Ms Jasmin Lau, deputy secretary (policy) at Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH), is set to leave the civil service on 1 April, according to an internal e-mail circular seen by The Straits Times.
Her departure has fuelled speculation that she may be a potential candidate in the upcoming general election.
Ms Lau, 42, is a senior-ranking civil servant who has spent much of her career in healthcare policy and administration.
She was first with MOH from 2013 to 2019, where she worked on healthcare financing and the development of medical and long-term care insurance schemes.
Notably, she was involved in the launch of MediShield Life, Singapore’s national health insurance scheme for large medical bills.
She returned to MOH in November 2021 after a stint at the Economic Development Board (EDB) and has since overseen key policy areas, including manpower, financing, and regulation in the healthcare system.
Her role as a deputy secretary places her among the most senior civil servants in the ministry.
Among her notable contributions is her work on the Healthier SG White Paper in 2022, which aims to shift Singapore’s healthcare focus towards preventive care rather than a hospital-based approach to treating illnesses.
Beyond MOH, Ms Lau has held leadership positions across various government agencies.
At the EDB, she was executive director of the Singapore Global Network, which facilitates engagement with overseas Singaporeans and individuals with ties to Singapore.
She has also served at the Public Service Division, the Ministry of Manpower, and the Ministry of Finance.
Currently, Ms Lau is a board member of the Building and Construction Authority and sits on the board of trustees for the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Her resignation comes amid expectations of further departures from the public service ahead of the general election, which is widely anticipated by mid-year following the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report on 11 March.
It is widely believed that the election could take place as early as May, especially as reporters from mainstream media are said to have been instructed to block their leave for April and May.
The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has traditionally recruited candidates from among public service leaders.
Civil servants intending to stand for elections typically resign before the campaign period, as they are prohibited from engaging in political activities while in office.
While speculation about Ms Lau’s political future is natural, it is noteworthy that The Straits Times—widely seen as a pro-establishment publication—has reported on her departure in this context.
This suggests that the possibility of her entering politics is not unfounded, as such matters are typically not discussed in mainstream media without basis.
Ms Lau’s potential political involvement has not been confirmed, and The Straits Times has reached out to her for comment.
The post MOH deputy secretary Jasmin Lau to retire from civil service on 1 April appeared first on The Online Citizen.
