SINGAPORE - The People’s Action Party elected its new central executive committee (CEC) on Nov 24, with few changes to the line-up.

       Among those voted to the party’s top decision-making body are Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

       In no particular order, the others are: Mr K. Shanmugam, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Desmond Lee, Mr Ong Ye Kung, Ms Grace Fu, Mr Edwin Tong, Ms Indranee Rajah and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

       Seven among them were recommended by the party’s inner circle for its core leaders: Mr Wong, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Heng, Mr Chan, Mr Masagos, Ms Fu and Mr Shanmugam.

       The 12 new members were elected by party cadres in a secret ballot from an initial list of 19.

       Two others – Mr Chee Hong Tat and Dr Tan See Leng – were co-opted into the CEC as they received the 13th and 14th highest number of votes. It is the first time Mr Chee has joined the CEC.

       Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who was previously a CEC member, is not part of the CEC this time.

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       Although it is mainly made up of Cabinet ministers, the PAP’s top decision-making body is not directly linked to the Government. However, its members will form the nucleus of the party heading into Singapore’s next general election, which must be held by November 2025.

       Among other things, they will screen potential candidates ahead of each general election and decide which MPs will be retired.

       On the second day of the biennial PAP Awards and Conference on Nov 24, SM Lee announced that he would step down as the party’s secretary-general but remain a CEC member.

       He told party members he intended to propose that the new CEC pick PM Wong as the next secretary-general. PM Wong is now the party’s deputy secretary-general.

       This is likely to take place some weeks later at the first CEC meeting after the conference. As party chief, PM Wong would then decide on the list of appointments in the CEC.

       The CEC can also co-opt another four members at this meeting.

       Party sources confirmed that the other five candidates on the list of 19 names for the CEC ballot were: Mrs Teo, Ms Sim Ann, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Mr Desmond Tan and Mr Alex Yam.

       With PM Wong taking over as secretary-general, the party’s transition from its third to fourth generation of leaders would be complete, SM Lee said.

       Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan earlier told ST that the office-bearers who will be most closely watched are the first and second assistant secretaries-general.

       Their appointments signal strongly who PM Wong’s direct lieutenants will be in the years ahead, he said.

       The party’s current assistant secretaries-general are Mr Chan Chun Sing and Mr Desmond Lee.

       This year’s conference at the Singapore Expo was attended by about 3,000 party cadres, activists and guests. It was held days after the 70th anniversary of the PAP’s formation, which was on Nov 21.

       The party paid tribute to SM Lee on the first day of the conference on Nov 23.

       SM Lee became PAP secretary-general in November 2004, three months after being sworn in as the country’s third prime minister in August. He led 10 successive CECs over a 20-year tenure.

       In his speech on Nov 24, PM Wong said the stakes in the next elections are high.

       “Please don’t think it is guaranteed that the PAP will win and form a stable government,” he said.

       “We have to work hard – to earn the confidence and trust of Singaporeans, to win the mandate to govern, and ultimately to serve our fellow Singaporeans.”