PAP’s new party whip Janil Puthucheary ‘on course for bigger responsibilities’

SINGAPORE —  The appointment of Dr Janil Puthucheary to the post of party whip is a departure from tradition and signals that he is on track to take on heavier responsibilities. This was what political analysts as well as current and former PAP politicians said about the latest news, given that the past few whips of the People’s Action Party (PAP) government had been experienced Cabinet members. 

On Thursday (June 6), the PAP announced that Dr Puthucheary — currently the Senior Minister of State for Transport as well as Communications and Information — will be its new party whip, taking over the position from Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on the same day.

Regarded as the party’s “disciplinarian”, the whip ensures that there is good communication in the party and that there are enough PAP members in the House to support the party’s position.

Political analyst Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University pointed out that the role of the whip is significant, as the individual plays a critical role in helping to strategise the PAP’s approach in every sitting, especially when it is faced with controversial motions or legislations that are up for debate.

Dr Puthucheary’s appointment shows that the ruling party sees him as having the “ability, standing within the party and charisma” to carry out the role, which could further raise his profile among the PAP Members of Parliament (MPs).

Associate Professor Tan, who is a law academic, said: “While I don’t see the appointment of party whip as necessarily putting him in a superior position vis-a-vis his peers, it is an opportunity to demonstrate his political nous and ability in shaping the party’s narrative in parliamentary debates and raising its visibility in as positive a light as possible outside of Parliament.” 

Dr Puthucheary’s new role also comes more than two years after he was appointed the chairman of the PAP’s youth wing, similarly taking over the role from Mr Chan.

Based on his leadership roles in the party, former PAP MP Inderjit Singh said it signals that Dr Puthucheary could be made a full minister in the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Though the whip is an important role, he pointed out that based on his personal experience as a PAP politician, the “real power” resides with the party’s secretary-general — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong — and its central executive committee.

“The whip will not be able to decide without getting the clearance from the party leadership,” he said.

Current and former PAP politicians said that it is essential for a whip to have the respect of his peers since the individual would be working closely with them.

Describing Dr Puthucheary as a “good choice”, Mr Louis Ng, MP for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC), said: “He is well respected among all of us, very grounded and approachable.”

Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua said that the criteria to be a party whip should not be based on the length of service or whether the individual is a full minister.

Having worked with Dr Puthucheary when he was Senior Minister of State for Education, Ms Phua — who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education — described him as “open, intelligent, pleasant and sensible”.

She added: “I believe Janil will be up to the task and he is a great addition to the fourth-generation political leadership.”

The past four party whips, including Mr Chan, have been full ministers. Before Mr Chan assumed the role, current Health Minister Gan Kim Yong was the party whip from 2011 to 2015, while former Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say held the position from 2007 to 2011.

Before Mr Lim, former Manpower Minister Lee Boon Yang was the whip for close to two decades from 1988 to 2007. He left politics in 2009.

Assistant Professor Woo Jun Jie, a Singaporean political analyst at the Education University of Hong Kong, pointed out that installing Dr Puthucheary as the party whip is a sign of leadership renewal.

The same was also seen in the selection of the deputy party whips — Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, and Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for Manpower and National Development.

Ms Sim, who is also the Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, was already deputy party whip under Mr Chan, who assumed the party whip position on Sept 28, 2015. Mr Zaqy takes over the deputy role from Mr Sam Tan, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs as well as Social and Family Development.

Their selection shows that the PAP wants to fill up important party positions with younger politicians, Asst Prof Woo said.

“Just like the appointment of Mr Heng Swee Keat as the sole Deputy Prime Minister, this recent appointment of Dr Puthucheary appears to be an indication that the PAP may no longer be abiding by the old playbook,” he said, referring to how the Singapore Government typically had two deputy prime ministers.

“Rather, it (the PAP) is responding to new political realities and needs.”

Echoing this, Assoc Prof Tan said that the time has come to pass the baton of running the PAP’s parliamentary affairs to another fourth-generation leader.

And with the next general election — due by April 2021 — likely to be held within the next one year, “it helps to have a new party whip grow in his role”, he added.