[SINAPORE] Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat do not personally know convicted Fujian gang member Su Haijin, even as they were pictured at dinners where the latter is present, the press secretaries of the two ministers said in a joint statement.
“The ministers do not know Su personally, and have had no contact or dealings with him, before or since these occasions,” said a statement by Lim Siok Peng, press secretary for Ong, and Izzah Amalina Binte Zainudin, press secretary for Chee.
“As ministers, they meet a diverse range of people at various events and gatherings. They attended the dinners at the invitation of a friend, and Su happened to be there. Minister Ong recalls that months later, at another dinner, Su happened to be there too,” they added.
They noted that there are photos circulating in which Ong and Chee were pictured at dinners where Su was also present.
Su was later arrested for his illegal activities and his assets confiscated.
The statement added: “The PAP government upholds a high standard of integrity and the ministers are determined to uphold this, even though in the course of their work, they may inadvertently come into contact with people who are later established to be unsavoury. Maintaining this standard is non-negotiable.”
Another photo, appearing to show labour chief Ng Chee Meng with Su at a dinner, has also been circulating on the internet. The Business Times has reached out to the NTUC for confirmation.
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