SINGAPORE - Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon told attendees of a Traditional Chinese Medicine event on May 23 that he will not be running away even as he steps down from public office.

The colorectal surgeon, who had announced that he would resign from office on June 1 due to family reasons, was the guest of honour at the inaugural National Exemplary Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Awards 2026.

Dr Koh, who is also Senior Minister of State for Manpower, said he received a lot of text messages from friends and e-mails from the general public, all of whom sent their encouragement and support.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your encouragement, your support, and your partnership, especially those who have worked with all these years.

“Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart,” said Dr Koh.

The Tampines GRC MP said that as an elected Member of Parliament, his constituents will always be a priority for him, and he will continue to do his very best for the residents.

“But the needs of family has increased in recent years, and unfortunately for families, I’m the only one they have,” he said.

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“I cannot outsource my family to others, so it is a time that I have to take stock and reprioritise, but I was telling some of you that I’m not running away, I’m still going to be around, right?”

Dr Koh said he will continue to be present at “different events” and as an MP.

He added: “So here I want to just once again say a big thanks to everyone for sending me your text messages in your e-mail, and for your support.”

Dr Koh said that he was glad his “final event” for the Ministry of Health (MOH) was one that celebrates and recognises TCM, because the practice was one of the first areas he looked into during his first stint at the ministry.

He recounted spending “quite a bit of time” talking to many TCM practitioners, colleagues and MOH staff to raise the standards of TCM practice in Singapore.

They also looked at correcting structural issues like wages, training and progression, he added.

SINGAPORE - The resignation of Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon from political office will mark a loss of ministerial experience, but observers say Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership team remains resilient, given the infusion of new blood in the last general election. 

Speaking to The Straits Times after the announcement of Dr Koh’s impending departure from the front bench, observers said there is a large enough talent pool within the fourth-generation political leadership to fill the vacancy.

But they also noted that the surprise development reflects the toll that public office takes on political office-holders and their families.