Govt to set up more anti-corruption measures in Public Service: PM Lee

SINGAPORE - Stronger measures will be put in place to improve Singapore's laws on corruption by providing more platforms and increasing manpower in the Public Service sector, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Tuesday morning.

A One-Stop Corruption Reporting Centre will be established to provide more outlets for the public to make complaints in a more discreet and accessible manner, said Mr Lee.

The Government is currently reviewing the country's laws on corruption, and manpower at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau's (CPIB) will increase by over 20 per cent, added Mr Lee at the Public Service Values Conference.

Calling Singapore a "shining exception" against corruption in a global perspective, Mr Lee urged the 600-strong audience to "safeguard the trust" the public has in them.

He said the principal reason why the Public Service has been able to do good work for Singapore is because Singaporeans trust them.

The recent high-profile corruption cases in the force has affected Singapore's ranking in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions index by falling to seventh spot this year.

These cases "hurt" the agency's reputation locally and internationally, said Mr Lee, and also dis-serviced the exemplary behaviours the officers have done such as officers.

Mr Lee, however, said public servants should not be demoralised when cases emerge.

Singapore should look for ways to punish the culprits and remedy the weaknesses in the system.

Relating up a Chinese saying, Mr Lee said they must go after both "tigers" and "flies", and never let corruption take hold in Singapore, and urged the force to work "doubly hard" to maintain the trust they have earned.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg