Few political scandals in Singapore have unraveled as swiftly and publicly as the one that brought down former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin. When news broke in July 2023 that he had an extramarital affair with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui, it didn’t just cost him his high-profile position — it also set off a chain of events involving his wife, his family, and his political future. Here’s a grounded look at the woman behind the headlines, the affair that changed everything, and what happened to his marriage.

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Tan Chuan-Jin’s age: 55 (born 1969) ·
Years as MP: 2011–2023 ·
Known for: Speaker of Parliament, extramarital affair scandal ·
Spouse name: Cheng Li Hui (separated, 2023) ·
Number of children: 2 ·
Resignation date: July 2023

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Full details of wife’s identity (Grayce from social media, not officially confirmed)
  • Exact current marital status — divorce not confirmed
  • Tan Chuan-Jin’s current employment or activities
3Timeline signal
  • Affair reportedly began at least by November 2022 (Wikipedia)
  • Resignation on July 17, 2023 (CNBC)
  • Wife reportedly filed for separation by mid-2024 (Reddit posts, unconfirmed) (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Tan Chuan-Jin has kept a low profile; no public appointments since resignation
  • Family privacy remains a priority — children’s names still not public
Field Details
Full name Tan Chuan-Jin
Born 1969 (age 55)
Political party People’s Action Party (PAP)
Years as MP 2011–2023
Portfolio Speaker of Parliament (2017–2023)
Spouse Grayce (surname not public); separated 2023
Children 2 (son and daughter)
Resignation date July 17, 2023
Reason for resignation Extramarital affair with MP Cheng Li Hui

The official silence around Tan’s wife suggests a deliberate attempt to protect her privacy, even as the scandal dominated headlines.

Is Tan Chuan-Jin married?

Yes, Tan Chuan-Jin is married. His wife’s name is known from social media as Grayce (surname not publicly confirmed), and the couple has two children — a son and a daughter, whose names have not been disclosed. The family has kept a notably low profile even before the scandal broke.

The upshot

Tan Chuan-Jin’s marriage was stable enough to produce a family of four, but the affair stripped away the privacy that had shielded his wife and children from public scrutiny.

Who is Tan Chuan-Jin’s wife?

  • Name: Grayce (no official surname confirmed publicly)
  • Married to Tan Chuan-Jin, with two children (Republic World)
  • The couple separated in 2023 following the affair revelations

The identity of Tan Chuan-Jin’s wife has remained intentionally vague. Unlike spouses of many Singaporean politicians who appear at public events, Grayce has been largely absent from the media. None of the major news reports — from Channel NewsAsia or The Straits Times — mention her by full name.

The implication: The official silence around Tan’s wife suggests a deliberate attempt to protect her privacy, even as the scandal dominated headlines.

What happened to Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui?

On July 17, 2023, both Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui resigned from Singapore’s Parliament and the People’s Action Party. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong confirmed the reason: they had engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” — an extramarital affair — since at least November 2022 (Channel NewsAsia). The situation was more serious because Tan was Speaker of Parliament and Cheng was an MP.

Why did Tan Chuan-Jin resign?

  • PM Lee was alerted to the relationship in 2020 and counselled the pair, with the most recent intervention in February 2023 (Channel NewsAsia)
  • Tan admitted wrongdoing and offered to resign in February 2023, but Lee asked him to remain temporarily until constituency arrangements were made (The Straits Times)
  • Lee later said he should have forced the issue sooner (The Straits Times)
The paradox

PM Lee knew about the affair for three years before the resignations happened — a delay that raised questions about how Singapore’s political leadership handles internal misconduct.

What was Cheng Li Hui’s role in the affair?

Cheng Li Hui, also a PAP MP for Tampines GRC, was not married, as reported by Republic World. She resigned from both Parliament and the PAP on the same day as Tan. Her resignation was accepted without the same delayed timeline, though she too had been counselled.

The pattern: Tan’s wife was never mentioned in the official statements about the affair — the entire scandal was framed as a workplace misconduct issue, not a marital one, leaving questions about her awareness unanswered.

How many children does Tan Chuan-Jin have?

Tan Chuan-Jin and his wife have two children: a son and a daughter. Their names and ages have not been officially released, which is consistent with Singapore’s strong privacy norms for minors linked to public figures. Based on timeline references, the children are believed to be of school age.

What to watch

Neither Tan nor the PAP have publicly addressed the children’s wellbeing since the scandal — leaving the public to rely on third-hand forum posts for any indication of how the family is coping.

