IMPORTANT TO DEBUNK ONLINE RUMOURS
Analysts also agreed that it is important for the government to address and debunk online rumours about the corruption probe.
Since news of the investigation broke, rumours about the corruption allegations against Mr Iswaran have circulated widely on online forums and messaging apps.
“It is actually more damaging for rumours to circulate unchecked. In any crisis, it is absolutely necessary for the government to debunk any rumours decisively, so that there is no further public speculation along these lines.,” said Dr Woo.
He said that aside from using the POFMA, it may be helpful for public officials to debunk some of the rumours “once and for all”.
NTU’s Dr Tan also said it “would not be fair” to speculate on the seriousness of any potential corruption offences at this juncture.
He drew a distinction from other recent controversies in which People’s Action Party and Workers’ Party politicians left politics after admitting to extramarital affairs.
“After all, personal indiscretions pertain to one’s moral standing and, at best, one’s integrity and conscience,” he said.
“However, corruption would necessarily allude to an intention to cheat and thereby a more serious offence that can have repercussions on our system and processes that we have built up over the years.”