SINGAPORE - The People’s Action Party (PAP) on Sunday elected its top decision-making body during its biennial party conference at Resorts World Convention Centre that was attended by more than 3,000 party members.

In no particular order, PAP’s 37th central executive committee (CEC) will comprise Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong; Deputy Prime Ministers Lawrence Wong and Heng Swee Keat; Mr Chan Chun Sing; Mr Masagos Zulkifli; Mr K. Shanmugam; Ms Grace Fu; Mr Desmond Lee; Ms Indranee Rajah; Mr Ong Ye Kung; Mr Tan Chuan-Jin; and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

The 12 CEC members were elected by secret ballot from a list of 19 candidates.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong and Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo were co-opted into the CEC as they got the 13th and 14th highest number of votes.

Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, who was party chairman of the 36th CEC, did not stand for re-election to the committee. He had held the post of PAP chairman since 2018, when he was elected after then Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stepped down from the CEC and chairmanship.

The appointments of CEC members - like the party’s new chairman - and others who may be co-opted into the committee will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Party sources confirmed that the other five candidates nominated were Dr Ng Eng Hen; Dr Tan See Leng; Dr Maliki Osman; Dr Janil Puthucheary and Mr Alex Yam.

The seven on the list who were recommended by the outgoing CEC as the party’s choice for its core leaders were: PM Lee; DPM Wong; DPM Heng; Mr Chan; Mr Masagos; Mr Shanmugam and Ms Fu.

Speaking to the media after the conference, several MPs said the CEC line-up is a strong one that they believe would be able to take Singapore forward.

Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng said the line-up is diverse in terms of their experience, and added: “That’s important in that they all have different experiences, very different standpoints on... issues as well that will help chart the way forward for us.”

Meanwhile, MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling expressed hope that the new leadership will rally those within the party and outside it to stay united and take Singapore forward to the next level. 

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Edward Chia said: “This is a team that I have every confidence will address present challenges, but is also forward-looking and able to create the opportunities for Singaporeans to realise their full potential and their dreams.”