Liew Mun Leong steps down from public-service and business roles

Singapore

LIEW Mun Leong has stepped down from his public-service and business roles at the Changi Airport Group (CAG), Surbana Jurong, Temasek Foundation and Temasek International with immediate effect.

The announcement that he is bringing forward his retirement from these roles comes days after the High Court acquitted his former domestic helper of stealing from him and his family.

Mr Liew was the chairman of both CAG and Surbana Jurong, senior international business adviser at Temasek and a board member of Temasek Foundation.

Mr Liew said in a statement on Thursday night: "Those who know me will know I am passionate about the roles and missions of these organisations. I do not wish my current situation to be a distraction to their respective boards, management and staff, amidst their many critical priorities."

He added that he stands ready to assist or advise the organisations without compensation if required, given the ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following Mr Liew's statement, CAG and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced that CAG board member Tan Gee Paw has been appointed acting chairman of the group.

The CAG thanked Mr Liew for his years of service as the founding chairman of CAG since 2009, noting that he played a pivotal role in corporatising Changi Airport and provided stewardship and strategic counsel on landmark projects Terminal 4, Jewel Changi Airport and Changi East.

CAG chief executive Lee Seow Hiang said: "Mr Liew's vision and passion for Changi was an inspiration to the people of CAG and the airport community to always strive for excellence to deliver an exceptional Changi Experience. The result has been Changi Airport being recognised as the world's most awarded airport."

The MOF issued a statement on Thursday night acknowledging Mr Liew's resignation from CAG, and noting that the reason given was "extensive publicity" as a result of the court case. It thanked Mr Liew for his public service contributions including the development of Changi Airport as a premier air hub and the multiple award wins garnered by the airport under his leadership.

The case involving Mr Liew and his former domestic helper Parti Liyani led to a public outcry against Mr Liew, after Justice Chan Seng Onn overturned Ms Parti's previous convictions and raised several questions about how the case was handled.

The judge also noted that the Liew family could have been motivated to terminate Ms Parti's employment abruptly and file the police report in order to prevent her from reporting her illegal deployment to work at the house and office of Mr Liew's son.

The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is now reviewing the handling of the case in consultation with the Ministry of Manpower, to assess what further action, if any, ought to be taken in light of the judgment.

The Singapore Police Force is also looking into how its investigations were conducted, after questions were raised in the judgment over how the evidence was handled and the items in question were recorded.

Mr Liew said in his statement that he made the police report against Ms Parti out of a sense of civic duty to report the matter and to allow the authorities to investigate if there are suspicions of wrongdoing. "The High Court has made its decision. I have faith in our legal system, and respect the decision of the High Court."

He added that he and his family members have cooperated with the police throughout the investigation and trial, and will continue to cooperate with the AGC and the police if required.