July 13, 2023: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has asked the country’s transport minister to proceed on vacation, declaring he was involved in an anti-graft agency investigation.

S. Iswaran is among few unknown individuals assisting Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau in investigations, Lee said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I have instructed Minister Iswaran to take vacation of absence until these investigations are completed,” Lee said, without elaborating on the case’s specifics.

Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will be the acting minister for transport, Lee added. Iswaran is also conducting Singapore’s trade relations.

The announcement arrives weeks after a state review of allegations against two other cabinet ministers regarding their rental of government-owned colonial bungalows. 

A review led by a senior member of Lee’s cabinet found no basis in allegations of corruption and abuse of power against Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. Both of the two priests were asked to go on leave.

Since Iswaran’s political entry at the 1997 elections, the Harvard-educated politician has sported several hats in government. They include stints at the ministries for education, home affairs, trade and industry, and contacts and information. Before that, he was senior vice president and managing executive at state investor Temasek Holdings.

Singapore delivers its apostles the most increased salaries in the world. The Southeast Asian city-state prides itself on its immaculate reputation and is fifth on Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index.