As Singapore gears up for GE2025, a significant wave of retirements is reshaping the People's Action Party (PAP) line-up.
Nineteen Members of Parliament (MPs) have confirmed they will not be returning, citing reasons ranging from personal priorities to leadership renewal.
Here's a look at the MPs who have officially announced their exit from politics.
1. Ng Eng Hen
The current Defence Minister and MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, who has served for five terms since 2001, will be stepping down.
He served as Manpower Minister, Education Minister and finally Defence Minister. He will be replaced as anchor minister by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.
The 66-year-old said it was time for him to "make room for renewal and regeneration".
Asked what he will be doing after he steps away from politics, he said that he has "no shortage of varied interests".
Two new candidates, Mr Cai Yinzhou and Ms Elysa Chen, will join the GRC team alongside incumbent Saktiandi Supaat.
In the 2020 general election, Dr Ng's team won Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with 67.23 per cent of the vote.
2. Amy Khor
Dr Khor, Senior Minister of State for Transport and for Sustainability and the Environment, has represented Hong Kah North SMC since 2011, having previously been part of the Hong Kah GRC team since 2001.
The 67-year-old cited "personal reasons" for stepping down.
Thanking residents, grassroots leaders, and volunteers for their support over 24 years and five terms, she said it has been a humbling and extremely meaningful period.
"I am ready and happy to make way for party renewal," she added.
Hong Kah North SMC has been dissolved due to electoral boundary changes, with its districts being absorbed into Chua Chu Kang GRC and Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
3. Chong Kee Hiong
The two-term MP from Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC will also not be seeking re-election.
His ward, Bishan East-Sin Ming, will be contested by new candidate Elysa Chen.
The 59-year-old served alongside Dr Ng and Mr Chee in the 2020 general election, securing 67.23 per cent of the vote against the Singapore People's Party.
"I will continue to serve the community in a different capacity," he said, adding that his encounters with residents are "great memories" that he will always cherish.
4. Don Wee
The first-term MP representing Brickland ward in Chua Chu Kang GRC will not contest the upcoming election.
Mr Wee, 49, thanked residents in a Facebook post for the opportunity to serve and expressed gratitude for the experience gained during his term.
"I leave this chapter filled with gratitude - for the friendships forged, the lives touched, and the lessons learned," he said.
The PAP team in Chua Chu Kang GRC will now be led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, joined by incumbent MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and new candidates Jeffrey Siow and Choo Pei Ling.
5. Ng Ling Ling
The Ang Mo Kio GRC MP, who has served alongside Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, is stepping down.
The 53-year-old is a first-term MP who was formerly managing director of Community Chest.
Her Jalan Kayu ward has been carved out to form the new Jalan Kayu SMC.
The Ang Mo Kio GRC team secured 71.9 per cent of the vote in the 2020 General Election.
"Going forward, I will be an ordinary resident & an ordinary volunteer to help where I think I can, within my capacity, to continue bringing care and happiness to others as I most enjoy doing," she said.
6. Gan Thiam Poh
Another Ang Mo Kio GRC MP, Mr Gan will also be retiring from politics.
Part of his Fernvale ward has been incorporated into the new Jalan Kayu SMC.
The three-term MP took to Facebook to thank his residents, pointing out that he has "grown older and wiser" but his "energy, enthusiasm and commitment" to serve them has not waned.
The 61-year-old was part of the team that secured 71.9 per cent of the vote in the 2020 General Election.
7. Louis Ng
The 46-year-old two-term Nee Soon GRC MP is stepping down for family reasons. This is despite efforts by Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to persuade him to stay.
Describing his political journey as "a calling" and "a deep privilege", Mr Ng said he now plans to return to the non-profit sector and spend more time with his family.
In a teary announcement, he explained that being an MP caused him to miss important milestones in his daughters' lives.
Mr Shanmugam said Mr Ng will continue contributing from "outside" parliament.
8. Sitoh Yih Pin
A three-term MP for Potong Pasir SMC since 2011, Mr Sitoh is stepping down from politics to spend more time with his family and three-year-old granddaughter.
The 61-year-old will be replaced by Mr Alex Yeo.
An accountant by profession, Mr Sitoh had wrested the seat from the opposition, having failed twice before in 2001 and 2006.
9. Carrie Tan
The first-term Nee Soon GRC MP is stepping down to pursue personal interests in the wellness space.
The 43-year-old says she feels it is the "right decision" for her to step aside and let someone younger and more energetic take over.
However, she remains available to help out in the community as a volunteer.
In her Facebook post, she also highlighted community care programs and sustainabiity efforts she initiated during her term.
10. Derrick Goh
The first-term Nee Soon GRC MP is stepping down to focus on his new role as group chief operating officer at DBS Bank.
