Former Singapore People’s Party (SPP) member Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss has confirmed that she has “no plans to join another political party,” following her departure from the SPP.
Earlier today (4 Sept), Ms Chong-Aruldoss – who was a member of the SPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), announced that she resigned from the party on Monday (2 Sept) and that she made the decision with “much thought and careful deliberation.”
In an interview with The Independent, Ms Chong-Aruldoss said that she decided to resign from the party “after considering all the implications of my decision” and that she does not plan to join another political party.
On whether her resignation from the SPP marks the end of her political career, she said: “There are many ways of serving in politics and I hope to continue serving my country and my countrymen in one way or another.”
Ms Chong-Aruldoss added that although she sees herself as “more of a politician than a civil activist,” she is “more than happy to serve Singaporeans by playing a part in Singapore’s civil society” as she believes civil society plays an important role in Singapore.
Ms Chong-Aruldoss’ announcement that she is resigning from the SPP came on the same day that the party indicated that its secretary-general, 84-year-old Chiam See Tong, may step down after 23 years at the party’s helm to make way for new blood.
In a press statement released today, the SPP added that it will initiate leadership renewal in its upcoming internal elections, that will take place in mid-October. The SPP also confirmed that Ms Chong-Aruldoss has resigned from its CEC.
Ms Chong-Aruldoss told The Independent that her decision to resign from the party does not have anything to do with the SPP’s impending internal elections or speculation that Mr Chiam will step down as SPP chief.
A lawyer by profession, Ms Chong-Aruldoss joined politics in 2010 as a member of the Reform Party. She left the party in 2011 to join the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and contested Mountbatten Single Member Constituency under the NSP ticket.
It was a close match but Ms Chong-Aruldoss lost the election with 41.35%. Ms Chong-Aruldoss contested Mountbatten SMC as an SPP candidate in the 2015 General Election and lost to the incumbent Lim Biow Chuan from the ruling People’s Action Party.
Besides her political career, Ms Chong-Aruldoss is well-known for providing pro-bono legal help to Singaporeans facing hardships, over the years.
Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss leaves SPP as it gears up for internal elections