SINGAPORE - Opposition figure Nicole Seah has resigned from the National Solidarity Party (NSP), a decision which she said was "extremely difficult and painful to make".

"There was nothing which might have happened to trigger this departure," she said in an e-mailed statement on Friday, adding that she started out in politics as a fresh graduate wanting to make a difference through raising political awareness and interest among youth.

"It's reached a point where I feel that my job is done (for now) and I have to move on and grow in other areas, before I can continue to give back to the communities I choose to place myself in," she said.

Ms Seah was part of the NSP team that contested Marine Parade GRC in the 2011 General Election. She became the party's second assistant secretary-general last year.

The 28-year-old moved to Thailand in March to work at advertising firm IPG Mediabrands' Bangkok office.

She promised that this is "not a complete departure from politics, as I continue to keep tabs on what is happening back home" and added: "I will just need to find a more suitable platform to contribute and give back."