No conflict of interest in appointment of AG: PM Lee

Singapore

THERE'S no conflict of interest in the appointment of Lucien Wong as Attorney-General (AG) and Hri Kumar Nair as Deputy AG, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament.

He was responding to questions raised by Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim and other MPs from WP over the propriety of appointing PM Lee's former lawyer, Mr Wong, and former People's Action Party MP Mr Nair to their current roles in the Attorney-General's office. Lee Hsien Yang had also previously singled out Mr Wong's appointment as AG as an alleged abuse of power in the ongoing dispute over No 38 Oxley Road.

"If matters come up which they had previously handled as private lawyers, they just recuse themselves and let others deal with it," said PM Lee. As Mr Wong had previously served as PM Lee's lawyer, he does not advise the government on the house. Instead, another officer in AGC takes charge.

The Prime Minister went on to add that Mr Wong is known as one of Singapore's top lawyers and has a strong reputation internationally. This, together with his personal experience from working with Mr Wong, led to PM Lee endorsing Mr Wong "with confidence" when his name came up as a successor to VK Rajah.

PM Lee said that at the time he had told the Cabinet that Mr Wong was his lawyer and that he did not see it as an impediment, although the opposition might make an issue of it. He told President Tony Tan Keng Yam - who had to approve the AG's appointment - the same thing. He added that the Law Society welcomed Mr Wong's appointment after it was approved by the President.

"It is critical for Singapore to have a strong Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and a strong top leadership because the AG is a very important and demanding job," PM Lee went on to say.

"The role is becoming more complex and we need the best people to defend our interests," he continued, pointing to a recent application by Malaysia over the International Court of Justice judgment over Pedra Branca.

While there are "outstanding officers" climbing the ranks of the AGC, the government also seeks to bring in private sector lawyers to reinforce the team, PM Lee said.

"We have a good team in AGC today. They hold their own with the very best to fight for Singapore's interest, and the appointments of Lucien Wong and Hri Kumar will contribute to building this team and make AGC an even stronger institution," he added.

Mr Wong assumed the role of AG in January this year, while Mr Nair assumed the position of DAG in March.

In his speech, DPM Teo Chee Hean pointed out that Senior Minister of State for Law Indranee Rajah had on Monday addressed the questions over the appointment of the AG and DAG. She had pointed out that the rules of conflict require the AG and DAG to recuse themselves when there is conflict.

Ms Rajah also said that it goes "too far" to suggest AGC officers must not have previously had any links with any ministers or any political party.

"We have strict rules on avoiding conflict of interest and they are scrupulously maintained," DPM Teo emphasised.

Key points

READ MORE: