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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.<\/p>\n
In a Facebook post after his resignation was announced by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) on May 22, he said he was immensely grateful for the trust and confidence put in him, but that he had to refocus his priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 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,\u201d added Dr Koh, who will remain an MP for Tampines GRC.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The PMO said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has accepted Dr Koh\u2019s resignation.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw firsthand his thoughtful and rigorous approach to issues, and how deeply he cares about improving the lives of our people,\u201d said PM Wong<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout 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,\u201d said the PMO.<\/p>\n
Dr Koh, a colorectal surgeon, first entered the political fray in 2013, when he ran for the 2013 Punggol east by-election, triggered by the resignation of then Speaker of Parliament and MP Michael Palmer over a personal indiscretion.<\/p>\n
He lost in the four cornered fight to the Workers\u2019 Party\u2019s Lee Li Lian, with a vote share of 43.73 per cent to her 54.50 per cent.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/span><\/a>, and advance protection for platform workers among other things.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n