PAP set to replace branch chairmen in Aljunied GRC

The People's Action Party (PAP) is expected to replace three of its five current Aljunied branch chairpersons: Mr Kenny Sim, Mr Shamsul Kamar and Mr Victor Lye, The Straits Times has learnt.

Mr Shamsul and Mr Lye were fielded in the Workers' Party-held constituency in 2015 and 2020, while Mr Sim was appointed Paya Lebar branch chairman in August 2024.

Mr Shamsul is expected to be replaced by Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz, while Mr Sim's ward will be taken over by Mr Daniel Liu.

Dr Adrian Ang, who is currently vice-chairman of Mr Lye's ward, is set to replace him.

If executed, this will be the second set of changes of PAP branch leadership in the group representation constituency (GRC) in the last six months.

It is unclear if the outgoing branch chairpersons will be moved to other constituencies.

This means it is possible that, excluding Ms Chan Hui Yuh, the party will field an entirely new slate in the GRC for GE2025.

In August 2024, the PAP had already announced that Mr Sim would replace lawyer Alex Yeo, who stood in the last election.

At the same time, it said trade unionist Jagathishwaran Rajo would replace banker Chua Eng Leong, also from the previous slate.

Mr Shamsul, a former educator, is expected to be replaced by Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz, clinical director at dental group Nuffield Dental, sources told ST.

Mr Shamsul has been the GRC's Kaki Bukit branch chairman since 2015.

Dr Faisal was pictured next to Mr Shamsul at a Chinese New Year celebration. The photo was posted on Facebook by the outgoing chairman on Feb 11. He also attended the Kaki Bukit CNY dinner on Feb 8.

In November, he posted a photo on social media platform Threads of himself at the 2024 PAP party convention with others from the Kaki Bukit branch.

"I've learnt so much from them in understanding the roles various organisations play in advocacy and speaking up from Singaporeans," he said.

He is chairman of the Health and Wellness Committee in Kaki Bukit, his company's website states.

Dr Faisal was also recently appointed a member of the Mosque Management Board at Angullia Mosque, it adds.

He is married with two children.

Mr Kenny Sim, chief executive of IT reseller and distributor Serial Achieva, will step down as branch chairman of Paya Lebar after taking over in August 2024, sources said.

Mr Sim will now be replaced by managing director of urban planning consultancy Morrow Architects and Planners Daniel Liu, who has been chairman of the Nee Soon East Citizens' Consultative Committee since 2022.

Both Mr Sim and Mr Liu did not comment on the possible move.

Mr Liu is the son of Dr Liu Thai Ker, widely known as the architect of modern Singapore.

Mr Victor Lye is expected to be replaced by Dr Adrian Ang, a director at facility and environmental management company Chye Thiam Maintenance.

Dr Ang is vice-chairman of Mr Lye's Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch, Mr Lye said in a Facebook post on Jan 24.

Based on his Facebook posts, Dr Ang has been meeting Bedok Reservoir-Punggol residents in "regular coffee shop sessions".

Earlier in January, Dr Ang also attended the Bursary and Edusave awards ceremony in the area, and took seniors from Thye Hua Kwan Nursing Home on an outing to the Jewel Changi Airport retail complex.

Dr Ang was previously active in Toa Payoh West-Thomson, helmed by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, and was branch secretary there.