Singapore’s Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Faishal Ibrahim, has resigned following concerns over his interactions with a woman.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced this on Monday.
Wong said; “Most of their interactions took place through online messages. They also met on the sidelines of public events.”
According to the Prime Minister, “both individuals later accused each other of harassment, prompting a police investigation.”
The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), known for its long-standing “whiter than white” image, has faced a series of political scandals in recent years.
In 2023, then Transport Minister S. Iswaran came under investigation for corruption, while senior lawmakers resigned over extramarital affairs. The controversies led former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to acknowledge that the party’s reputation had been damaged.
Wong said Police found that neither Faishal nor the woman committed any criminal offence, meaning no criminal charges would be filed.
However, he noted that “there was a separate question of whether Associate Professor Faishal’s conduct met the standards expected of a political office holder and member of parliament.”
Faishal has also stepped down from the People’s Action Party. He had served as a member of parliament since 2006 and was appointed acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs in 2025.
In his resignation letter published on the Prime Minister’s Office website, Faishal wrote: “While there was no physical relationship between us, and I did not intend for the interactions to develop into one, there was a lapse of judgment on my part in the way I handled the interactions, and in failing to establish clearer boundaries at an earlier stage.”
Wong said he was saddened that Faishal was leaving politics under these circumstances.
Faishal did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by email.
In 2024, Iswaran pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and accepting gifts worth more than $300,000, and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Last year, two Singapore ministers and a lawmaker also faced public scrutiny after attending dinners with a convicted money launderer. Separately, two ministers were investigated and cleared of wrongdoing over their rental of exclusive state-owned properties in 2023.
Reuters
