disproportionately bought homes near MRT stations that had not yet been publicly announced.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nThe Public Service Division (PSD) said in its initial response to the paper that it is reviewing the data and methodology and would refer the matter to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) if there is \u201cmaterial basis\u201d to do so.<\/p>\n
Current rules include annual declarations.<\/p>\n
Civil servants have to make declarations of interests in investments and properties to their head of agency every year, as well as when they acquire significant assets, according to a 2024 written parliamentary reply by current Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing.<\/p>\n
ST understands that these declarations could include private residential property, commercial property or any land in Singapore or abroad. The rules could also apply to properties acquired by the public officer\u2019s spouse or financially dependent children.<\/p>\n
There are also rules stating that officers are not allowed to use privileged information, including information that has not been made public, when buying property for personal gain.<\/p>\n
In 2023, then senior minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament that the Public Service Code of Conduct requires all public officers to take an annual quiz and make declarations including their freedom from financial embarrassment, investments in non-owner-occupied properties and investments in private firms.<\/p>\n
He said officers must also make ad hoc declarations when they buy private residential or commercial properties or land.<\/p>\n
National University of Singapore corporate governance expert Mak Yuen Teen said the Government should recognise that there are always risks of abuse, regardless of the merits of the working paper.<\/p>\n
Pointing to a recent court case involving a former Housing Board group director accused of breaching the agency\u2019s database, he said the episode illustrated the need for safeguards.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegardless of whether we believe the findings are accurate, we should make sure we have safeguards to minimise such risks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n