SINGAPORE: Two former civil servants, Jeffrey Siow and Shawn Loh, have made public appearances alongside senior People’s Action Party (PAP) politicians, shortly after resigning from their public service roles, raising speculation over their potential candidacy in the forthcoming General Election.
Shawn Loh, previously director of security and resilience programmes at the Ministry of Finance (MOF), was spotted at a community event in Jalan Besar on 6 April 2025.
That same weekend, former permanent secretary Jeffrey Siow appeared with Chua Chu Kang GRC MPs at the unveiling of a major rejuvenation plan for the constituency.
These appearances come amid increasing expectations that Singapore’s General Election will be held as early as May 2025, following early signs of political manoeuvring and public-facing events involving potential new faces.
Jeffrey Siow makes public debut at Chua Chu Kang event
Siow, who retired officially on 2 April, was formerly the second permanent secretary at the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
He also served as principal private secretary to then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong between 2017 and 2021.
His public debut took place at a Chua Chu Kang community event on 5 April, which featured the announcement of a S$212 million town rejuvenation initiative.
The plan, led by Chua Chu Kang Town Council, includes extensive infrastructure upgrades such as new linkways, repainting for 400 housing blocks, and improvements under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme for nearly 8,800 households.
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, the anchor minister for Chua Chu Kang GRC, stressed that the initiative was not merely focused on physical improvements.
“It’s not just about hardware… but also social services, especially for the more vulnerable,” he said.
Siow was seen interacting with residents and featured prominently alongside other GRC MPs including Low Yen Ling, Don Wee, and Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim.
Notably, Dr Choo Pei Ling—an Assistant Professor from the Singapore Institute of Technology—who was previously active in Marine Parade GRC’s Kembangan-Chai Chee division, also participated in the event.
Dr Choo later told the media that she was present at the invitation of Mr Gan. She emphasised that her focus remains on serving the community, regardless of location.
PAP’s new faces in Jalan Besar GRC
On the same weekend, Loh was similarly visible in Jalan Besar GRC, joining MPs such as Josephine Teo, Heng Chee How, Denise Phua, and Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah at community outreach events.
Loh engaged with residents at a local market where free household essentials were distributed to lower-income families.
Later, he participated in the launch of a neighbourhood master plan aimed at enhancing local facilities.
He was also invited on stage as a new volunteer supporting an employment initiative for mature workers.
“Our jobs give us a sense of purpose, a sense of meaning and confidence to provide for our families,” said Loh, speaking to attendees.
“We’re going to ensure that we connect the jobs created in the economy to the jobs that everyone here is looking for.”
Also present at the event was David Hoe, director of philanthropy at Majurity Trust and district counsellor for the Central Singapore Community Development Council.
Hoe, along with grassroots leader Cassandra Lee, was also seen at the unveiling of Jurong-Clementi Town Council’s five-year plan, prompting talk of potential candidacy in the newly formed Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC.
Recently resigned SAF’s Goh Pei Ming and ex-MOT director Foo Cexiang seen with Pasir Ris-Punggol MPs
Elsewhere, other possible PAP newcomers have also emerged.
Former Singapore Armed Forces chief of staff Goh Pei Ming and ex-Ministry of Transport director Foo Cexiang were seen in Punggol at a DBS Bank-organised community event.
They appeared alongside MPs from Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC and Sun Xueling, the MP for Punggol West SMC.
Valerie Lee, Sembcorp’s head of corporate affairs for Singapore and Southeast Asia, was also present at the event.
Meanwhile, in the east, shipping lawyer Gho Sze Kee was seen at an SG60 event with incumbent MPs from Marine Parade, indicating his potential as a new face in that cluster.
Potential multi-cornered fight in Jalan Besar GRC
Jalan Besar GRC, where Loh appeared, may see a multi-cornered fight.
The People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR) announced its intention to contest the GRC, while the Workers’ Party (WP) has also been actively engaging residents there.
Additionally, the National Solidarity Party (NSP) has expressed plans to field candidates in seven constituencies, including Jalan Besar GRC.
In the 2020 General Election, the PAP defeated People’s Voice (PV) in Jalan Besar, securing 65.37 percent of the vote.
PV candidates Lim Tean, Leong Sze Hian, Nor Azlan Sulaiman, and Michael Fang Amin received 34.63 percent.
PSP announces intention to contest West Coast GRC and Chua Chu Kang GRC
Chua Chu Kang GRC may also see a stiff contest.
The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has confirmed its intention to contest the constituency again.
In GE2020, PAP retained the GRC with 58.64 percent of the vote, while PSP obtained 41.36 percent.
As former civil servants like Siow and Loh begin appearing at grassroots events and town councils unveil significant development plans, political observers anticipate that formal candidate introductions may be imminent.
All signs point towards a highly competitive General Election, with new faces entering the fray and multiple opposition parties declaring their intent to contest in key battleground wards.
The post Resigned civil servants Jeffrey Siow and Shawn Loh spotted at PAP events appeared first on The Online Citizen.
