PAP replaces four branch chairmen in Aljunied, Hougang constituencies ahead of GE2025
Four political newcomers will take over as the ruling People’s Action Party’s branch chairmen in Hougang SMC and three wards of Aljunied GRC on Feb 17.
(Left to right) Adrian Ang, Daniel Liu, Faisal Aziz and Marshall Lim were named the new PAP branch chairs in the opposition-held wards of Aljunied and Hougang on Feb 13, 2025. (Photos: People's Action Party)
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SINGAPORE: Changes will be made to the leadership of the People’s Action Party (PAP) branches in the Workers’ Party-held constituencies of Aljunied and Hougang, the party announced on Thursday (Feb 13).
A total of four political newcomers will take over as branch chairmen across four divisions on Feb 17, ahead of the 2025 General Election.
The branch chairs in such wards are typically the party’s candidates when general elections come around.
CNA first broke the news of the imminent reshuffle on Tuesday, reporting on Paya Lebar branch chair Kenny Sim and Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch chair Victor Lye stepping down.
CHANGES IN OPPOSITION-HELD WARDS
In Hougang SMC, Mr Marshall Lim will replace current chairman Jackson Lam, who had taken on the role in October 2023.
Mr Lim is a lawyer at a private firm specialising in criminal law. He was previously a deputy public prosecutor in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, as well as an assistant chief public defender in the Public Defender’s Office.
In a Facebook post shortly after the party’s announcement, he said he looks forward to interacting with the residents of Hougang and also paid tribute to his predecessor Mr Lam, saying he had “done incredible work for the community during his term as chairperson”.
A triple change in Aljunied GRC will see two of its long-serving branch chairmen replaced too.
Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch vice-chairman Adrian Ang will take over the reins from chairman Victor Lye, who stood in the five-member constituency in the 2015 and 2020 general elections.
Dr Ang, a 41-year-old director at facility and environmental management company Chye Thiam Maintenance, previously served as the secretary of PAP’s Toa Payoh West-Thomson branch in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, holding the position for more than 10 years.
He thanked Mr Lye in a Facebook post for the “solid foundation he has built” in Bedok Reservoir-Punggol and added that he is committed to doing his best for the community in the ward moving forward.
In Kaki Bukit, Mr Faisal Abdul Aziz will replace Mr Shamsul Kamar, who also stood in Aljunied in the last two general elections.
A dental surgeon who is a clinical director at Nuffield Holdings, Dr Faisal has been volunteering with PAP’s Kaki Bukit branch since 2015. He has previously organised dialogues for the Young PAP – the party’s youth wing – and the PAP Malay Affairs Bureau.
“Over the coming weeks, I will share my plans and vision for our community,” he wrote in a Facebook post to the ward’s residents, also thanking Mr Shamsul for his contributions over the years.
Mr Daniel Liu, currently the Citizens’ Consultative Committee chairman of Nee Soon East branch in Nee Soon GRC, will take the helm of the Paya Lebar branch. He will replace Mr Kenny Sim, who held the position for six months.
Mr Liu is the managing director of urban planning consultancy Morrow Architects & Planners, and also executive director of Morrow Intelligence, its data analytics division.
From 2018 to 2022, he was the assistant secretary of PAP’s Nee Soon East branch. He is the son of former chief planner of Singapore Liu Thai Ker.
“When I was asked to step forward in politics, the decision was easy. For over a decade serving as a community volunteer, I was lucky to meet so many fellow Singaporeans who care deeply about shaping and improving our country’s future,” Mr Liu said in a Facebook post.
“I’m here to listen, understand, and work for them to build a stronger, more connected Paya Lebar.”
These changes mean that the ruling PAP will likely field an almost completely new slate in the two opposition strongholds in the next election, with only Serangoon branch chair Chan Hui Yuh remaining from the last hustings.
The outgoing branch chairs will assist in overseeing the leadership transition.
“The party would also like to thank outgoing branch chairpersons Victor, Kenny, Shamsul and Jackson for their service to the residents, as they continue to serve elsewhere in the party,” PAP said in a media release.
