MDDI senior civil servant resigns ahead of GE 2025, 'set to stand' in GE2025, says Straits Times

A senior civil servant from the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has reportedly resigned ahead of the 2025 general election, sparking speculation that she might be fielded as a GE candidate.

Goh Hanyan, a director in the Smart Nation Strategy Office and the national AI group for policy and strategy, will leave the civil service on Apr. 3, according to The Straits Times. ST also reported that she was "set to stand" in the upcoming GE.

Who is Goh Hanyan?

Goh's departure comes in the wake of two other high-profile resignations, namely Jasmine Lau, deputy secretary from the Ministry of Health, and Foo Cexiang, director at the Ministry of Transport.

Lau and Foo have also been tipped as prospective candidates for GE 2025.

According to Goh's LinkedIn, she was involved in developing Smart Nation 2.0, Singapore's refreshed Smart Nation plan, which launched in October 2024 with initiatives such as investments in AI for science and measures to support victims of online harms.

Prior to joining MDDI, Goh worked for the strategy group for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for close to four years, focusing on economy and stability.

She previously spent a decade at the Economic Development Board and was appointed as a deputy director for strategic planning.

Goh graduated from Imperial College London with a degree in materials science and engineering.

She also has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from INSEAD and a Masters in Engineering Management from Columbia University.

Would not be the first time

ST reported that the People's Action Party (PAP) has typically tapped on public service leaders as prospective candidates.

Those chosen would have to resign prior to the election as civil servants are not allowed to take part in politics.

Other public servants who resigned shortly before running as a PAP candidate in GE 2020 include then-chief executive for the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Tan Kiat How, and then-chief executive of the People's Association, Desmond Tan.

Current East Coast GRC MP Tan Kiat How resigned three days before the writ of election was issued on Jun. 23, 2020. While Pasir Ris-Punggol's Desmond Tan left the public service less than a month before Polling Day.

In 2015, then-Second Permanent Secretary for Trade and Industry, Chee Hong Tat resigned from the civil service on Aug. 11, less than a month before the Sep. elections.

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Top image from MDDI