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Member of Parliament (MP) Tin Pei Ling has been moved to a new role in Grab, the ride-hailing company said on Friday, Feb. 10.

This was after her initial appointment in a public affairs role was announced on Feb. 1, which drew accusations of conflict of interest and intense public scrutiny.

She is now in a corporate development role instead and will retain her title as director.

Grab's statement said she will not be involved in public affairs and policy work, nor represent the company in discussions with government officials.

The firm also acknowledged the public reaction: "Conflicts of interest in any setting warrant robust discussion and we appreciate this feedback."

The company indicated that it came to a mutual agreement with Tin on the change in roles after it discussed her career aspirations and evaluated her experience against relevant open roles.

It added that her duties in the new corporate development role will include “realising synergies across our investments and acquisitions" and "supporting strategy development”.

Grab also said it had given a lot of thought to address any potential conflict of interest that might arise when Tin was hired.

This amounted to working closely with Tin months in advance and that her appointment in the company was in line with the rules governing her duties and conduct as an MP.

Tin had also informed her party leaders, who did not object to her appointment, Grab added.

"We also established rules of engagement where Pei Ling should not be advocating for Grab’s interest in her capacity as an MP, and correspondingly, she should also not be advocating for her constituency and party in her work within Grab," the firm said.

“However, the discourse has led us to pause and reflect on how we can create an environment where Pei Ling can serve effectively in both her roles as an MP as well as 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."

Tin Pei Ling statement

Tin also addressed the change in role at Grab in a Facebook post that was put up following the release of Grab's statement.

PAP also released a statement

The People's Action Party also released a statement saying it had spoken to Tin about her role in Grab following the public scrutiny.

PAP said in its statement: "It then became clear to the Party 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."

The new role would make her engagement with the government clearer.

Having been consulted on her new role, the party said she would not have dealings with the government.

"In this role, her primary duties will not involve Government relations in Singapore," the PAP statement added.

Grab's statement in full

"We understand that Ms Tin Pei Ling’s recent appointment at Grab has generated significant discourse in recent days. Conflicts of interest in any setting warrant robust discussion and we appreciate this feedback.

Much thought and care was given to address any potential conflict of interest that may arise when Pei Ling was hired. We had worked closely with her months in advance to ensure her hiring and the scope of her expected responsibilities are in line with the rules governing her duties and conduct as an MP. Pei Ling informed her party leaders, who did not object to her appointment. We also established rules of engagement where Pei Ling should not be advocating for Grab’s interest in her capacity as an MP, and correspondingly, she should also not be advocating for her constituency and party in her work within Grab.

However, the discourse has led us to pause and reflect on how we can create an environment where Pei Ling can serve effectively in both her roles as an MP as well as 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.

We believe in providing every Grabber the support they need to do their job effectively. Thus we have discussed with Pei Ling her career aspirations and evaluated her experience against relevant open roles, and have come to a mutual agreement that she will transition to a corporate development role at Grab. Her duties will include realising synergies across our investments and acquisitions, as well as supporting strategy development. In her new role, Pei Ling 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. She will be expected to continue abiding by the rules of engagement we have put in place to declare and avoid any possible conflicts of interest, and operate in the same manner as other MPs holding private sector roles.

We thank everyone for their feedback in the past week and have taken it on board. Grabbers are the backbone of our mission to create economic empowerment for everyone in Southeast Asia. We will continue to hire talent based on a combination of the right values and skills sets, and support their professional development."

PAP's statement in full

"In September 2022, Ms Tin Pei Ling informed the Party that she would be taking up the post of Public Affairs and Policy at Grab Singapore (“Grab”), and the nature of the job.

The Party noted this and did not object. Earlier this month, following public comments about Ms Tin’s appointment, we discussed the matter with her again to understand better the scope of her duties. It then became clear to the Party 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.

Ms Tin has since discussed the matter with Grab and informed the Party that her role in Grab has been changed to Director (Corporate Development). In this role, her primary duties will not involve Government relations in Singapore.

The PAP holds itself and its Members of Parliament to high standards of propriety and integrity. Most PAP backbench MPs have private careers. This keeps them in touch with our economy and society and enables able and committed people from many professions and walks of life to serve as MPs, raising the quality of MPs in Parliament. However, it is essential that MPs rigorously separate their public role as MPs from their professional and commercial interests in their private careers.

Under the “Rules of Prudence” issued to every PAP MP, 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. 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.

The Party wishes Ms Tin Pei Ling success in her new role in Grab, and is confident that she will continue serving residents of MacPherson as their MP effectively."

Top photo via Parliament/ MCI