Singapore’s acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Faishal Ibrahim, has resigned following revelations about his interactions with a woman, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Monday, July 20th, 2026. Wong stated that most of the interactions occurred through online messages and that they also met at public events.

The Prime Minister clarified that no criminal offense was committed by either party, and no criminal action would be taken. However, Wong raised concerns about whether Faishal’s conduct met the standards expected of a political office holder and member of parliament.

In a resignation letter posted on the prime minister’s office website, Faishal acknowledged a lapse in judgment, saying, “While there was no physical relationship between us, and I did not intend for the interactions to develop into one, there was a lapse of judgment on my part in the way I handled the interactions, and in failing to establish clearer boundaries at an earlier stage.”

This incident adds to a series of recent scandals affecting Singapore’s People’s Action Party, which prides itself on maintaining a clean reputation. In 2023, two senior members of Singapore’s largest opposition party resigned after admitting to an affair, and two ministers were investigated and cleared of wrongdoing over their rental of state-owned properties. Additionally, a former minister pleaded guilty to receiving gifts worth over 380,000 Singapore dollars, including tickets to West End shows and football matches, in exchange for advancing business interests.

Sources