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About 20 PAP MPs likely to retire before GE2025, six confirmed so far
(Clockwise from top left) Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Chong Kee Hiong and Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Don Wee announced their retirement over the last week.
SINGAPORE – About 20 PAP MPs are likely to retire before the upcoming election, with six confirmed so far.
They are Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and two-term MP Chong Kee Hiong, both Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MPs, and Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor, who was MP for Hong Kah North.
First-term MP Don Wee, who represents the Brickland ward in Chuau Kang GRC, will also not seek re-election.
Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Ng Ling Ling and Gan Thiam Poh will also be retiring from politics.
The six announced their retirement over the week, when new candidates replacing them were formally introduced at press conferences.
The PAP announced on April 17 that it will field a record 32 new candidates.
There are 79 incumbent PAP MPs and 32 new candidates.
Six PAP candidates who contested the last election and lost are set to be fielded again, based on the slates announced by the ruling party so far.
Confirmed names include former Hougang candidate Lee Hong Chuang, who is part of the Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC team, and former Aljunied GRC candidate Alex Yeo, who will contest Potong Pasir. Ms Chan Hui Yuh and Dr Lam Pin Min will return to Aljunied and Sengkang GRCs, respectively.
Labour chief Ng Chee Meng, who contested Sengkang GRC previously, will be fielded in the new single-seat ward of Jalan Kayu, while former Aljunied candidate Victor Lye will run in Ang Mo Kio GRC, as announced on April 19.
This adds up to a total of 117 potential candidates. The 15th Parliament of Singapore will have 97 seats, meaning that 20 sitting MPs will have to make way.
The number is the same as at the last election, and higher than the 15 who stepped down in 2015.
This year’s 20 retirements could include a record number of first-term MPs, some perhaps unexpected two-term MPs, and some political office-holders.
While only six MPs have said publicly they will retire, some others have signalled or hinted strongly at it.
Backbencher PAP MPs typically stay for about three terms.
One of the first to hint at his retirement is Sembawang GRC four-term MP Lim Wee Kiak, who in a Facebook post earlier in April asked residents to support his possible replacement.
He said: “It is my honour to serve our residents along with members of Canberra zone 6 residents’ network, and going forward I hope the members will extend support to second adviser, Mr Ng Shi Xuan.”
Those who have had their replacements officially announced include Dr Tan Wu Meng, who represented the Clementi ward in Jurong GRC, as well as Ms Foo Mee Har, who covers the Ayer Rajah-Gek Poh ward in West Coast GRC.
Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, who oversees the Whampoa area in Jalan Besar GRC, and Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin were also vague about their next moves.
Their announced replacements are: Mr David Hoe for Dr Tan, whose ward will be part of Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC; Ms Cassandra Lee and Dr Hamid Razak for Ms Foo – whose ward has seen a growth in population – in the redrawn West Coast-Jurong West GRC; Mr Shawn Loh in Jalan Besar GRC; and Mr Alex Yeo for Potong Pasir.
The four incumbent MPs have had varying degrees of ambiguity in their comments post-pressers.
In a Facebook post, Dr Tan said: “Where I will be going next? As I have shared with folk who ask: In life, I go where I am needed most. And I hope to be able to share more with all of you very soon.”
In contrast, Mr Heng said in his Facebook post that it had been “the absolute honour and privilege of my life serving” Whampoa residents since 2001.
“I thank you for your partnership from the bottom of my heart. The time has come for me to hand the reins to a younger generation,” he added.
When asked about his future plans, Mr Sitoh said he hopes to spend more time with his family and three-year-old granddaughter.
Other possible retirements do not seem as clear-cut.
The Nee Soon GRC line-up has not been introduced, but anchor minister K. Shanmugam has been seen with four new candidates – Ms Goh Hanyan, Mr Jackson Lam, Ms Lee Hui Ying and Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi.
It is possible that Mr Shanmugam may anchor a team of political rookies to contest the upcoming general election.
Of his current GRC teammates, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim has been moved to Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, while two-term MP Louis Ng and first-term MPs Carrie Tan and Derrick Goh may retire or be redeployed.
On April 13, Mr Ng had posted his Parliament “report card” on Facebook, rounding up his contributions in the House over the last decade. He entered politics in 2015.
“It has been an incredible privilege to serve as an MP, speaking up and giving everyone, especially the marginalised, a voice in Parliament. It is a responsibility I have never taken lightly,” he said.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. I will continue to fight hard to make Singapore a better place for all,” he added.
Mr Ng’s post has contributed to speculation of his possible retirement.
Ms Tan and Mr Goh are among the first-term MPs that may step away from politics this round. Possibly joining them is Marine Parade GRC MP Fahmi Aliman, whose replacement appears to be Prof Faishal. AMK’s Ms Ng has been confirmed to be replaced by labour chief Ng Chee Meng.
Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said: “This is an oddity this time with retirements being hinted at or not mentioned for slates that have been introduced.
“It seems like the things are still fluid, and they point to possible last-minute changes.”
Independent political observer Felix Tan said this could be by design – so that the PAP can maintain the element of surprise.
“One can never be too sure if ‘retiring’ now would be the best, or should they wait until Nomination Day to do so,” he said.
Candidates announced in two-thirds of constituencies ahead of Nomination DayWho are the 32 new PAP candidates being fielded in the election?
PAP MPs stepping down after one term goes against the grain – barring scandal, said Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, adding that it will be “interesting to watch this trend”.
This is as PAP MP backbenchers typically serve three terms before stepping away from politics.
Dr Ng’s retirement, as well as Mr Heng Chee How’s possible stepping away, will also trigger a revamp of the Defence Ministry’s leadership after the election, he noted.
He said: “The PAP will likely move a sitting minister or promote a current senior minister of state into the role, as it is a weighty and important one that will require an experienced, safe and steady pair of hands.”
The front-runners for this role are Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, he said. Both are established political office-holders, and Mr Chan has a military
