SINGAPORE: The People’s Action Party (PAP) confirmed on 13 February that it will appoint four new branch chairpersons across Workers’ Party-held wards in Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, effective 17 February, as part of its strategy for the upcoming 2025 General Election.
These branch chairpersons are typically the party’s candidates during general elections, marking the significance of the change in leadership.
In Hougang, lawyer Marshall Lim will replace Jackson Lam, a business owner who had been serving as branch chairman since October 2023.
Lam succeeded Lee Hong Chuang, who contested in the 2020 General Election but was defeated by WP’s Dennis Tan, who secured the ward with 61.19 per cent of the vote.
Lim, a litigator specialising in criminal law with experience in both the public and private sectors, previously served as Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Attorney-General’s Chambers and as Assistant Chief Public Defender at the Public Defender’s Office, according to the PAP website.
3 PAP branch chairpersons in Aljunied GRC to be replaced in 2nd reshuffle in 6 months
The PAP will replace three of its five branch chairs in Aljunied GRC—Kenny Sim, Shamsul Kamar, and Victor Lye—with Daniel Liu, Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz, and Dr Adrian Ang, effective 17 February.
Shamsul Kamar, the Kaki Bukit branch chairman since 2015, will be succeeded by Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz, a clinical director at Nuffield Dental Group.
Dr Faisal has been involved in several community initiatives in Kaki Bukit, including leading the Health and Wellness Committee, and has a strong background in community service.
Kenny Sim, who was appointed Paya Lebar branch chairman in August 2024, will be replaced by Daniel Liu.
Sim’s decision to step down is reportedly due to health reasons.
Liu, the managing director of Morrow Architects and Planners, brings a wealth of experience from his leadership in various community organisations, including his role as chairman of the Citizens’ Consultative Committee in Nee Soon East.
The third leadership change in Aljunied GRC sees Dr Adrian Ang, currently the vice-chairman of Bedok Reservoir-Punggol ward, replace Victor Lye.
Dr Ang, a director at Chye Thiam Maintenance, has been actively engaging with residents through community activities and has previously served as branch secretary in Toa Payoh West-Thomson under Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.
The PAP expressed gratitude to the outgoing branch chairpersons for their service.
The party’s statement noted that the new appointees would assist in overseeing the transition. PAP also reaffirmed its commitment to serving the residents of these constituencies.
PAP leadership changes in Aljunied GRC fuel speculation on candidate struggles ahead of GE2025
These leadership changes are significant, marking the second round of PAP leadership reshuffles in Aljunied GRC within six months.
As a result, the party may field an entirely new slate of candidates for GE2025 in the GRC, with the exception of Serangoon branch chair Chan Hui Yuh.
Observers have noted the frequency of leadership changes within the PAP’s Aljunied branch, prompting speculation about the party’s ability to find strong candidates to challenge the Workers’ Party’s dominance in the area.
Some political analysts have suggested that the party may be struggling to field its best candidates, with critics even describing the potential candidates as a “suicide squad.”
| PAP Aljunied Branch | Chairpersons Before August 2024 Reshuffle | Chairpersons After August 2024 Reshuffle | Upcoming Chairpersons Line-up Following Second Reshuffle |
| Kaki Bukit | Shamsul Kamar | Shamsul Kamar | Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz |
| Paya Lebar | Alex Yeo | Kenny Sim | Daniel Liu |
| Bedok Reservoir-Punggol | Victor Lye | Victor Lye | Adrian Ang |
| Eunos | Chua Eng Leong | Jagathishwaran Rajo | Jagathishwaran Rajo |
| Serangoon | Chan Hui Yuh | Chan Hui Yuh | Chan Hui Yuh |
PAP ‘eager’ to reclaim Aljunied from WP
While the PAP remains eager to reclaim Aljunied from the WP with GE2025 approaching, no heavyweights or ministerial-caliber candidates have been fielded.
The WP first won Aljunied GRC in the 2011 election with 54.72% of the vote, unseating a PAP team that included then-Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo.
Led by Low Thia Khiang, the WP team also comprised Pritam Singh, Sylvia Lim, Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, and newcomer Chen Show Mao.
In 2015, the WP narrowly retained Aljunied GRC with 50.95% despite a strong PAP challenge.
By 2020, under Singh’s leadership, WP secured its largest victory margin in Aljunied GRC, winning 59.95% of the vote.
They beat the PAP’s Chua Eng Leong, Shamsul Kamar, Alex Yeo, Chan Hui Yuh and Victor Lye, the latter of which garnered 40.07% of the votes.
That year, the party also expanded its foothold by capturing the newly created Sengkang GRC.
