CS resign and where they will be going

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ironfeak

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Feb 14, 2025
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As of March 25, 2025, at least five senior civil servants in Singapore have resigned ahead of the anticipated General Election (GE2025). These resignations are based on available reports and are often linked to speculation about potential candidacy in the upcoming election. The identified individuals are:

1. **Jasmin Lau** - Deputy Secretary (Policy) at the Ministry of Health (MOH), resigned effective April 1, 2025.
2. **Foo Cexiang** - Director at the Ministry of Transport (MOT), overseeing private and future mobility, resigned effective April 1, 2025.
3. **Goh Hanyan** - Director in the Smart Nation Strategy Office and National AI Group at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), resigned effective April 3, 2025.
4. **Jeffrey Siow** - Second Permanent Secretary at the Ministries of Manpower (MOM) and Trade and Industry (MTI), resigned effective April 1, 2025.
5. **Shawn Loh** - Budget Director for 2024 and 2025 at the Ministry of Finance (MOF), resignation reported on March 25, 2025 (exact effective date not specified in available data).

These resignations have been noted in various news reports, with the count reaching five by today’s date. Additional resignations may have occurred but are not yet widely documented or confirmed in the available sources. The trend suggests more could follow as GE2025 approaches, given the historical pattern of civil servants stepping down to enter politics.

As of March 25, 2025, there is no official confirmation regarding which Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) the five resigned senior civil servants—Jasmin Lau, Foo Cexiang, Goh Hanyan, Jeffrey Siow, and Shawn Loh—will be contesting in for GE2025. However, based on available reports and historical patterns of the People’s Action Party (PAP) deploying former civil servants, we can speculate on potential placements, though these remain unconfirmed until the PAP announces its candidates closer to the election.

1. **Jasmin Lau** - Formerly Deputy Secretary (Policy) at the Ministry of Health, Lau’s expertise in healthcare policy could align with constituencies facing healthcare-related concerns. One possibility is **Tampines GRC**, where the PAP has been refreshing its slate following Cheng Li Hui’s resignation in 2023, and where healthcare infrastructure like Tampines General Hospital is significant. However, no specific sightings or reports tie her to a GRC yet.

2. **Foo Cexiang** - A former Director at the Ministry of Transport overseeing private and future mobility, Foo’s background in transport policy might suggest a fit for **Jurong GRC** or its reconfigured successor, **West Coast-Jurong West GRC**, given Jurong’s industrial and logistical importance. Alternatively, **Sengkang GRC**, a competitive seat with transport-related resident concerns, could be a strategic placement to bolster the PAP’s bid to reclaim it from the Workers’ Party (WP). No concrete evidence points to a specific GRC as of now.

3. **Goh Hanyan** - Previously a Director in the Smart Nation Strategy Office and National AI Group at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Goh was spotted on March 17, 2025, at a Meet-the-People Session in the PAP’s Zhenghua branch within **Holland-Bukit Timah GRC**. This sighting strongly suggests she could be fielded there, aligning with the PAP’s tendency to place tech-savvy candidates in constituencies with educated, professional demographics.

4. **Jeffrey Siow** - As the most senior of the group, a former Second Permanent Secretary at the Ministries of Manpower and Trade and Industry, Siow’s extensive experience across multiple portfolios makes him a versatile candidate. His past role as principal private secretary to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hints at potential deployment in a high-profile or competitive GRC like **East Coast GRC**, where the PAP narrowly won in 2020, or **Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC**, a reconfigured stronghold absorbing MacPherson SMC. No public sightings or party statements confirm this yet.

5. **Shawn Loh** - The former Budget Director at the Ministry of Finance, Loh’s work on economic programs like the CDC vouchers and Forward Singapore initiatives could position him in a GRC with economic or cost-of-living concerns, such as **Nee Soon GRC**, where PAP MPs have been active, or **Ang Mo Kio GRC**, a large constituency led by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. His lack of reported ground activity leaves this speculative.

The PAP typically unveils its candidates closer to Nomination Day, and these individuals’ placements will depend on party strategy, constituency needs, and team compositions. Goh Hanyan’s appearance in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC is the only tangible clue so far, but even that awaits official confirmation. The election, expected by mid-2025, will clarify their roles when the PAP releases its slate. Until then, these are educated guesses based on their profiles and PAP’s historical tendencies.

 
As of March 25, 2025, Ng Chee Meng, the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and a former PAP Member of Parliament, has not had his candidacy for GE2025 officially confirmed by the People’s Action Party (PAP). However, there is significant speculation about his potential participation and placement in the upcoming election, which must occur by November 23, 2025.

Ng Chee Meng, a former Lieutenant-General in the Singapore Armed Forces and ex-Chief of Defence Force, entered politics in 2015, winning in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. In GE2020, he led the PAP team in Sengkang GRC but lost to the Workers’ Party with 47.87% of the vote, marking a high-profile defeat that cost him his ministerial position in the Prime Minister’s Office. Despite this, he retained his role as NTUC Secretary-General and was co-opted into the PAP’s Central Executive Committee in December 2024, signaling continued party support.

Recent developments suggest he might contest again in GE2025. In a February 2025 interview with *The Straits Times*, Ng stated that running in the election “is on the table” and that he is “prepared if asked” by the party, though he did not specify a constituency. His ground activities have fueled further speculation. On March 16, 2025, he attended a community event in Fernvale, part of the newly carved-out Jalan Kayu SMC, alongside Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the anchor minister for Ang Mo Kio GRC. Ng noted his familiarity with the area, having lived in Seletar for over 20 years and spent time there during his youth with the Singapore Youth Flying Club. When asked if he would run in Jalan Kayu SMC or Ang Mo Kio GRC, he deflected, saying, “You’ll find out in good time. We’ll see what the Prime Minister decides.”

Analysts and public discourse offer mixed predictions. Some observers suggest the PAP might field him in a safer GRC, such as **Ang Mo Kio GRC**, where he could benefit from Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s strong incumbency and the constituency’s historical PAP dominance (it secured 71.91% in GE2020 despite shedding voters to new SMCs). This aligns with the PAP’s past practice of reintroducing defeated candidates in strongholds—e.g., Koh Poh Koon and Desmond Choo transitioned from SMC losses to GRC wins. Others speculate he could contest **Jalan Kayu SMC**, a new single-seat ward with 29,565 electors, carved from Ang Mo Kio GRC, to prove his individual electoral merit after Sengkang. However, this carries risks, as a solo contest against potential opposition (e.g., from the Workers’ Party or Reform Party) could test his personal popularity, which some online critics argue is weak without a strong team.

Ng’s Sengkang loss and his role in the controversial (and later withdrawn) NTUC Income-Allianz deal have drawn scrutiny, with some netizens and analysts questioning his appeal. Yet, his military pedigree, NTUC leadership, and PAP backing make him a notable figure. Political observers like Eugene Tan from Singapore Management University have suggested that his continued NTUC role post-2020 indicates the PAP has “significant plans” for him, likely in a GRC rather than an SMC or a return to Sengkang, where new PAP branch chairs have taken over.

As of now, no definitive evidence ties Ng to a specific GRC or SMC. His placement will likely hinge on PAP’s strategic needs—balancing renewal with experience—and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s decisions as he leads his first election. Official confirmation will come closer to Nomination Day, expected mid-2025. For now, Ng remains a probable candidate, with **Ang Mo Kio GRC** or **Jalan Kayu SMC** as the most discussed possibilities based on his recent visibility and party dynamics.