ABOUT WOMEN’S WING

Vision

Women fully empowered to contribute to the development of Singapore, playing a key role in nation building, economically, socially & politically

Mission

  • To establish the necessary support systems and maximise opportunities for women to realize their fullest potential
  • To ensure women’s needs, voices and perspectives are heard and reflected
  • To leverage women’s unique talents for more inclusive and superior outcomes for the community

To bring our new vision and mission to life, we have also identified the following areas of focus:

  • Work life balance practices & family-friendly support structures
  • Women’s thought leadership group – policy formulation and refinement
  • Promotion of Marriage & Parenthood
  • Uplifting under privileged women
  • Active aging
  • Raising representation of women – work force, top positions, politics

Organisation

The current WW Chairwoman is
Comrade Sim Ann.

Click here to find out more about the WW Committee.

Milestones

1984

Introduction of 3 PAP women MPs in Parliament

  • Dr Dixie Tan
  • Dr Aline Wong
  • Mrs Yu Foo Yee Shoon
1988

Dr Seet Ai Mee was elected together with the other 3 women MPs, bringing it a total of 4 PAP women MPs in Parliament. Dr Seet became the first woman office holder

Dr Seet Ai Mee

  • Minister of State for Ministry of Community Development and Education
1989

Inauguration of PAP Women’s Wing

1990

Dr Aline Wong

  • Minister of State for Health
1991

Dr Seet Ai Mee

  • Acting Minister for Ministry of Community Development

In the same year, elections were called. Dr Seet was not returned to Parliament in the 1991 elections, leaving only two PAP women MPs to hold the fort, Dr Aline Wong and Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon.

1993

Mrs Yu Foo Yee Shoon

  • Chairperson, GPC for Ministry for Community Development
1994

Dr Aline Wong

  • Minister of State for Health and Education
1995

Dr Aline Wong

  • Senior Minister of State for Health and Education
1996 - 1997

With nominations in December 1996 and Polling Day on 2 January 1997, this cross-over election year saw Dr Aline Wong and Mrs Yu Foo Yee Shoon being re-elected and joined by two new PAP women MPs, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua and Dr Lily Neo, bringing the total of elected women MPs in Parliament back to 4, the same number as in 1988.

Mrs Yu Foo

  • Chairperson, GPC for labour
1999

Mrs Yu Foo Yee Shoon

  • Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Ministry of Community Development and Sports)
2000

2 women MPs appointed to Office:

Dr Aline Wong

  • Senior Minister of State of Education

Mrs Yu Foo Yee Shoon

  • Senior Parliamentary Secretary,
  • Ministry of Community Development and Sports
2001

Mrs Yu Foo Yee Shoon

  • Mayor for Bukit Timah CDC
  • Mayor for South West CDC.

Dr Lily Neo

  • Deputy Chairperson, GPC for Health

In the 2001 elections, 10 PAP women candidates were returned as Members of Parliament – elect

2002

The opening of the 10th Parliament in 2002 saw 10 women MPs represented in Parliament. Parliamentary Appointments included the following :-

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua
– Deputy Speaker of Parliament (the first lady MP to be appointed)

Dr Lily Neo
– Chairman, GPC for Health

Dr Amy Khor
– Deputy Chairperson, GPC for Education

Ms Irene Ng
– Deputy Chairperson, GPC for Defence and Foreign Affairs

2004

2004 saw the largest increase in the number of parliamentary appointments for the women MPs.

2 PAP women MPs were appointed to office :

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua : Minister of State for Finance and Transport

Mrs Yu Foo Yee Shoon : Minister of State for Ministry of Community Development,Youth and Sports. A record number of PAP women MPs were also appointed as Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Government Parliamentary Committees (GPC)

Dr Amy Khor
– Mayor of South West CDC
– Chairperson, GPC for National Development and Enviroment

Mdm Halimah Yacob
– Chairperson, GPC for Health

Miss Indranee Rajah
– Chairperson, GPC for Home Affairs and La

Mdm Ho Geok Choo
– Deputy Chairperson, GPC for Manpower

Mdm Cynthia Phua
– Deputy Chairperson, GPC for National Development and Environment

