For me, one big question remains unaddressed despite the many hours of Parlimentary time spent on the issue.
Shanmugam is the Minister in charge of SLA. He is also a tenant of a state property under the SLA's purview.
In other words, Shanmugam manages his own landlord. He sits on both sides of the transaction - landlord and tenant. But these interests are diametrically opposed.
It's not just about how he bidded for the property and how his bid was accepted. The conflict of interest persists and is incurable for as long as he remains (1) the Minister in charge of SLA, and (2) a tenant of SLA-managed properties.
Let's remember that the rental of cushy bungalows like Ridout Road is not some kind of essential public good. So let's not be distracted by analogies of the Minister for Education sending his kid to a public school, or the Minister for Health visiting a public hospital, or the like.
This is about the Minister in charge of the agency managing very expensive properties, whose monthly rental exceeds the annual salary of many Singaporeans, deciding to rent one of these expensive properties for himself. I've always liked black and whites, he says.
Imagine if you were in his position. On the one hand, you manage SLA. On the other, you're a renter of Ridout Road. When it comes to things like reviewing rental prices for state managed properties, are you going to hike rents in a red hot market, or find ways to minimise the rent you personally have to pay every month?
I may have missed it but was this issue ever ventilated in Parliament? Why is Shanmugam being allowed to remain in this position of actual or apparent conflict of interest for as long as his tenancy lasts? Or unbeknownst to us, has he actually recused himself from all matters relating to state properties for the duration of his tenancy? I certainly don't think I saw that reported in the news.
What do you all think?
From Reddit Singapore
Shanmugam is the Minister in charge of SLA. He is also a tenant of a state property under the SLA's purview.
In other words, Shanmugam manages his own landlord. He sits on both sides of the transaction - landlord and tenant. But these interests are diametrically opposed.
It's not just about how he bidded for the property and how his bid was accepted. The conflict of interest persists and is incurable for as long as he remains (1) the Minister in charge of SLA, and (2) a tenant of SLA-managed properties.
Let's remember that the rental of cushy bungalows like Ridout Road is not some kind of essential public good. So let's not be distracted by analogies of the Minister for Education sending his kid to a public school, or the Minister for Health visiting a public hospital, or the like.
This is about the Minister in charge of the agency managing very expensive properties, whose monthly rental exceeds the annual salary of many Singaporeans, deciding to rent one of these expensive properties for himself. I've always liked black and whites, he says.
Imagine if you were in his position. On the one hand, you manage SLA. On the other, you're a renter of Ridout Road. When it comes to things like reviewing rental prices for state managed properties, are you going to hike rents in a red hot market, or find ways to minimise the rent you personally have to pay every month?
I may have missed it but was this issue ever ventilated in Parliament? Why is Shanmugam being allowed to remain in this position of actual or apparent conflict of interest for as long as his tenancy lasts? Or unbeknownst to us, has he actually recused himself from all matters relating to state properties for the duration of his tenancy? I certainly don't think I saw that reported in the news.
What do you all think?
From Reddit Singapore
