About 20 PAP MPs Likely to Retire Before GE2025

Four Incumbent MPs Have Already Confirmed They Are Stepping Down

- Goh Yan HanPolitical Correspondent and Ng Wei Kai

About 20 PAP MPs are likely to retire before the upcoming election, with four 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 Chua Chu Kang GRC, will also not seek re-election.

The four 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, has been seen in the new single-seat ward of Jalan Kayu, while former Aljunied candidate Victor Lye was spotted in Ang Mo Kio GRC, although the pair have not been formally introduced on any slate yet.

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 four MPs have said publicly they will retire, some others have signalled or hinted strongly at it.