Singapore minister resigns over ‘interactions with a woman’, Prime Minister’s Office says

By Xinghui Kok

SINGAPORE, July 20 (Reuters) – Singapore’s Acting Minister for Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim has resigned from his post over his interaction with a woman, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday.

“Most of their interactions took place through online messages. They also met on the sidelines of public events,” Wong wrote.

He added that both parties later made allegations of harassment against each other and the matter was investigated by the police.

The People’s Action Party, which boasts of its “whiter than white” reputation, has been shaken by political scandals in recent years.

In 2023, then Transport Minister S. Iswaran was investigated for corruption and senior MPs resigned over the events, prompting former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to say his party had been hit by a series of scandals.

Wong said neither party had committed any wrongdoing in the Faishal case and no criminal proceedings would be brought, but “there was a separate question as to whether Associate Professor Faishal’s conduct met the standards expected of a political office holder and member of parliament.”

Faisal also resigned from the ruling People’s Action Party. Faisal has been a member of parliament since 2006 and became acting minister for Muslim affairs in 2025.

In his resignation letter published on the Prime Minister’s Office website, Faishal said: “Although there was no physical relationship between us and I did not plan for the interactions to escalate into one, there was an error of judgment on my part in the way I handled the interactions and in my failure to establish clearer boundaries at an earlier stage.”

Wong said he regretted that Faisal left politics under these circumstances.

Faishal did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

In 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and receiving gifts worth more than $300,000 and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Last year, Singaporean ministers and a member of parliament also came under scrutiny for attending a dinner with a man convicted of money laundering.

Both ministers were investigated and cleared of crimes related to the leasing of private state-owned properties in 2023.

(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Editing by David Stanway)