Jeffrey Siow, 2nd permanent secretary at MOM & MTI resigns ahead of GE2025: ST

The latest in a series of high-ranking public sector employees to resign from their roles is Jeffrey Siow, who holds the role of Second Permanent Secretary at both the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

According to The Straits Times (ST), Siow is "set to enter politics", and his last day in his current appointments is Apr. 1, 2025.

Singapore's next general election (GE 2025) must be called by November 2025.

Permanent secretary is the highest rank in the civil service.

Permanent secretaries who have entered politics include transport minister Chee Hong Tat, who was appointed Second Permanent Secretary (Trade & Industry) in 2014 before leaving the Civil Service in August 2015 ahead of GE2015, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was the Permanent Secretary at MTI prior to joining politics in 2011.

Siow's background

Siow currently "leads national efforts to grow Singapore’s economy, and to develop a productive workforce and progressive workplaces to benefit Singaporeans" in his roles at MOM and MTI, according to his bio on the MTI website.

Prior to his current appointment, Siow was the first Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Enterprise Singapore.

Siow has also held other appointments in the transport, education, and manpower ministries.

Siow also served the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong from 2017 to 2021, a role which current Prime Minister Lawrence Wong previously held from 2005 to 2008.

Other politicians who have previously held the PPS role include DPM Heng, who served as the PPS to then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew between 1997 and 2001.

Siow graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an MBA, and also has a BA in Economics & Government and a BSc in Urban & Regional Studies from Cornell University.

Related stories

Top photo via futuremobility.com.sg