SINGAPORE: Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health Koh Poh Koon will step down from political office due to family reasons, with effect from June 1.
In a Facebook post after his resignation was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Friday (May 22), he said he was immensely grateful for the trust and confidence put in him, but that he had to refocus his priorities.
“I have been an absent husband, father and son since I stepped into politics in 2015, placing the needs of Singapore and my constituents above my family,” he said.
“For too long, my wife has carried much of the burden at home, often having to look after our parents and our children on her own,” added Dr Koh, who will remain an MP for Tampines GRC.
“Right now, my family needs my attention in a way that is not compatible with the demands of political office. Even as I continue my work as Member of Parliament, I will need to step up and better support my wife and do what is right for our family.”
The PMO said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has accepted Dr Koh’s resignation.
In a Facebook post, PM Wong said he has known Dr Koh for many years, including when they served together at the Ministry of National Development (MND).
“I saw first-hand his thoughtful and rigorous approach to issues, and how deeply he cares about improving the lives of our people,” said PM Wong.
He thanked Dr Koh for his decade of service as a political office-holder, and for his contributions across a wide range of portfolios, including trade and industry, manpower, health, sustainability and the environment, national development and the labour movement.
“Throughout his years in government, Dr Koh served with dedication, thoughtfulness and a deep sense of duty. His contributions have made a difference to the lives of many Singaporeans,” said the PMO.
Dr Koh, a colorectal surgeon, first entered the political fray in 2013, when he ran in the 2013 Punggol East by-election, triggered by the resignation of then Speaker of Parliament and MP Michael Palmer over a personal indiscretion.
He lost in the four-cornered fight to the Workers’ Party’s Lee Li Lian, with a vote share of 43.73 per cent against her 54.5 per cent.
He was eventually elected into Parliament in the 2015 General Election as part of the Ang Mo Kio GRC team, and was appointed to political office shortly after in 2016.
At MND and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, he led efforts to grow the agri-food sector, strengthen food safety and security, and improve sustainability practices, said the PMO.
Across his appointments at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Manpower and the National Trades Union Congress, Dr Koh also worked tirelessly to strengthen support for businesses, workers and lower-wage Singaporeans, added the PMO.
The PMO added that Dr Koh had worked to strengthen the enterprise ecosystem, ensure workers benefit from business transformation, help expand the Progressive Wage Model, and advance protection for platform workers, among other things.
He had approached these issues with care and balance, seeking to support both businesses and workers in a fair and sustainable manner, said the PMO.
At the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr Koh drew on his clinical experience to help shape forward-looking policies, said the PMO. It said he contributed to efforts to keep healthcare affordable and accessible, strengthen preventive care through initiatives such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG, and support the development of a stronger healthcare workforce.
PM Wong, in his Facebook post, cited Dr Koh’s work in leading the task force on infant milk formula, which he said brought in more affordable options, tightened rules against misleading claims, and changed hospital practices to give parents greater choice and transparency.
“That same sense of purpose shaped his work across varied roles in the Government and labour movement,” said PM Wong.
“Poh Koon approached every responsibility with sincerity, dedication and genuine care for the people he served. Through his steady and committed service, he has made a difference to the lives of many Singaporeans.”
PM Wong added: “While I am sad to lose a dedicated member of the team, I understand his wish to spend more time with his family, and have accepted his request.”
Dr Koh said his decision to step down from political office “was taken after much deliberation and discussion with my family, and it was made with a heavy heart”.
He thanked PM Wong and his Cabinet colleagues for their guidance and also thanked his ministry colleagues and staff.
“Serving as a political office-holder since 2015 has been one of the greatest honours of my life. I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute to Singapore across different ministries and the labour movement and to make a difference as part of a dynamic team,” he said.
“I will take the next couple of months to spend some time with my family and to consider my next steps. But this is not goodbye. I will continue to do my best serving my constituents as Member of Parliament at Tampines GRC.”
Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, in a Facebook post, expressed his sadness that Dr Koh would be stepping down from political office.
“I know that the matter has been weighing on his mind. I am glad that he has come to a decision, and respect him for doing what he feels is best for his family,” he said.
“I will miss his honest counsel at MOH. Being a doctor, a hardworking MP, and a grounded person, he will always have a useful perspective on healthcare issues.”
In a separate post, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng described Dr Koh as a reliable and focused leader who is “calm under pressure, thoughtful in difficult conversations and always grounded in delivering concrete and practical improvements for Singaporeans”.
“As a fellow doctor, he brought pragmatism, surgical precision and compassion into our work. Our discussions were often candid, sharp and deeply substantive. He is both a leader and team player that anyone would want on their side,” said Dr Tan. - The Straits Times/ANN
