SINGAPORE — Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and Member of Parliament (MP) Cheng Li Hui have tendered their resignation as MPs and members of the People's Action Party (PAP) to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong over their personal conduct.

In response to their letters on Monday (July 17), PM Lee accepted the resignations so as "to maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years".

In his letter, Mr Tan, who is MP for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), also cited his recent remarks in the House which have "raised broader questions over my neutrality".

The matter relates to Mr Tan's use of "unparliamentary language", after a video circulated on social media where he could be heard muttering expletives in reaction to a speech made by Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim. Mr Tan has apologised to Mr Lim for his remarks, and the latter has accepted the apology.

Mr Tan said the episode "added to the hurt" he had caused his family and made reference to a shortcoming in his personal conduct. He did not elaborate on what the lapse was.

In a separate letter to PM Lee, Ms Cheng, who is MP for Tampines GRC, said she was sorry to be "resigning in these circumstances" but did not elaborate.

PM Lee said in response to Mr Tan that he accepted the resignation and that he understands Mr Tan's "desire to step away from politics and help heal (his) family".

Here are the statements from Mr Lee, Mr Tan and Ms Cheng in full:

The resignation of the two MPs comes on the back of several controversies that recently hit the ruling PAP.

Aside from Mr Tan's "unparliamentary language" last week, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) confirmed that Transport Minister S Iswaran was arrested to assist in investigations in the same week.

Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan were also caught in the spotlight, after it emerged that they were renting black-and-white colonial bungalows along Ridout Road owned by the state. 

A CPIB probe and a review by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean had found that Mr Shanmugam and Dr Balakrishnan had conducted themselves properly in the two rental transactions, there was no abuse of power or conflict of interest resulting in the ministers gaining any unfair advantage or privileges and that the process they underwent of renting out the two properties did not deviate from government guidelines. 

The issue culminated in a five-hour debate in Parliament where MPs from both sides of the House raised questions about potential conflict of interest.