SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party’s (WP) Chen Show Mao has clarified that the end of his tenure as treasurer of the party was “in accordance with the terms of my appointment”.

The Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament was responding to comments on his Facebook page on his stepping down from the post, amid questions over his future in the party.

In a comment on a Facebook post on Sunday (Sept 11), Mr Chen, who entered politics in 2011, assured that his “focus remains Paya Lebar and Parliament, and the party too”, although in a “different way” now that his term as treasurer has ended.

“I did not quit or resign, but have stepped down from the post in accordance with the terms of my appointment. At the time of my appointment three months ago, it was agreed with the CEC, which appointed me, that my term as WP Treasurer would end in three months’ time, which is now upon us,” he said.

Mr Chen, considered a “star” catch for the WP in the 2011 General Election, caused a splash in June when he fronted a challenge to the leadership of party chief Low Thia Khiang at the party’s biennial Central Executive Council (CEC) elections.

Making a bid for the secretary-general post, Mr Chen had gathered 45 votes to Mr Low’s 61 votes. The contest was said to have been triggered by members who wanted to see changes in the way the party is run, with some members expressing discontentment over Mr Low’s ruling style.

Mr Chen remains a member of the CEC. Mr Dennis Tan, a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament for the party who made his political debut in the General Election last year, replaced Mr Chen as treasurer. He was previously deputy treasurer.