Yam Ah Mee to step down as PA
chief
He is retiring from public service, says
exit not linked to Palmer saga
Mr Yam said he intends to join the private sector but
has not finalised his plans. -- ST FILE PHOTO
By KARAMJIT KAUR
PEOPLE'S Association (PA) chief executive director Yam Ah Mee
will step down later this year when he retires from public
service.
He told The Straits Times last night that his term
as a public service leader would expire then, and the move had been
planned some time ago.
The Public Sector Leadership scheme, which started
in 2000, places limits on how long top civil servants can serve in
key posts.
This ensures a continuous flow of talent to the
top.
Mr Yam, 56, added that his departure was not
related to the recent case involving former MP and Speaker of
Parliament Michael Palmer and ex-PA staff member Laura Ong. He was
responding to a Shin Min Daily News report which quoted unnamed
sources saying his impending exit was linked to the saga.
Mr Yam said: "The rumour is totally unfounded. I
want to clarify that I am not resigning and my decision to retire
from the Administrative Service has nothing to do with the
incident.
"I can't imagine where they got the information
from."
On Dec 12, Mr Palmer announced at a media
conference that he had quit from his public posts after admitting
to an affair with a PA staff. Later the same day, PA identified the
woman as Ms Ong. This led to observers asking if employee
confidentiality had been breached.
It prompted PA deputy chairman Lim Swee Say to say
a few days later that the association had thought long and hard on
whether to identify Ms Ong to the media.
Mr Lim, who is also a Minister in the Prime
Minister's Office, said then that he had discussed the matter with
Mr Yam and other senior staff.
Mr Yam said last night that his move from PA was
planned before the Palmer-Ong saga broke out. He intends to join
the private sector but has not finalised his plans.
Prior to joining PA, he was chief executive of the
Land Transport Authority, and before that, the Ministry of
Transport's deputy secretary.
Mr Ang Hak Seng, currently chief executive of the
Health Promotion Board, is touted to take over as PA's new
head.
Mr Yam, who shot to fame in the 2011 General
Election as returning officer, will assume the same role for the
Punggol East by-election on Jan 26.
Top of the news, The Straits Times, Friday January 11 2013, Pg
A10
