National Solidarity Party secretary-general Tan Lam Siong steps down

SINGAPORE — Five months into his appointment as secretary-general of the National Solidarity Party (NSP), Mr Tan Lam Siong, has resigned from the position — its third leadership change in less than two years.

Mr Tan, a lawyer who was elected secretary-general in January, stepped down to “focus more on his passion for social and community work, and charitable pursuits while remaining as a congress member”, said NSP president Sebastian Teo in a statement last night (June 17).

“During his tenure as the secretary-general of NSP, he has been energetic and resourceful, putting in place new initiatives and introducing new perspectives into the party,” said Mr Teo. “Whilst the party is sad to lose him as our sec-gen, we would like to thank him for his contributions during this period, and wish him all the best in his pursuits.” Mr Teo told TODAY that a meeting will be held next week for the central executive committee (CEC) to decide who will take over the position.

The NSP made a splash in the 2011 General Election by fielding 24 candidates, the highest after the People’s Action Party. They included high-profile people, such as Ms Nicole Seah, Ms Hazel Poa, who later succeeded Mr Goh Meng Seng as secretary-general, and her husband Tony Tan.

However, since the polls, the NSP has lost some of its more well-known members, such as Ms Seah and Mr Goh. In September 2013, Ms Poa stepped down as NSP secretary-general although she and her husband are still party members. In February this year, Ms Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, whom Mr Tan Lam Siong had replaced as secretary-general, resigned from the party along with three others to join the Singapore People’s Party.

Their resignations came after they lost their positions during the NSP’s CEC election.