How do you take the PAP out of the PAP man?
Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s resignation from the party and government positions to run for the presidential election may seem like a break from the People’s Action Party (PAP). But it’s not that simple, says Augustine Low.
Mr Tharman has been a dedicated PAP member for decades, and his ties to the party cannot be severed so easily.
The PAP has a vested interest in ensuring that the elected president is always affiliated with the party.
Mr Tharman’s resignation and candidacy are likely to be part of a scripted game orchestrated by the PAP, similar to the case of Mdm Halimah Yacob.
