RIDE-HAILING giant Grab made a surprise change on the role for which it hired Member of Parliament (MP) Tin Pei Ling, after news of her appointment generated much criticism from the public on potential conflicts of interest.

Grab said on Friday (Feb 10) that Tin will helm a “corporate development role”, instead of being its Singapore director of public affairs and policy – an appointment which was announced just 10 days ago. The company noted that there had been much discourse generated in the days following the news of Tin’s appointment, a role where she had been tasked to “build partnerships and programmes to harness the positive potential of technology to create impact in Singapore”.

Many raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, given her role as a parliament member. In a LinkedIn post last week, Tin sought to address these concerns and said there was a “clear and mutual understanding” that her role as a parliamentarian was distinct from her role at Grab.

“I am absolutely clear that when I am discharging my duties in my capacity as a Member of Parliament, my constituents and Singapore come first,” Tin wrote on LinkedIn.

However, Grab said that the discourse led the group to “pause and reflect” on how it can create an environment to allow Tin to serve both her roles as an MP as well as in representing Grab. “We acknowledge that this is difficult if the intent behind every action or position she takes in the future is doubted or called into question,” it added. “Thus we have discussed with Tin... and have come to a mutual agreement that she will transition to a corporate development role at Grab.”

Tin’s duties in her new role will include “realising synergies” across Grab’s investments and acquisitions, as well as the group’s strategy development. She will not be involved in public affairs and policy work in Singapore, nor will she represent Grab in public policy discussions with Singapore government officials, said Grab.

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Separately, the People’s Action Party (PAP), which Tin is a member of, also issued a statement on the matter. While PAP did not initially object to Tin’s appointment when she first informed the party, it realised in a later discussion that she would be expected to engage regularly with government ministries and agencies on public policy issues, on behalf of Grab.

“While she would make it clear that she was engaging in her private capacity and not as a PAP MP, there could still be challenges in carrying out these responsibilities, especially under the current circumstances,” it said. Tin then discussed the matter with Grab and informed the party of her new job title, where her primary duties will not involve government relations in Singapore. The party added that while most PAP backbench MPs have private careers, it was essential that MPs “rigorously separate their public role as MPs from their professional and commercial interests in their private careers”.

“MPs are expected to conduct themselves in their duties and responsibilities with utmost propriety, to uphold the reputation of the Party and the integrity of the Singapore system,” said PAP. “In no circumstances are they to abuse their status as MPs, or their access to ministers, civil servants, and government agencies, for private or commercial gain. While performing their MP duties, they are expected to declare potential conflicts of interest, and recuse themselves as appropriate from decisions, discussions and positions where there is a risk of such a conflict arising.”