Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is the secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP), said during the launch of the PAP manifesto on Saturday (Jun 27) that 20 MPs will retire this year.
"In every election as we field new candidates, so we also have MPs who are retiring. This year, about 20 MPs are retiring."
In his speech, PM paid tribute and thanked Deputy Speaker Charles Chong, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
However, quite a number of retiring MPs did not make their retirements public.
And some probably did not reveal their retirement plans due to strategic reasons on Nomination Day.
This resulted in a WhatsApp message being widely circulated online.
And we know it's wrong because these ten "retired candidates" listed in the WhatsApp message are contesting in this General Election:
Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang SMC candidate), Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC candidate), Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten SMC candidate), Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC candidate), Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC candidate), Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC candidate), Amy Khor (Hong Kah North SMC), Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon GRC candidate), Heng Chee How and Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC candidates)
Below are the 20 PAP MPs who retired this GE, after we know the full list of the PAP candidates for GE2020.
1. Ang Hin Kee (two terms), Ang Mo Kio GRC
2. Chia Shi-Lu (two terms), Tanjong Pagar GRC
Source: Parliament site.
3. Charles Chong (seven terms), Punggol East SMC
Source: Parliament site.
4. Fatimah Lateef (three terms), Marine Parade GRC
Source: Parliament website.
5. Cedric Foo Chee Keng (four terms), Pioneer SMC
Source: Parliament website.
6. Goh Chok Tong (10 terms), Marine Parade GRC
Source: Parliament website.
7. Intan Azura Mokhtar (two terms), Ang Mo Kio GRC
Source: Parliament website.
8. Khaw Boon Wan (four terms), Sembawang GRC
Source: Parliament website.
9. Lee Bee Wah (three terms), Nee Soon GRC
Source: Parliament website.
10. Lee Yi Shyan (three terms), East Coast GRC
Source: Parliament website.
11. Lim Hng Kiang (six terms), West Coast GRC
Source: Parliament website.
12. Lim Swee Say (five terms), East Coast GRC
Source: Parliament website.
13. Lily Neo (five terms), Jalan Besar GRC
Source: Parliament website.
14. Ong Teng Koon (two terms), Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC
Source: Parliament website.
15. Sam Tan (three terms), Radin Mas SMC
Source: Parliament website.
16. Teo Ho Pin (five terms), Bukit Panjang SMC
Source: Parliament website.
17. Teo Ser Luck (three terms), Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
Source: Parliament website.
18. Yaacob Ibrahim (five terms), Jalan Besar GRC
Source: Parliament website.
19. Yee Chia Hsing (one term), Choa Chu Kang GRC
Source: Parliament website.
20. Zainal Sapari (two terms), Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
Source: Parliament website.
Top images via Teo Chee Hean/FB, PAP, Goh Chok Tong/FB, Lee Bee Wah/FB.