Education Minister Desmond Lee appointed PAP chairman; Health Minister Ong Ye Kung becomes party treasurer

SINGAPORE: Minister for Education Desmond Lee has been appointed chairman of the People’s Action Party (PAP), the ruling party said on Thursday (May 29).

Mr Lee, who was formerly PAP assistant secretary-general, replaces former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who has retired from politics.

“The Central Executive Committee (CEC) expressed its appreciation to outgoing chairman Mr Heng Swee Keat for his years of leadership and service to the Party and Singapore, and wished him a fulfilling retirement from politics,” said the PAP in a news release.

Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung has been appointed party treasurer, taking over from Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam. Mr Ong was previously the assistant treasurer.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat has taken over as assistant treasurer, while Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan was appointed chairperson of Young PAP, taking over from Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Faishal Ibrahim will be co-opted as a new member of the CEC. He has also been appointed chairperson of the PAP Malay Affairs Bureau.

Mr Shanmugam will remain in the committee as a member.

"A FORM OF PROMOTION"

Observers said the switch in roles indicates a step up for Mr Lee within the party, given that the new appointment brings a greater degree of influence.

It is an indication of his “rising political stock and stature” in the PAP and of his growing importance to the country’s fourth-generation leadership team, said Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst with Solaris Strategies Singapore.

“This does look like a form of promotion for Desmond Lee,” said independent political observer Felix Tan.

He noted that Mr Lee’s new role comes shortly after he led the party to victory against the Progress Singapore Party in West Coast-Jurong West GRC in the recent General Election.

The electoral success helped Mr Lee prove himself politically, noted Dr Mustafa.

As party chairman, Mr Lee will likely take on more responsibilities internally, said Dr Tan. While the position is not on the same footing as the secretary-general - the post held by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong - the chairmanship gives Mr Lee some control over the party as well, he explained.

“He might even be in the running for the role of a second DPM, if PM Wong intends to have another one,” said Dr Tan.

Ultimately, the change is part of the wider leadership transition, with the 4G leaders taking on fuller responsibilities in the running of their party, said National University of Singapore’s associate professor of political science Chong Ja Ian.

Mr Malminderjit Singh, managing director of political consultancy Terra Corporate Affairs, said that leadership transition happens both in government and in the party.

“Sometimes these happen in tandem, as with today's announcement, which dovetails last week's Cabinet appointments, or other times it could happen at a different pace,” he said.

“The latter explains why DPM Gan is no longer a part of the CEC, which raised some clarifications and speculation.”