Singapore minister Faishal Ibrahim resigns over inappropriate interactions with woman

SCMP | July 20, 2026, 12:56 a.m. | Original
This Week in Asia Politics

Faishal, who is married with two children, was acting minister of Muslim affairs and senior minister of state for home affairs

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Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim pictured during his swearing-in ceremony at the Istana in Singapore in May last year. Photo: AFP
Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim pictured conducting Mother’s Day outreach in Kembangan in May. Photo: Facebook/muhammad.faishal.ibrahim1

Singapore ’s acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim has resigned from the cabinet and parliament following inappropriate interactions he had with a woman that resulted in harassment accusations by both parties.

Faishal, 58, who was also senior minister of state for home affairs, handed in his resignation on Monday after the Prime Minister’s Office received notice of the interactions from the woman.

Faishal is married with two children.

“This matter came to our attention about a month ago when the Prime Minister’s Office received an email from a female member of the public concerning her interactions with Associate Professor Faishal,” Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a statement on Monday.

Both parties subsequently made allegations of harassment against each other, which were investigated by the police. Following inquiries, it was concluded that no criminal charges would be brought against either party.

Wong said that despite the lack of criminal action, there was a separate question of whether Faishal’s conduct “met the standards expected of a political office holder and MP”.

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