SINGAPORE, May 29 — Singapore’s Education Minister Desmond Lee has been appointed as the new chairman of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), effective Thursday.

Lee succeeds former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who has retired from politics.

"The PAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) expressed its appreciation to out-going chairman Mr Heng Swee Keat for his years of leadership and service to the Party and Singapore, and wished him a fulfilling retirement from politics,” the party said in a statement yesterday.

The PAP CEC also appointed Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung as party treasurer, and National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat as assistant treasurer.

Meanwhile, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, has been co-opted as a new CEC member and additionally appointed as PAP Malay Affairs Bureau chairperson. — Bernama