Here's a list of S’porean civil servants that could make their political debut in GE2025

In the lead-up to Singapore’s 2025 General Election, several senior civil servants have resigned from their positions in recent weeks, sparking speculation about their potential candidacy.

It’s no secret that political parties often tap into the public service for new candidates—but who has resigned so far and what are their backgrounds?

Here’s a breakdown:

According to media reports, these civil servants are all slated to leave their jobs in the first few days of April.

In addition to the resignations, two permanent secretaries are also preparing to retire after decades of service and might make their way into politics.

These individuals are:

It’s still uncertain whether all of these civil servants will stand in GE2025, but if they do, their representation is more or less in line with past elections.

According to CNA, five of the 27 new faces (or roughly 19%) fielded by the PAP in GE2020 were from the public service, excluding those from the Singapore Armed Forces.

In GE2015, four out of 24 candidates (17%) came from public service, while in GE2011, the proportion was slightly higher, with seven out of 24 (29%) coming from the public sector.

Historically, public servants have predominantly joined the PAP, although the opposition has also fielded candidates from the public service, albeit in smaller numbers.

This includes former Workers’ Party MP Leon Perera, who started out as an NCMP after the 2015 General Election—he was an assistant head at EDB’s enterprise development division.

But what’s next for these public servants if they are not elected?

Transitioning into politics—whether coming from the public sector or not—is not an easy feat.

Featured Image Credit: Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth/ Foo Cexiang via LinkedIn/ Goh Hanyan via LinkedIn/ Public Service Division