Singapore minister resigns from cabinet and ruling party over conduct allegations
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong confirms no criminal offence was committed, but states the former minister’s behaviour fell short of parliamentary standards, adding to a string of recent scandals for the People’s Action Party.
Singapore’s acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Faishal Ibrahim, has resigned from the cabinet and the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) following allegations of inappropriate interactions with a woman. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the resignation on Monday, confirming that while no criminal offence had been committed, Faishal’s conduct did not meet the standards expected of a political office holder.
In a statement released on Monday, Wong detailed that the interactions between Faishal and the woman primarily occurred through online messages and meetings on the sidelines of public events. The prime minister noted that both parties had made allegations of harassment against each other, and the matter remains under active police investigation.
Faishal, who has served as a member of parliament since 2006 and was appointed acting minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs in 2025, submitted a resignation letter posted on the prime minister’s office website. In the letter, he admitted to a lapse of judgment in handling the interactions and failing to establish clearer boundaries at an earlier stage. He stated there was no physical relationship and that he did not intend for the interactions to develop into one.
Wong expressed sadness that Faishal was leaving politics under these circumstances but emphasised the distinction between criminal liability and political responsibility. He noted that while no criminal action would be taken, there was a separate question regarding whether Faishal’s conduct met the standards expected of a member of parliament.
The resignation adds to a series of political scandals that have tested the reputation of the PAP, which has long prided itself on a clean image. In 2023, former Transport Minister Subramaniam Iswaran pleaded guilty to receiving gifts worth more than 380,000 Singapore dollars from Malaysian billionaire Ong Beng Seng. That same year, two senior opposition members resigned over an affair, and two ministers were investigated and cleared of wrongdoing regarding the rental of state-owned properties. Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong previously acknowledged that the party’s image had been damaged by these incidents.
