Did you know that 23 MPs retired this year?
One of them is Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan aka clone of Hui Ge.
Khaw announced his retirement (with a pun) from politics on 26 June 2020, after 19 years of service.
Unfortunately for the veteran politician, he may have to spend his final few days as Transport Minister battling an illness.
Khaw Boon Wan Admitted to Isolation Ward & Has to Take COVID-19 Test; Turns Out It’s Dengue Fever
Just days after completed negotiations for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project between Singapore and Malaysia, Khaw said he has been admitted to an isolation ward because his temperature “shot up”.
The Transport Minister notified the public about his ill-health in a Facebook post on Thursday (23 July).
Khaw, who has been preparing his office for the next Transport Minister, said he did not expect to leave the political arena as a patient.
“I started my career in the Health Ministry. After 42 years, I would not expect to exit the stage in bed as a patient!”
He said that everything was going well, having completed negotiations for the RTS project with Malaysia.
A few days ago, it was confirmed that the two countries would finalise agreements for the RTS project to proceed in a signing ceremony on 30 July, something which Khaw was looking forward to.
“Everything was going well; I have finalized the RTS negotiations and was looking forward to the ceremony! Then my temperature shot up.”
He said his illness was “unlikely” to be Covid-19, but could be dengue fever because his “area is a hot zone”.
“Did the swab test just now and hopefully it’s a false alarm, I had dengue before and it was not pleasant. Meanwhile I will just let the body rest and think about retirement!”
In an update by his office, it’s confirmed that he has dengue instead of COVID-19.
A day ago, Khaw shared photos of his office being cleared for the next Transport Minister, saying it made him feel “liberated”.
“As I tie up the many loose ends in my final few days in MOT office, I have also been distributing the mementos. And wonders of wonders, I am experiencing the lightness of feeling liberated! I feel free!”
A Long Career
In case you don’t know, Khaw was actually born in Malaysia, which was Malaya back then. He moved to Singapore in 1977 and began his career in the Singapore Civil Service, working at the Ministry of Health (MOH).
He entered politics in the 2001 general election, and was successfully elected as an MP in Tanjong Pagar GRC.
He served as the Health Minister from 2004 to 2011, and played a key role in the country’s battle against the SARS outbreak in 2003.
He subsequently served as the National Development Minister for the next five years, before becoming Minister for Transport in 2015.
In 2010, Khaw underwent a heart bypass operation and reportedly switched to a vegan diet afterwards.
Let’s hope the 67-year-old is alright.
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
