Singapore public service reviews study linking officials to property near secret MRT sites
The Public Service Division said it is examining a working paper that claims civil servants bought homes close to planned but undisclosed MRT stations, and may refer the case to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
A working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research alleges that Singapore civil servants bought homes at higher rates near MRT stations that are planned but not yet publicly disclosed. The Public Service Division announced it is scrutinising the study's figures and methods, emphasizing a strict stance on integrity issues. Should the review uncover substantive problems, the matter will be escalated to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
The authors—Tomasz Piskorski, Jian Zhang, Amit Seru and Chun Zhao—highlight that the paper is for discussion only and has not been peer-reviewed. The division said it is aware of the paper and is conducting its own assessment. No conclusions have been drawn yet about any wrongdoing.
Why it matters
It addresses possible misuse of insider information by public officials in Singapore's housing market.
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