Zaqy Mohamad, 51, was co-opted into the People’s Action Party (PAP) central executive committee (CEC) on July 22, 2026, replacing Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim as a member and chairperson of the party’s Malay Affairs Bureau [1, 2, 3, 4]. Faishal Ibrahim resigned from the PAP and all his political roles on July 20, 2026, following a lapse in judgment related to interactions with a woman [1, 2, 3, 4].
Faishal Ibrahim served for 20 years as a politician and was Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs as well as Member of Parliament for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC before stepping down [2, 3, 4]. He said while there was no physical relationship or intent to develop one, his conduct fell short of expected standards and responsibilities entrusted to him [2].
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the Prime Minister’s Office received an email about a month earlier from the woman involved and immediately launched an investigation [2, 3, 4]. Both Faishal and the woman made allegations of harassment against each other, which police investigated. Authorities including the Attorney-General’s Chambers found no criminal offence committed by either party, resulting in no criminal charges [2, 3, 4].
Cabinet changes announced on July 22 saw Zaqy Mohamad relinquish his previous defence portfolio while retaining his role as Senior Minister of State, now for Sustainability and the Environment [2, 3, 4]. Zaqy expressed regret over recent events and pledged to continue engaging with the Muslim community to understand their needs [1].
The PAP CEC thanked Faishal Ibrahim for his contributions to the party and Singapore in a media release on July 22 [1, 2, 3, 4]. With Zaqy’s appointment, the committee now has 18 members [2, 3, 4].
