SNOC President Tan Chuan-Jin has tendered his resignation ©Getty Images

Singapore’s National Olympic Council (SNOC) has announced the resignation of its President Tan Chuan-Jin, a day after he stepped down as Speaker of the Singapore Parliament following reports he had been in an "inappropriate relationship."

"The SNOC has received the resignation of Mr Tan Chuan-Jin as President, the SNOC Executive Committee has accepted Mr Tan’s resignation," an SNOC statement said.

"The SNOC Executive Committee thanks Mr Tan for his years of service and contributions to the SNOC."

Tan had been elected SNOC President in 2014, as successor to the long serving Teo Chee Hean.

Tan was unanimously re-elected for a third term in September 2022, which was due to have run until 2026.

The official SNOC statement did not give any reason for his resignation.


Tan is set to be succeeded by senior vice-president Jessie Phua, who is set to be formally confirmed in the role at the next SNOC Executive Committee meeting.

"The SNOC Constitution states that in the event of the resignation of the President, the vice-president who is most senior in office shall be appointed as the Acting President for the remainder of the term of the resigned President," the SNOC statement explained.

Tan’s tenure at the SNOC had included the 2015 South East Asian Games held in Singapore.

Last month, he was seen welcoming delegates to the inaugural Olympic esports event held in the city state.

The announcement of his SNOC resignation comes only a day after Tan stepped down as Speaker of the Singapore Parliament and as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency.

Tan Chuan-Jin, centre, was a leading figure in Singapore's People's Action Party and the Parliamentary Speaker ©Getty Images
Tan Chuan-Jin, centre, was a leading figure in Singapore's People's Action Party and the Parliamentary Speaker ©Getty Images

Tan has also resigned from the People’s Action Party.

It has been reported that he had been in an "inappropriate relationship," with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui who has also resigned.

Tan had been seen by many as a potential Prime Minister of Singapore, but had come under pressure for the use of "unparliamentary language" only last week after his words were picked up by microphones in the chamber.

"Besides Mr Tan’s recent unparliamentary language used, there is also the issue of his inappropriate relationship, this is, in comparison, the more serious matter because he was the Speaker and she an MP, and there should not have not been a relationship," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a media conference.

She added that she had a "hard conversation" with Tan in February, but had subsequently received information that "strongly suggested" the relationship had continued.