Charles Chong and Sitoh Yih Pin awarded PAP’s Meritorious Service Medal

Former Members of Parliament Charles Chong and Sitoh Yih Pin, who once won tough electoral contests for the People’s Action Party (PAP), received the Meritorious Service Medal, the party’s highest honour, on Sunday.

The two received their medals from PAP chairman and Minister for Education Desmond Lee at the party’s cadre conference on Sunday (25 October). Another 526 active party members at the grassroots level were also recognised for their longstanding dedication and service.

Chong, 73, is the PAP’s longest-serving backbencher, with a parliamentary career spanning 32 years. He first contested an election for the PAP in 1988 and retired at the 2020 general election, having served seven terms under three prime ministers.

Over those three decades, he served in six constituencies, including Eunos and Pasir Ris–Punggol Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), and Joo Chiat and Punggol East Single Member Constituencies (SMCs).

Known within the PAP as a formidable electoral campaigner, Chong was once described by former party secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong in these terms: “When there is a tough fight, and we need a strong candidate who will fight hard and fight smart, we send in Charles Chong.”

Chong was called upon several times to take on difficult contests. In the 2011 general election, he moved from Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC to Joo Chiat SMC to face the Workers’ Party (WP), narrowly winning by 388 votes. In the 2015 general election, he was moved to Punggol East, where he reclaimed the seat the PAP had lost to the WP in a by-election two years earlier.

Sitoh, 62, is best known for helping the PAP win back Potong Pasir, which veteran opposition politician Chiam See Tong had represented for 27 years.

He joined the PAP in 1990 and, after more than a decade of grassroots service, first contested Potong Pasir in 2001. After two unsuccessful attempts, he won the constituency for the PAP in 2011 by a margin of 114 votes.

Although Sitoh retired at last year’s general election, the PAP said in a statement on Sunday that he continues to contribute his experience to the party by mentoring a new generation of leaders serving in opposition-held constituencies.

Video interviews with both men were screened before the award ceremony. In his interview, Sitoh said candidly, “Losing an election is a very painful process. We need to get over it as quickly as we can, learn from our mistakes, and put the painful episode to the very back of our mind.”

“We did not take this job because it is easy. In fact, we took this job because it was hard, very hard. I am eternally grateful to our Potong Pasir.”

Chong told Lianhe Zaobao journalists that there had been many memorable moments in his parliamentary career, but the “white elephant” incident stood out most.

In 2005, Buangkok MRT station on the North East Line had been completed for two years but remained unopened. Chong, who oversaw Punggol South, led grassroots members in placing eight cardboard white elephants outside the station during a ministerial visit to the constituency.

Looking back, he said, “I thought I was merely doing my job in pursuing the interests of my constituents. I did not realise that such an act could have resulted in a $20,000 fine and the end of my political career. Since that experience, I always check with the legal people first.”

“Receiving this medal after my retirement is a pleasant reminder that I may have done something for others as well, rather than just for myself.”