PAP elects 39th Central Executive Committee, Chee Hong Tat & Zaqy Mohamad among top 14 vote-getters

The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) elected its 39th Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Oct. 25.

Votes at the biennial internal election were made by party cadres, who make up a small proportion of the PAP's membership and represent the party elite.

They are responsible for electing 12 of the CEC members at the party conference, while another up to six members are co-opted.

The 39th CEC, as PAP's highest decision-making body, will steer the party from 2026 to 2028.

Who's in

The members of the 39th PAP CEC, not listed in order of the number of votes they received, are as follows:

1. Lawrence Wong
2. Lee Hsien Loong
3. Chan Chun Sing
4. Masagos Zulkifli
5. K Shanmugam
6. Grace Fu
7. Chee Hong Tat
8. Edwin Tong
9. Indranee Rajah
10. Ong Ye Kung
11. Vivian Balakrishnan
12. Desmond Lee
13. Tan See Leng (Co-opted)
14. Zaqy Mohamad (Co-opted)

Changes

Chee Hong Tat, who was previously co-opted into the 38th CEC, replaced Heng Swee Keat as one of the top 12 vote-getters.

Typically, the secretary-general will co-opt the members who received the 13th and 14th highest number of votes, in this case Tan See Leng and Zaqy Mohamad (not necessarily in that order).

Zaqy Mohamad was previously co-opted into the 38th CEC, but now is one of the top 14 (at least) highest vote-getters.

The CEC will also have the power to co-opt up to four more members in due time.

After the full CEC is announced, the committee will elect its office-bearers from among its members.

This will include the party's chairman, vice-chairman, secretary-general, assistant secretary-general, treasurer and assistant treasurer, as well as other positions it deems necessary.