Tan Chuan-Jin resigns from various organisations, including Singapore National Olympic Council

SINGAPORE: Former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin has resigned from his roles in various organisations following news of his extramarital affair with Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui.

He stepped down as president of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and as an adviser to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Mr Tan has also left his roles as patron of the Centre for Fathering and chairman of the NUS Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum's advisory committee. 

SNOC said in a statement on Tuesday (Jul 18) that it has accepted Mr Tan's resignation and thanked him for his years of service and contributions.

Mr Tan has been president of SNOC since 2014 and was re-elected for a third term in September last year in a unanimous vote. He was slated to serve his latest term from 2022 to 2026. 

The organisation's most senior vice president in office, Mrs Jessie Phua, will be appointed as SNOC's acting president at the next executive committee meeting.

The SNOC constitution states that if the president resigns, the vice president who is most senior in office shall be appointed as the acting president for the remaining term of the resigned president.

Mr Tan was appointed adviser to NCSS in 2017. In a statement on Tuesday, an NCSS spokesperson said that it is grateful for Mr Tan's leadership and support over the years, "particularly his passion in promoting volunteerism in the social service sector".

Responding to queries from CNA, a spokesperson from the NUS Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum said on Wednesday that it has accepted Mr Tan's request to step down from his role.

"We thank Mr Tan for his support and contributions to the museum," the spokesperson added.

In 2017, Mr Tan was also appointed deputy chairman