Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat has made history by entering the People’s Action Party’s (PAP’s) Central Executive Committee (CEC) for the first time. His induction into the 38th CEC was finalized during the recent PAP Conference.
The new CEC members were elected during the biennial conference’s second day, with 12 members elected by party cadres in a secret ballot from an initial list of 19. They are:
- Mr Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister
- Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister
- Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister
- Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development
- Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education
- Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development
- Mr K. Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Home Affairs
- Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health
- Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment
- Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth
- Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office
- Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Among them, seven were recommended by the outgoing CEC to be PAP’s core leaders: Mr Wong, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Heng, Mr Chan, Mr Masagos, Ms Fu and Mr Shanmugam. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan.
Notable members of the newly elected CEC include Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan. Among those co-opted into the CEC were Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, securing his first spot in the committee.
In his address during the conference, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that this would be his last speech to the party conference as Secretary-General. He expressed his intention to propose Mr. Wong as the next party chief at the upcoming CEC meeting. Additionally, Party insiders revealed that up to six additional members could be co-opted into the CEC after the Conference, as stipulated by the PAP constitution, which limits the committee to a maximum of 18 members.
Desmond Choo, Tampines GRC MP, commented on the new CEC lineup, emphasizing the importance of having a balanced team capable of navigating the uncertainties of a tumultuous global geopolitical landscape.
With the inclusion of Chee Hong Tat and other notable figures, the new CEC aims to lead the PAP into the next general election, which must be held by November next year. As the party faces various challenges, including changes in people’s expectations and a new generation of voters, the emphasis remains on strategic appointments within the CEC and ensuring a smooth succession process under the guidance of outgoing Secretary-General SM Lee.