Ms Irene Ng
– Continued as Deputy Chairperson for Defence and Foreign Affairs

2005

Dr Lily Neo appointed as Chairperson for the GPC for Education

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua elected into 28th CEC

2006

The opening of the 11th Parliament saw 17 women MPs represented in Parliament. The 7 new women MPs are:

Ms Grace Fu, Mrs Josephine Teo, Ms Jessica Tan, Dr Fatimah Lateef, Mdm Lee Bee Wah, Ms Ellen Lee and Ms Denise Phua

  • Ms Grace Fu was appointed as Minister of State for National Development
  • Dr Amy Khor appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in May 2006.
2008
  • Mr Lim Hwee Hua was promoted to Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport
  • Ms Grace Fu was promoted to Senior Minister of State for Education and National Development
2009

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua promoted to full Minister in PMO and Second Minister in Finance and Transport Ministries. Also elected into 30th CEC

2010

Dr Amy Khor was promoted to Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources

2011

The opening of the 12th Parliament saw 18 women MPs represented in Parliament. The new women MPs are:

  • Ms Sim Ann
  • Ms Low Yen Ling
  • Ms Foo Mee Har
  • Ms Tin Pei Ling
  • Dr Intan Azura

Ms Grace Fu appointed as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. She was also appointed Women’s Wing Chairperson.

Mdm Halimah Yacob appointed as Minister of State in Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Mrs Josephine Teo appointed as Minister of State in Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Transport.

2012

Ms Grace Fu was promoted to Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

Ms Indranee Rajah was appointed Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Education

2013

Ms Grace Fu elected into 32th CEC.

Mdm Halimah Yacob was elected as the 8th Speaker of the House for the 12th Parliament in January 2013. Also co-opted into 32th CEC.

Dr Amy Khor was promoted to Senior Minister of State, Ministries of Health and Manpower with Concurrent Appointment as Mayor of South West District.

Mrs Josephine Teo was promoted to Senior Minister of State, Ministries of Finance and Transport.

Ms Sim Ann was promoted to Minister of State, Ministries of Education and Communication and Information.

Ms Low Yen Ling appointed as Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development.

2014

Ms Denise Phua appointed Mayor of Central Singapore CDC in May 2014.

Ms Low Yen Ying appointed Parliamentary Secretary in Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Social and Family Development. Also appointed Mayor of South West CDC.

2015

Miss Sim Ann promoted to Senior Minister of State, Finance in October 2015.

Ms Grace Fu elected into the 33th CEC. Mdm Halimah Yacob co-opted as member.

2016

The 13th Parliament had 20 women MPs. The new 5 women are:

  • Ms Cheryl Chan
  • Ms Cheng Li Hui
  • Ms Joan Pereira
  • Ms Rahayu Mahzam
  • Ms Sun Xueling
2017

Mrs Josephine Teo promoted to Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Manpower in May 2017.

Ms Low Yen Ling promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry in May 2017.

Ms Grace Fu and Ms Josephine Teo elected into 34th CEC.

2018

Ms Sun Xueling promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Home Affairs, and National Development in May 2018.

Ms Indranee Rajah promoted to Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance, Education and Law (until 30 June) in Apr 2018.

2019

Ms Grace Fu, Mrs Josephine Teo and Ms Indranee Rajah elected into 35th CEC. Ms Grace Fu appointed CEC Organising Secretary.

Mrs Josephine Teo appointed Women’s Wing Chairperson in January 2019.

2020

24 WMPs were represented in the 14th Parliament. The new women MPs are:

  • Ms Carrie Tan
  • Ms Gan Siow Huang
  • Ms Hany Soh
  • Ms Mariam Jaafar
  • Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin
  • Ms Ng Ling Ling
  • Ms Poh Li San
  • Ms Rachel Ong
  • Ms Yeo Wan Ling

Ms Low Yen Ling promoted to Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Ms Sun Xueling promoted to Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam appointed Parliament Secretary in Ministry of Health.

Ms Gan Siow Huang appointed Minister of State in Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower.

2021

Ms Rahayu Mahzam appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Information in addition to her appointment as Parliament Secretary in Ministry of Health.

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