People's Action Party

Logo of People's Action Party.

The People's Action Party (PAP) is a political party in Singapore.

Controversy

Dover Forest deforestation

Under PAP's rule, it was announced on December 2020 that the Dover Forest will be deforest to build new public housing Build-to-Order (BTO) flats. Despite concerns were raised regarding impacts on animal and plant species in the forest, and petitions were launched against the development plan which received massive support, the PAP government continued the plan and deforest the eastern part of the forest and conservation only the Dover Forest West. Desmond Lee, PAP party member and who was then Second Minister for National Development, claimed that "Any decision to clear land and forest cover is not taken lightly".

Corruption cases

• Phey Yew Kok
• Teh Cheang Wan
• Choo Wee Khiang
• Public Prosecutor v S Iswaran

Gerrymandering

List of Constitution Alleged Involving Gerrymandering

Location	Year Amended	Year Dissolved	Description	Map
Sengkang West SMC	2011	2020	Sengkang Town was split into four different constituencies – Ang Mo Kio GRC, Sengkang West SMC, Pasir Ris-Punggol SMC and Punggol East SMC.
Pasir Ris-Punggol SMC	2011
Punggol East SMC	2011
Ang Mo Kio GRC	1991, 2020		Ang Mo Kio GRC was amended in 2020 to absorb a portion of Sengkang West SMC.
Sengkang GRC	2020		After amendment in 2020, Sengkang Town have two constituencies only. The Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sengkang GRC. The Sengkang West SMC, Pasir Ris-Punggol SMC and Punggol East SMC.were absorbed to form Sengkang GRC.
Marine Parade GRC	1988		Consist portion of several towns of Serangoon, Hougang, Geylang, Marine Parade, and Bedok.
Aljunied GRC	1988		Consist portion of several towns of Serangoon, Hougang, Paya Lebar, Bedok, and Tampines.

Since 1984, the People's Action Party government changed the Constitution to alter the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) at will. The Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) were created, with each GRC represented by three to six MPs, elected as a slate, at least one of whom must be a member of a minority race. The reason of having GRC system reportedly has no convincing explanation given. The GRC system also reportedly cause a consequence of raise barriers for opposition parties struggle to find viable candidates.

Parliamentary debate on gerrymandering (2024)

During a parliamentary debate on 7 August 2024, on a motion by the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), Hazel Poa, called for an overhaul of the process by which electoral boundaries are drawn. She also suggested that the chairmanship of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) should be held by a High Court judge to ensure fairness and impartiality, instead of the Secretary to the Prime Minister. Poa stated that "Gerrymandering seeks the easy way out of changing the rules," and stressing the need to "reduce the potential for gerrymandering in our system". Workers' Party (WP) MP Pitram Singh said that the ruling party (PAP) has "gained political advantage from the way the electoral boundaries have been drawn and redrawn".

In response, the PAP government rejects proposed amendments. PAP MP and the Education Minister at the time, Chan Chun Sing, accussed the opposition’s motion relied on "false premises" that the process has not been transparent or fair. Chan claimed that the EBRC does not consult the PAP or any other political party, and it comprises senior civil servants with no party allegiance. Chan rejected the proposal for the EBRC to be chaired by a High Court judge, and claiming that this ends up getting drawn into the political debate and politicise the judiciary.

In Chan's closing remark, he claimed that that Singapore’s system has been “reasonably good”, and boast that “even the opposition and many opposition voters will concede that the PAP governments have served Singaporeans well and to the best of our ability”.

Suggestion for time stamp on degree by Ang Wei Neng

We may need to put a time stamp on degrees conferred by the universities ... One radical idea is to put it as a requirement that the graduates have to attend upgrading courses every five years or so. If you do not upgrade, the degree will fade over time and you no longer can claim the degree as your credentials after a while. — Ang Wei Neng, 1 March 2022 At parliament

During the debate at parliament on 1 March 2022, a PAP MP, Ang suggest his idea to have a timestamp on Singapore's university degree and university graduates in Singapore will be required to attend upgrading courses once every five years. His suggestion later draws criticism by the people, and some also commented Ang's inability to distinguish between a university degree and job training. Ang later apologised for his remarks, he also made a post on Facebook paradoxically claiming that his suggestion on having a time stamp on degree certificates was not meant to be a policy recommendation, although he made the suggestion in the parliament.

