SINGAPORE — Former top civil servant Ngiam Tong Dow yesterday clarified his comments in an interview published in the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) newsletter last month — where, among other things, he had talked about the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) scheme and said that the current batch of ministers were not speaking up because they are “earning millions of dollars”.

In a letter to Dr Toh Han Chong, editor of SMA News — which was obtained by the media — Mr Ngiam said that his comments on the COE scheme might have suggested that it was implemented “to raise funds”.

He said: “That was not the case. The fundamental purpose of the COE scheme was to limit Singapore’s car population. If the intent had been to raise revenue, I would not have supported the policy as Permanent Secretary at the Finance Ministry.”

He also said that he “had not been fair” in his comments about the ministers and Cabinet discussions.

“I retired from the Civil Service in 1999. Since then I have not attended any Cabinet meetings, and have never seen one chaired by PM Lee Hsien Loong. Thus my statement that Ministers will not speak their minds before PM Lee is unfair as it was made without knowing what actually happens at Cabinet meetings today.” He added: “I had also said that the current crop of leaders is elitist. I had spoken without realising that many had in fact come from humble backgrounds.”

Responding to media queries, Mr Lee said in a statement he was “glad that Mr Ngiam has clarified the statements (published in the SMA newsletter), especially his comments about my ministers”. He added: “Mr Ngiam served as my Permanent Secretary in (the Ministry of Trade and Industry) years ago. I hope that in retirement he will continue to support the institutions and systems that he helped build during his long and illustrious career.”