singaporeans and your constituents have
concerns about, and grapevine talk for the Government to rebut, but
avoid unwittingly lending credence to baseless gossip. This will show
that you and the Party are in touch with the ground, and speaking up for
Singaporeans. Bringing up pertinent issues and questions in a timely
manner helps ministers to put across the facts, explain the reasons for
policies and decisions, and maintain public confidence in the openness
and integrity of our actions.
28. Your honest, informed views
are an important political input to Ministers when they formulate and
review policies. Ministers will accept valid, constructive suggestions,
but they have to challenge inaccurate or mistaken views. Over time, the
public will see that PAP backbenchers are as effective as opposition
MPs, if not better, at holding ministers to account, getting issues
fully debated, and influencing policies for the better.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC OCCASIONS
29.
On certain occasions, like the National Day Parade and the Investiture
Ceremony for National Day Awards, the whole Establishment, i.e. the
Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, will be there. Those who
cannot attend must have very good reasons. Those who have accepted the
invitation must attend, otherwise they leave empty seats, which does no
credit to them or to the Party.
30. At all public functions and constituency events, punctuality is of paramount importance.
GIFTS
31.
You should not accept gifts which might place you under obligations
which conflict with your public duties. If you receive any gifts other
than from close personal friends or relatives, you must declare them to
the Clerk of Parliament who will have the gifts valued. If you wish to
keep the gifts, you must pay the Government for them at the valuation
price.
FUND-RAISING
32. Party Branches should
not raise funds on their own without permission, for example by
soliciting advertisements for a souvenir magazine or a carnival. If you
intend to raise funds, please clear it beforehand with the Organising
Secretary. When your branch embarks on a collective fund-raising
activity, e.g. a Family Day or Walk-A-Jog, you must follow the rules
strictly.
FINANCIAL PRUDENCE
33. As MPs, you
should manage your personal financial affairs prudently. Do not
over-extend yourself or become financially embarrassed. This would be
not only a potential source of personal embarrassment, but also a
weakness which may expose you to pressure or blackmail.
34.
In particular, be careful about making major financial commitments
assuming that you will continue to receive your MP’s allowance. While
MPs typically serve several terms, you cannot assume that you will
automatically be fielded in future General Elections, or that if fielded
you will definitely be re-elected. There is neither tenure nor job
security in politics.
DECLARATION OF INCOME
35.
For your own protection, every MP should disclose to me, in confidence,
your business and professional interests, your present employment and
monthly pay, all retainers and fees that you are receiving, and whether
your job requires you to get in touch with officers of Government
Ministries or statutory boards on behalf of employers or clients.
Office holders need not do so because you will be subject to the
reporting requirements of the Code of Conduct for ministers. This should
be done by 31 October 2015.
GENERAL BEHAVIOUR
36.
The PAP has held our position in successive elections because our
integrity has never been in doubt, and because we are sensitive to the
views and attitudes of the people we represent. MPs must always uphold
the high standards of the Party and not have lifestyles or personal
conduct which will embarrass themselves and the Party. Any slackening
of standards, or show of arrogance or indifference by any MP, will erode
confidence in him, and ultimately in the Party and Government. New MPs
can pick up the dos and don’ts from older MPs. You should conduct
yourselves always with modesty, decorum and dignity, particularly in the
media. You must win respect, not popularity, to stay the course.
MEDIA PUBLICITY
37. I am releasing a copy of this letter to the media so that the public knows the high standards we demand of our MPs.
LEE HSIEN LOONG
cc: Government Whip
