After 42 years of public service, Transport Minster and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Khaw Boon Wan has announced that he will not be standing for election this GE2020, and will be retiring from politics.

Announcing the decision on Facebook on June 26, Khaw said that he is filled with gratitude — for the many "life changing opportunities", the residents of Moulmein and Sembawang (of whom he was Member of Parliament over the last 19 years), and his Parliament and Cabinet colleagues.

Khaw ended his post with this poignant transportation pun:

"Ten years after my heart bypass, it’s time to say farewell and disembark at the next station, confident that the next crew will take Singapore to newer height.

I travel light, but I shall disembark, fully laden with friendship and great memories!"

Entered Parliament in 2001

Khaw entered Parliament after contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC in the 2001 General Election. Two years later he became the acting Minister for Health and then a year later, the full Health Minister.

Khaw was Minister for Health from 2004 to 2011, before he volunteered to helm the Ministry of National Development from 2011 to 2015, after housing became a hot button election issue in 2011.

Contrary to that, Khaw did not volunteer for the transport portfolio which he led from 2015 until the present day. Khaw said in 2015 that he was asked by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to become Transport Minister after his predecessor Lui Tuck Yew left.

In his 19 years of politics, Khaw was the Member of Parliament in Tanjong Pagar GRC and Sembawang GRC.

You can read Khaw's post below:

Top image: KBW/Facebook.