His work involves extensive travel that might compromise his work on the ground, said Mr Shanmugam.
Mr Goh, 57, said Mr Shanmugam and PM Wong have been "very encouraging", but agreed with him that "high performance requires full commitment".
However, Mr Goh will continue to be involved in the community.
11. Maliki Osman
The five-term MP and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office is retiring from politics after serving since 2001.
The 59-year-old served as MP for Sembawang GRC and East Coast GRC, and also as Mayor for the South East District.
He held various ministerial positions, including Minister of State for Defence and National Development, and Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs.
Describing his time as a "deeply enriching and humbling journey", he thanked his wife and children for their "unconditional love, personal sacrifices, daily prayers" and for being his pillars of strength.
He plans to spend more time with his family and says he is excited about pursuing the next chapter of his career.
12. Cheryl Chan
The two-term East Coast GRC MP and group chief strategy and sustainability officer at ST Engineering is retiring from politics to dedicate more time to her family following her father's passing.
Ms Chan, 48, previously won the Fengshan SMC in 2015 before it was absorbed back into East Coast GRC in 2020.
She cited family reasons and the desire to spend more time with them as the primary reason for her decision.
Her journey has been meaningful, she said, and is one that not only allowed her to give to others, but also taught her life lessons that have made her an even better person today.
13. Heng Swee Keat
The Deputy Prime Minister and former anchor minister for East Coast GRC will not be running in the 2025 General Election.
In the previous election, the 64-year-old led the PAP team to a 53.39% victory against the Workers' Party.
While his future plans haven't been detailed, his absence marks a significant change in the PAP's leadership landscape.
Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, whose Joo Chiat ward was recently transferred to East Coast GRC due to electoral boundary changes, is anticipated to be part of the PAP's team for that constituency.
14. Teo Chee Hean
The 70-year-old Senior Minister and anchor minister of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC in the previous election will not be contesting the new Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.
He has stated that he will continue to support PM Lawrence Wong and remain available to contribute in other ways.
"I will continue to support PM Lawrence Wong for GE, and remain available to contribute to his team wherever and in whatever way PM Lawrence Wong feels I can best serve," said Mr Teo.
"It has been my privilege and an honour to have served the residents of Pasir Ris and to have got to know so many of you, your children and also your grandchildren now."
He has served residents in Pasir Ris for 28 years. Minister Indranee Rajah will helm the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC team.
15. Foo Mee Har
The three-term MP for the Ayer Rajah-Gek Poh ward in West Coast GRC will not be on the slate for the newly-formed West Coast-Jurong West GRC, anchored by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee.
While her future plans are not explicitly stated, the 59-year-old, who's a banker by profession, introduced her successors for Ayer Rajah (Cassandra Lee) and Gek Poh (Hamid Razak).
Mr Lee thanked her for her contributions but did not confirm if she would retire.
"While I will miss serving you, I hope our friendship will continue for a lifetime," she said in a Facebook post.
16. Heng Chee How
The Senior Minister of State for Defence and Jalan Besar GRC MP, who has served the Whampoa ward for 27 years, announced on April 17 that he is stepping down from Jalan Besar GRC.
The 63-year-old will be succeeded by Mr Shawn Loh.
When asked if Mr Heng was going to retire from politics or be fielded in another ward, Mrs Josephine Teo, who helms the GRC, said that everything is still open.
Mr Heng's extensive career includes time in the Singapore Police Force, the National Trades Union Congress, and various ministerial positions.
He played a significant role in advocating for older workers' rights and promoting tripartism.
17. Tan Wu Meng
The Jurong GRC MP who has represented Clementi ward since 2015 will not be running in the newly formed Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
He has yet to confirm his next steps.
"Where I will be going next? As I have shared with folk who ask: In life, I go where I am needed most," he said.
18. Lim Wee Kiak
Though he has not officially announced his retirement, four-term Sembawang GRC MP Dr Lim Wee Kiak was paid tribute by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a community event on April 13.
Mr Ong highlighted Dr Lim's contributions and long-standing connection to Sembawang, having grown up in Nee Soon Kampung, but stopped short of saying that the 56-year-old ophthalmologist would be retiring.
His successor in Sembawang's Canberra ward is Mr Ng Shi Xuan, who is the director of a battery company.
19. Mohd Fahmi Aliman
The 52-year-old first-term MP, who oversaw the Geylang Serai ward, was not part of the PAP's Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC team, which saw a walkover.
Mr Fahmi was an army colonel and stepped down as deputy chief executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore in March 2020 before joining politics. He is now a director at the National Trades Union Congress.
Part of the five-member PAP team contesting in Marine Parade GRC against the Workers' Party, he has not confirmed his retirement on social media.
