Chee Hong Tat

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

[edit intro]

Chee Hong Tat

Other names  | 徐芳达
Born  | 4 November 1973
Singapore
Occupation  | Politician
Political party  | People's Action Party

Chee Hong Tat is a Singaporean politician and party member of People's Action Party.

## Contents

* 1 Political career
* 1.1 Minister of Transport (2023–2025)
* 1.2 2024 East–West MRT Line failure
* 1.3 February 2025 MRT disruption
* 1.4 SimplyGo Scandal
* 2 Controversy
* 2.1 Dinner photo with Su Haijin
* 3 Footnotes

## Political career[edit]

### Minister of Transport (2023–2025)[edit]

On 12 July 2023, Chee was appointed Acting Minister for Transport after S. Iswaran was put on a leave of absence while he is under an investigation launched by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).[1]

On 18 January 2024, Chee was promoted as full Minister for Transport after resignation of S. Iswaran after the latter was charged for 27 counts related to bribery and corruption. He was also appointed Second Minister for Finance.[2]

### 2024 East–West MRT Line failure[edit]

A derailed train axle box caused severe infrastructure damage that disrupted service for six days, affecting over 2.6 million passengers, making it one of the worst MRT incidents in Singapore’s history.[3] Chee issued multiple apologies in Parliament and via social media, and initiated an Expert Advisory Panel to conduct a technical review.[4] Bryan Lim, vice-chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), has urged Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat and SMRT to take full responsibility for the issue and stressed that the public deserves full transparency regarding the management of the rail network and an itemised account of the more than S$2.5 billion spent on upgrading the North-South and East-West lines.[5] Progress Singapore Party (PSP) urged to convene (COI) and Chee dismissed it.[6]

### February 2025 MRT disruption[edit]

Within one week in February 2025, three separate MRT disruptions occurred across different lines: an engineered vehicle derailment on the North South Line (Feb 7), a signal fault on the North East Line (Feb 10), and a Circle Line power trip (Feb 11).[7] Chee rejected the proposal for 2nd time from Leong Mun Wai (PSP member and NCMP) to convene a Committee of Inquiry (COI).[8]

Chee was criticised by the public, and was called “incompetent” in addressing the repeated train disruptions.[9]

### SimplyGo Scandal[edit]

For more information, see: Land_Transport_Authority#SimplyGo_Scandal.

LTA launched plan to replace older public transport payment cards with SimplyGo card by 1 June 2024. The card's backward technology were widely criticised for unable to show the transaction data at fare gates and bus card readers. Chee issued apology[10], announced cancellation of the plan and that the authorities will spend an extra $40 million (In Singapor Dollars).[11]

## Controversy[edit]

### Dinner photo with Su Haijin[edit]

Around 2020, Chee Hong Tat, along with other PAP's members, Ng Chee Meng, Ong Ye Kung, and Lim Swee Say attended dinner at different timing with Su Haijin, a criminal and Fujian Gang member. The 4 PAP members took photograph with Su Haijin. Chee attended the dinner on 19 November 2020.[12][13]

Both Ong Ye Kung and Chee Hong Tat claimed that they do not know convicted money launderer Su Haijin personally and do not have any contact with him. Both of them had their press secretaries issued a joint press statement on 6 May 2025.[14]

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Transport Minister S Iswaran assisting in CPIB investigation, instructed to take leave of absence by PM Lee (en).
2. ↑ Iswaran resigns as Transport Minister, from the PAP amid charges including corruption (en) (18 January 2024).
3. ↑ https://mothership.sg/2024/09/chee-hong-tat-apologise-mrt-disruption/index.html
4. ↑ https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02/11/netizens-demand-accountability-from-chee-hong-tat-over-3-mrt-breakdowns-in-a-week/
5. ↑ https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2024/10/05/sdp-chee-hong-tat-smrt-owe-public-full-transparency-accountability-for-train-system/
6. ↑ https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2024/10/01/psp-urges-transport-minister-to-convene-committee-of-inquiry-following-east-west-line-disruption/
7. ↑ https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02/26/chee-hong-tat-rejects-coi-on-3-mrt-disruptions-in-feb-citing-no-systemic-issues-with-operators/
8. ↑ https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02/26/chee-hong-tat-rejects-coi-on-3-mrt-disruptions-in-feb-citing-no-systemic-issues-with-operators/
9. ↑ https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02/11/netizens-demand-accountability-from-chee-hong-tat-over-3-mrt-breakdowns-in-a-week/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
10. ↑ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/simplygo-full-adoption-push-ez-link-system-fares-judgment-error-2030-chee-hong-tat-4076996
11. ↑ https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/lta-shelves-plan-replace-older-public-transport-payment-cards-simplygo-june-1
12. ↑ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ng-chee-meng-fujian-gang-su-haijin-photo-5111076
13. ↑ https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/05/07/lim-swee-say-says-su-haijin-was-the-only-stranger-at-social-gathering-with-ong-ye-kung/
14. ↑ https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ong-ye-kung-chee-hong-tat-dont-know-su-haijin-personally-statement