Koh Poh Koon to step down from public office

He lost in the four cornered fight to the Workers’ Party’s Lee Li Lian, with a vote share of 43.73 per cent to her 54.50 per cent.

He was eventually elected into Parliament in the 2015 general election as part of 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, the Ministry of Manpower and NTUC, 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, 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 that 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.