Cheng Li Hui Explained

Cheng Li Hui
Constituency Mp:Tampines GRC
(Tampines East)
Predecessor:Mah Bow Tan
Successor:Vacant (Ward covered by other Members of Tampines GRC)
Term Start:11 September 2015
Term End:17 July 2023
Majority:46,742 (32.82%)
Birth Place:Singapore
Party:Independent
Otherparty:People's Action Party (2015–2023)
Alma Mater:National University of Singapore (BA)
Macquarie University (MAppFin)
Occupation:Businesswoman, politician

Cheng Li Hui (; born 1976) is a Singaporean businesswoman and former politician. A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), she was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Tampines East division of Tampines GRC between 2015 and 2023.

Cheng resigned as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP) and her seat as Member of Parliament (MP) on 17 July 2023 due to an extramarital affair with party member Tan Chuan-Jin.

Education

Cheng studied at Bukit Panjang Government High School and Anglo-Chinese Junior College, and graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently went on to complete a Master of Applied Finance degree at Macquarie University.

Career

Political career

Prior to entering politics, Cheng had 12 years of grassroots experience, helping out with the governing People's Action Party with its Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) at the Bukit Panjang Branch.[1]

Cheng made her political debut in the 2015 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Tampines GRC and won. She was subsequently elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Tampines East division of Tampines GRC.[2] She was also appointed Deputy District Advisor in the PAP Women's Wing in 2016.[3]

On 17 July 2023, Cheng resigned her MP position and from PAP.[4] During a press conference, Prime Minister and PAP's Secretary-General Lee Hsien Loong confirmed that Cheng and fellow MP, Tan Chuan-Jin who is married, were having an affair since at least 2020 which resulted in their resignation from the party.[5] In a statement, Lee responded to their resignation letters that their resignations were "necessary" to "maintain the high standards of propriety and personal conduct which the PAP has upheld all these years."[6] [7]

Business career

Cheng has been serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hai Leck Holdings since 2012.[8]

She is also a board member in Allied Construction, Hai Leck Engineering, Enzo Investment, Hai Leck Development, Hai Leck Holdings and Cheng Capital Holdings.[9]

Personal life

Cheng is the daughter of Cheng Buck Poh, the founder and Executive Chairman of Hai Leck Holdings. She has three siblings.[10] [11]

Cheng resigned as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP) and her seat as Member of Parliament (MP) on 17 July 2023 due to an extramarital affair with party member Tan Chuan-Jin.

On 17 July 2023, it was revealed by Lee Hsien Loong that Cheng, who was not married, had an extramarital affair with fellow MP and Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin since at least November 2020,[12] which prompted their resignations from Parliament and the PAP on the same day.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Cheng Li Hui: Quietly getting things done. TODAYonline. 11 September 2017. en.
  2. News: PAP keeps Tampines GRC with 72% of votes. Sen. Siow Li. The Business Times. 11 September 2017. en.
  3. News: 5 first-time MPs appointed to PAP Women's Wing Executive Committee. Channel NewsAsia. 11 September 2017. en-GB.
  4. Web site: Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, MP Cheng Li Hui resign over 'propriety and personal conduct' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230717050859/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tan-chuan-jin-mp-cheng-li-hui-resign-parliament-speaker-pap-pmo-3633646 . 17 July 2023 . 17 July 2023 . CNA . en.
  5. News: Goh . Yan Han . 17 July 2023 . Inappropriate relationship between Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui continued despite counselling: PM Lee . en . The Straits Times . 17 July 2023 . 0585-3923.
  6. Web site: PMO Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin's resignation . Prime Minister's Office Singapore . 17 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230717055752/https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/Statement-by-PM-Lee-Hsien-Loong-on-Speaker-Tan-Chuan-Jin-resignation . 17 July 2023 . en . 17 July 2023.
  7. Web site: PMO Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on MP Cheng Li Hui's resignation . Prime Minister's Office Singapore . 17 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230717055836/https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/Statement-by-PM-Lee-Hsien-Loong-on-MP-Cheng-Li-Hui-resignation . 17 July 2023 . en . 17 July 2023.
  8. Web site: Li Hui Cheng PBM. 11 September 2017. Bloomberg.com.
  9. Web site: BLH.SG Company Profile & Executives - Hai Leck Holdings Ltd. - Wall Street Journal. quotes.wsj.com. 11 September 2017.
  10. Web site: HAI LECK HOLDINGS LIMITED : 01-Jul-2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911163544/http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAnnouncement_Content&B=AnnouncementLast12Months&F=M5MPI2SODAG9YSC0&H=c89e471f30eea3728002540352eb87c85b262756cfe35a61b666ce55251a1dfd. 11 September 2017. 11 September 2017. infopub.sgx.com.
  11. Web site: CIRCULAR TO SHAREHOLDERS. Singapore Exchange. 12.
  12. News: Goh . Yan Han . 2023-08-02 . ‘I should have forced the issue sooner’: PM Lee explains approach to Tan Chuan-Jin, Cheng Li Hui affair . en . The Straits Times . 2023-08-04 . 0585-3923.
  13. News: Goh . Yan Han . 17 July 2023 . Inappropriate relationship between Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui continued despite counselling: PM Lee . en . The Straits Times . 17 July 2023 . 0585-3923.