PAP MP Sleeping in parliament

During the parliamentary session, the PAP MP were filmed sleeping in the parliament.

In January 2019, an online survey resulted in 96% vote agreeing that MP who sleep on the job should receive harsher punishments.

In July 2017, PAP MP Desmond Choo was sleeping in the parliament when Lee Hsien Loong was speaking.

In February 2020, PAP MP Chan Chun Sing fall asleep during a parliamentary session.

In September 2021, a video of PAP MP Amy Khor slept in the parliament went viral and draws public comment online.

Privacy issues on unmasking full NRIC numbers

On 14 December 2024, the PAP government announced their intend to change the practice of masking National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers, after privacy concerns were raised over the new Bizfile portal showing people's details for free in its search results.

Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said in response to media queries that the government had planned to make this change "only after explaining the issue and preparing the ground". Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)'s new Bizfile portal had a search function that produced people's names and full NRIC numbers. This portal was newly launched on 9 December 2024, before the PAP government had announced its plans.

The Bizfile portal reportedly allows any person to search for a name and view the NRIC number for free and pay to purchase information of any person with an NRIC number. ACRA later disabled Bizfile’s search function on 14 December 2024.

A veteran Singaporean journalist, Bertha Henson, shared that NRIC of non-business owners, political leaders, and deceased individual can be exposed and tracked on Bizfile.

On 19 December 2024, the PAP MP, Indranee Raja, Josephine Teo, and Chia Tern Huey Min, made public apology over the disclosure of NRIC numbers on the Bizfile portal at a press conference.

Criticism

Ice-cream distribution event

Between May and August 2024, the PAP MP conducted distribution of free ice cream at different public locations. The MP involved also published Facebook post about the distribution.

The distribution event draws public criticism for distributing the ice cream at landed property area (including high-end estates with bungalows and semi-detached houses) and suggesting that the residents there could already afford ice cream, and criticism the event of being "election gimmick".

Leadership

List of chairmen

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office		Time in office
	Toh Chin Chye (10 December 1921 – 3 February 2012)	21 November 1954	5 January 1981	Template:Age in years and days
	Ong Teng Cheong (22 January 1936 – 8 February 2002)	5 January 1981	16 August 1993	Template:Age in years and days
	Tony Tan (born 7 February 1940)	1 September 1993	3 December 2004	Template:Age in years and days
	Lim Boon Heng (born 18 November 1947)	3 December 2004	1 June 2011	Template:Age in years and days
	Khaw Boon Wan (born 8 December 1952)	1 June 2011	23 November 2018	Template:Age in years and days
	Gan Kim Yong (born 9 February 1959)	23 November 2018	26 November 2022	Template:Age in years and days
	Heng Swee Keat (born 15 April 1961)	26 November 2022	Incumbent	Template:Age in years and days

List of secretaries-general

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office		Time in office	Refs
	Lee Kuan Yew (16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015)	21 November 1954	3 August 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
	T. T. Rajah (28 December 1919 – 13 March 1996)	13 August 1957	3 September 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Sfn
	Lee Kuan Yew (16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015)	20 October 1957	14 November 1992	Template:Age in years and days	Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
	Goh Chok Tong (born 20 May 1941)	15 November 1992	6 November 2004	Template:Age in years and days	Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
	Lee Hsien Loong (born 10 February 1952)	7 November 2004	Incumbent	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Sfn

Central Executive Committee

As of 30 July 2023, the Central Executive Committee comprises the following members:Template:Refn

Title	Name
Chairman	Heng Swee Keat
Vice-Chairman	Masagos Zulkifli
Secretary-General	Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Secretary-General	Lawrence Wong
Assistant Secretaries-General	Chan Chun Sing
	Desmond Lee
Treasurer	K. Shanmugam
Assistant Treasurer	Ong Ye Kung
Organising Secretaries	Grace Fu
	Edwin Tong
Members	Alex Yeo
	Cheryl Chan
	Indranee Rajah
	Josephine Teo
	Ng Chee Meng
	Tan See Leng
	Vivian Balakrishnan