**SINGAPORE** – In a surprising move, Mr. Shawn Loh, the 38-year-old director of security and resilience programmes at the Ministry of Finance (MOF), has announced his resignation, effective April 6. This resignation comes on the heels of speculation that he is eyeing a candidacy in the upcoming General Election (GE) set for 2025. Loh's exit marks him as the fifth senior civil servant to depart in a wave of resignations just a few weeks prior to a crucial electoral period.

Loh's tenure as Budget Director for the years 2024 and 2025 was notable for being the first to incorporate elements from the Forward Singapore engagement exercise, a key initiative aimed at shaping the nation's socio-economic policies. His efforts included managing vital programs such as the Community Development Council (CDC) and SG60 voucher schemes, which sought to bolster community support and engagement among Singaporeans.

Before stepping into the MOF role in June 2023, Loh held significant positions including Vice-President at the Economic Development Board, where he focused on industry manpower development, as well as a brief spell in the private sector at Commonwealth Capital Group. His journey in the civil service began in 2011 at the Ministry of Education, pivoting through roles that dealt with education policies and reforms linked to the Central Provident Fund at the Ministry of Manpower, and even involvement in population policy at the Prime Minister's Office.

These high-profile resignations come against a backdrop of broader changes in the civil service as the country approaches the general elections, anticipated to take place by mid-year after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee's report on March 11. Alongside Loh, prominent figures such as Jeffrey Siow, second permanent secretary of the Ministries of Manpower and Trade and Industry, and Goh Hanyan, director at the Smart Nation Strategy Office, have also announced their departures.

What's driving this trend of resignations? The People’s Action Party (PAP) has a history of recruiting candidates from the ranks of the public service, leading many to step down to engage in political activities without the constraints that civil service positions impose.

As the political landscape begins to reshape itself, eyes will be glued to see who will emerge as the new candidates vying for seats and how these changes will impact the upcoming election. Will we see a fresh wave of leaders from this pool of experienced public servants? Only time will tell, but this shake-up certainly adds a thrilling dimension to the narrative leading into GE2025!