PAP set to replace three branch chairpersons in Aljunied GRC; second refresh in 6 months

SINGAPORE – The People’s Action Party (PAP) is expected to replace three of its five current Aljunied branch chairpersons: Mr Kenny Sim, Mr Shamsul Kamar and Mr Victor Lye, The Straits Times has learnt.

Mr Shamsul and Mr Lye were fielded in the Workers’ Party-held constituency in 2015 and 2020, while Mr Sim was appointed Paya Lebar branch chairman in August 2024.

Mr Shamsul is expected to be replaced by Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz, while Mr Sim’s ward will be taken over by Mr Daniel Liu.

Dr Adrian Ang, who is currently vice-chairman of Mr Lye’s ward, is set to replace him. 

If the replacements are executed, this will be the second set of changes of PAP branch leadership in the group representation constituency (GRC) in the last six months. 

It is unclear if the outgoing branch chairmen will be moved to other constituencies. 

This means it is possible that, excluding Ms Chan Hui Yuh, the party will field a new slate in the GRC for the 2025 General Election.

In August 2024, the PAP had announced that Mr Sim would replace lawyer Alex Yeo, who stood in the last election. 

At the same time, it said trade unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo would replace banker Chua Eng Leong, also from the previous slate. 

Mr Shamsul, a former educator, is expected to be replaced by Dr Faisal, clinical director at dental group Nuffield Dental, sources told ST. 

Mr Shamsul has been the GRC’s Kaki Bukit branch chairman since 2015. 

Dr Faisal was pictured next to Mr Shamsul at a Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration. The photo was posted on Facebook by the outgoing chairman on Feb 11.

He also attended the Kaki Bukit CNY dinner on Feb 8.

In November, he posted a photo on social media platform Threads of himself at the 2024 PAP party convention with others from the Kaki Bukit branch.

“I’ve learnt so much from them in understanding the roles various organisations play in advocacy and speaking up for Singaporeans,” he said.

Dr Faisal is chairman of the Health and Wellness Committee in Kaki Bukit, according to his company’s website.

He is also assistant secretary on the Angullia Mosque’s management board for 2024 to 2026.

He is married with two children.

Mr Sim, chief executive of IT reseller and distributor Serial Achieva, will step down as branch chairman of Paya Lebar after taking over in August 2024, sources said. 

Mr Sim will be replaced by Mr Liu, managing director of urban planning consultancy Morrow Architects and Planners, who has been chairman of the Nee Soon East Citizens’ Consultative Committee since 2022.

Both Mr Sim and Mr Liu did not comment on the possible move.

Mr Liu is the son of Dr Liu Thai Ker, widely known as the architect of modern Singapore.

He has been volunteering in Nee Soon East since October 2014. He was pictured with the ward’s MP Louis Ng at a CNY event on Feb 9 and at a walkabout on Feb 8.

He was the organising chairman of Springtime Splendour@Nee Soon, a GRC-wide series of celebrations organised by the People’s Association to mark the beginning of CNY.

Mr Lye is expected to be replaced by Dr Ang, a director at facility and environmental management company Chye Thiam Maintenance.

Dr Ang is vice-chairman of Mr Lye’s Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch, said Mr Lye in a Facebook post on Jan 24. 

Based on his Facebook posts, Dr Ang has been meeting Bedok Reservoir-Punggol residents in “regular coffee-shop sessions”.

Earlier in January, Dr Ang also attended the Bursary and Edusave awards ceremony in the area, and took seniors from Thye Hua Kwan Nursing Home on an outing to the Jewel Changi Airport retail complex.

Dr Ang was previously active in Toa Payoh West-Thomson ward, helmed by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, and was branch secretary there.

ST has contacted the PAP for comment.  

Asked about the possible moves, Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Gillian Koh said that as in Sengkang GRC – where Ms Bernadette Giam took over from Mr Marcus Loh as Sengkang East branch chairwoman earlier in January – the PAP is refreshing its leaders on the ground.

As the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee was formed on Jan 22, time is running out on the current parliamentary term and a general election is likely to be held soon, she added.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said all political parties, including the PAP, have to now start finalising their list of candidates, and the shape and composition of their slates for the GRCs.

Associate Professor Tan added that changes at this stage must be seen as tactical and strategic as well as necessary.

He said: “The PAP seeks to wrestle back Aljunied GRC – and Sengkang GRC as well – and so these changes could be seen as the line-up, especially at this stage of the electoral cycle, that will probably be fielded and which offers them the best prospects of winning.”

Dr Koh added that it is important for the PAP to always signal that it wants to offer constituents a serious choice between the WP and itself.

She said: “Sometimes, the younger and newer leaders can bring fresh dynamism and new ideas to serving the people on the ground.

“On the other hand, those who have worked the ground over a long period of time can bring their wisdom to other wards in addition to what they have done to mentor the new faces.”