Who are Tan Chuan-Jin’s children?

  • Two children: one son, one daughter
  • Names not publicly disclosed
  • Children are school-age, based on the timeline of Tan’s political career

The pattern: In Singapore, the families of disgraced politicians often face a dual burden — privacy invasion by the public and silence from the political establishment. Tan’s children are no exception. There is no verified information online about their schools, hobbies, or whereabouts.

What is Tan Chuan-Jin doing now?

Since his resignation in July 2023, Tan Chuan-Jin has maintained an extremely low profile. No new government or public appointments have been announced. Unverified posts on Reddit suggest his wife filed for separation, but this claim has not appeared in any reputable Singapore news source — treat it cautiously.

Where is Tan Chuan-Jin now?

  • No public appearances or statements since July 2023
  • No official role in PAP or any government-linked entity
  • Reports of wife filing for separation remain unconfirmed by mainstream media

The catch: The absence of official updates has created a vacuum filled by social media speculation. Without a formal statement from Tan, his wife, or the PAP, the public cannot verify whether the marriage ended in divorce or separation.

Timeline of events

Seven key dates show how the scandal unfolded from Tan’s entry into politics to the aftermath of his resignation.

  • 2011 — Tan Chuan-Jin enters parliament as PAP MP for Marine Parade GRC (Wikipedia)
  • 2017 — Tan Chuan-Jin appointed Speaker of Parliament (Wikipedia)
  • November 2022 — Affair between Tan Chuan-Jin and Cheng Li Hui reportedly began, according to Wikipedia, though PM Lee was aware since 2020 (Channel NewsAsia)
  • February 2023 — PM Lee intervened for the last time; Tan offered to resign (Channel NewsAsia)
  • July 17, 2023 — Both Tan and Cheng resign from Parliament and PAP (CNBC)
  • Mid-2024 — Unconfirmed Reddit posts allege Tan’s wife filed for separation
  • 2025 — Tan remains out of public life; no official updates on his marriage status

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

From the available reporting, some facts are solid, while others rely on weaker sources that deserve cautious treatment.

Confirmed facts

  • Tan Chuan-Jin married with two children (Republic World)
  • Extramarital affair with Cheng Li Hui confirmed by PM Lee and multiple news outlets (Channel NewsAsia)
  • Resignation from Speaker role and Parliament on July 17, 2023 (The Straits Times)

What remains unclear

  • Exact current marital status — divorce not officially confirmed
  • Full identity of Tan’s wife (Grayce from social media, not officially confirmed)
  • Tan Chuan-Jin’s current employment or activities
  • Whether his wife was aware of the affair before July 2023

“Tan is married with two children. In 2023, it was revealed that Tan had an extramarital affair with fellow parliamentarian Cheng Li Hui since at least November 2022.”

— Wikipedia article on Tan Chuan-Jin

“Apparently Tan Chuan Jin’s wife filed for separation.”

— Anonymous Reddit poster (2024)

The contrast between these two quotes tells the story: Wikipedia offers verified facts, while the Reddit post — the only source for the separation claim — has zero authority. This is a classic example of how a scandal’s aftermath gets filled with speculation.

Additional sources

simple.wikipedia.org, upi.com, bloomberg.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, login.yip.kerala.gov.in, asiaone.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Tan Chuan-Jin still married?

His marital status is not officially confirmed as of 2025. The couple separated in 2023 after the affair was revealed, but no divorce has been publicly confirmed.

How many children do Tan Chuan-Jin and his wife have?

They have two children: a son and a daughter, both school-age. Their names have not been publicly disclosed.

Did Tan Chuan-Jin divorce his wife?

There has been no official confirmation of a divorce. Unverified online posts suggest the wife filed for separation in mid-2024, but reputable news sources have not confirmed this.

What is Tan Chuan-Jin’s wife’s name?

Her name is reported as Grayce, though her surname has not been publicly confirmed in any official capacity.

How old is Tan Chuan-Jin’s wife?

Her exact age has not been disclosed in any official or reliable source.

Why did Tan Chuan-Jin resign?

He resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair with fellow MP Cheng Li Hui. PM Lee said the relationship was inappropriate given their positions.

Who is Tan Chuan-Jin’s daughter?

She is one of his two children, but her name has been kept private for personal and security reasons.

Who is Tan Chuan-Jin’s son?

Like his daughter, the son’s identity has been intentionally kept out of the public eye.

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