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Subramaniam Iswaran[3] (Tamil: சுப்பிரமணியம் ஈஸ்வரன், romanized: Cuppiramaṇiyam Īsvaraṉ; born 14 June 1962), commonly known as S. Iswaran, is an Indian-born Singaporean former politician who served as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations between 2018 and 2024 and Minister for Transport between 2021 and 2024.[1] A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the West Coast division of West Coast GRC between 2001 and 2024.
S. Iswaran | |
|---|---|
| சுப்பிரமணியம் ஈஸ்வரன் | |
.jpg) Iswaran in 2016 | |
| Minister for Transport | |
| In office 15 May 2021 – 18 January 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Ong Ye Kung |
| Succeeded by | Chee Hong Tat |
| Minister for Communications and Information | |
| In office 1 May 2018 – 14 May 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Yaacob Ibrahim |
| Succeeded by | Josephine Teo |
| Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) | |
| In office 1 October 2015 – 30 April 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Lim Hng Kiang |
| Succeeded by | Chan Chun Sing (as Minister for Trade and Industry) |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Office | |
| In office 21 May 2011 – 30 September 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Lim Hwee Hua |
| Succeeded by | Desmond Lee Josephine Teo |
| Second Minister for Home Affairs | |
| In office 21 May 2011 – 30 September 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Teo Chee Hean |
| Preceded by | K. Shanmugam |
| Succeeded by | Desmond Lee (2017) |
| Second Minister for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 21 May 2011 – 30 September 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Lim Hng Kiang |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for West Coast GRC (West Coast) | |
| In office 3 November 2001 – 16 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Wan Soon Bee |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for West Coast GRC (Pasir Panjang) | |
| In office 2 January 1997 – 18 October 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 June 1962[1] Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[2] |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | People's Action Party (1997–2024) |
| Spouse | Kay Mary Taylor |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | National Junior College University of Adelaide (BEc) Harvard University (MPA) |
| Criminal status | in prison |
| Conviction(s) |
|
| Criminal penalty |
|
Date apprehended | 11 July 2023 |
| Imprisoned at | Changi Prison 16:00:00, 7 October 2024 (+08:00) |
In January 2024, Iswaran resigned as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP), Minister for Transport and his seat as Member of Parliament (MP), two days before he pleaded not guilty to 27 charges. In September 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty, after the charges against him were amended to a lesser charge under Section 165. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in jail the following week.[4]
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Iswaran was born on 14 June 1962 in Chennai, India, later moving to Singapore.[5] Iswaran attended Saint Andrew's School and National Junior College[6] before graduating from the University of Adelaide with first class honours, where he read economics, which was provided for by a Colombo Plan scholarship.[2] He also holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.[7]
Prior to entering politics, Iswaran was Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Temasek Holdings (2003–2006), Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), and Director of Strategic Development at Singapore Technologies (1996–1998).[8][9]
Throughout his political career, Iswaran concurrently held directorships in several organisations, including Quintiles Transnational, Sunningdale Tech,[10] Shin Corporation,[11] SciGen, PSA International, Sembcorp Industries,[12][13] and Hyflux.[9]
Political career
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Iswaran made his political debut in the 1997 general election when he contested as part of a four-member People's Action Party (PAP) team in West Coast GRC and won with 70.14% of the vote, becoming a Member of Parliament.[14]
From 2004 to 2006, Iswaran was Deputy Speaker of Parliament.[15] On 1 July 2006, he was appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.[16]
After the 2006 general election, on 1 April 2008, Iswaran was promoted to Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. On 1 April 2009, he was given an additional appointment as Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Education.[16]
Following the 2011 general election, Iswaran was promoted to full Minister in the Cabinet and appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. After the 2015 general election, on 1 October 2015, he relinquished his three positions and took up the portfolio of Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) alongside Lim Hng Kiang, who was Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade).[17] On 1 May 2018, he became Minister for Communications and Information, however he did continue in the Ministry of Trade and Industry as Minister In-Charge of Trade Relations.[18]
After the 2020 general election, Iswaran continued as Minister in the Ministry of Communications and Information. On 15 May 2021, after a Cabinet reshuffle, Iswaran became Minister for Transport while continuing his appointment as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.[19]
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On 11 July 2023, Iswaran was arrested and released on bail. He also had his passport impounded.[20] The next day, he and other individuals were summoned to assist in an unspecified corruption investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Upon being briefed on the investigation by the CPIB, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong instructed Iswaran to go on a leave of absence until the end of the investigations; Chee Hong Tat was appointed as the Acting Transport Minister.[21]
Iswaran's case is the first high-profile graft investigation involving a minister since November 1986, when Minister for National Development Teh Cheang Wan was investigated by the CPIB for bribery allegations, although Teh committed suicide a month later before he could be formally charged.[22][23] The next day, the government announced that Iswaran would not have access to government offices and had to remain in Singapore until the investigations were completed.[24]
On 2 August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Iswaran had been interdicted with a reduced monthly pay of S$8,500 as per civil service guidelines, given that there are no specific provisions that cover ministers under investigation.[25] Until his resignation, Iswaran still drew a monthly salary of S$16,000 as an MP as Parliament had not tabled a motion to remove it.[25]
On 9 January 2024, investigations by the CPIB against Iswaran were completed, was being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). Writing in a reply to non-constituency Member of Parliament Hazel Poa, Public Service Minister-in-Charge and Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said that the CPIB had completed a “robust and thorough” investigation and assured that the case "will be put through the due legal process".[26]
On 18 January, Iswaran was charged in the State Courts of Singapore with 27 charges relating to bribery and corruption.[27] The CPIB, alleged that Iswaran obtained kickbacks valued at S$384,340.98 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, in part to advance Ong's business interests.[28][29] Iswaran subsequently resigned from the PAP, and stepped down as Transport Minister and West Coast GRC MP.[30] Iswaran was defended by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.[31]
On 25 March, Iswaran was handed 8 new charges over obtaining $19k in items including a Brompton bicycle, golf clubs, from Lum Chang Building Contractors Managing Director Lum Kok Seng, which is linked to a contract between Lum Chang Building Contractors and the Land Transport Authority for addition and alteration works to Tanah Merah MRT station and existing viaducts.[32][33]
On 25 September 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty to 4 charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code 1871 for receiving gifts while in office as well as 1 charge of obstruction of justice. He was convicted of all 5 charges on the same day. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for 3 October 2024. The prosecution sought a custodial sentence of 6 to 7 months whereas the defence contended that no more than 8 weeks' imprisonment should be imposed.[34][35][36] On 3 October, Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a term higher than the requested sentencing by both the prosecution and the defence.[37] Within almost 50 years, Iswaran is also the first minister to serve a jail term following Wee Toon Boon back in 1975 for corruption charges.
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Iswaran is married to Kay Mary Taylor. They have a daughter and two sons.[38]
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