On 17 March 2025, state media The Straits Times reported that Transport Ministry (MOT) senior official Foo Cexiang has announced his resignation ahead of the anticipated general election.
Foo, 40, has been overseeing private and future mobility at MOT, a role that includes managing policy on electric vehicles. He will step down on 1 April.
Foo’s resignation follows that of another senior civil servant, Deputy Secretary (Policy) Jasmin Lau from the Ministry of Health (MOH). Her last day in administrative service is also set for 1 April.
Lau and Foo are among several resignations anticipated from the public service ahead of the election, widely expected by mid-year following the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC)’s report released on 11 March.
Other high-profile resignations in 2025 include former Nominated MPs Raj Joshua Thomas and Syed Harun Alhabsyi.
Both resigned on 14 February, marking the first time any NMPs have left before the end of their term, fuelling speculation that they intend to contest the upcoming election.
Announcing his resignation on social media, Syed Harun stated that stepping down was most appropriate as he intends to “explore opportunities for political service.”
In his resignation letter, Thomas expressed his dedication to serving Singaporeans and indicated he was considering doing so in a different capacity, necessitating his resignation as an NMP.
Separately, on 25 February, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced that Chief of Army Major-General (MG) David Neo would be stepping down after nearly three decades of service.
He will be succeeded by Brigadier-General (BG) Cai Dexian on 21 March.
MINDEF stated that this transition is part of the ongoing leadership renewal within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The 47-year-old MG Neo joined the army in 1996.
As is customary, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) often recruits candidates from the public service, requiring them to step down before participating in political campaigns.
This trend has been observed in previous elections, with civil servants resigning just before election season.
For instance, during the 2020 General Election, East Coast GRC MP Tan Kiat How resigned as Chief Executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority in June, five days before the writ of election was announced.
Tan, now Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, as well as National Development, was among the final public service officials to step down before the election that year.
Similarly, Desmond Tan, former Chief Executive of the People’s Association, resigned less than a month before Polling Day in 2020.
The post Senior public servants, Generals, and NMPs who have resigned ahead of GE2025 so far appeared first on The Online Citizen.
