PM Wong on deploying DPM Gan to Punggol: 'A better distribution of our senior leadership'

Office-holder of similar stature was needed to take over from SM Teo, he says

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong was deployed to Punggol GRC as the PAP needed a "senior office-holder of similar stature" to take over from Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The PAP had made a surprise last-minute switch on Nomination Day to shift DPM Gan from Chua Chu Kang GRC to the new fourmember GRC, which was carved out of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng was moved from Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC to lead the PAP team in Chua Chu Kang.

Explaining the rationale behind the moves at a press conference on April 23, PM Wong noted that SM Teo is retiring from politics after anchoring Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC for many years.

SM Teo, 70, is a core member of the PAP's third-generation leadership team, and served as deputy prime minister from 2009 to 2019.

"It's really not easy to have a senior office-holder of a similar stature to take over from him," PM Wong said.