in the 2015 general election, lee was announced as a candidate who would defend the constituency, and on 27 august, pap revealed that six-term mp and deputy speaker charles chong would be the challenger. on 11 september, lee was defeated in her re-election 48.24% to 51.76%, and thus returning punggol east smc to the pap. although she was offered a non-constituency mp (ncmp) position by-virtue for being the best-scoring losers of the election, lee declined the offer, the first time someone had done so since 1984 (two candidates who were also offered a position but neither accepted the offer). it was later revealed that daniel goh, a candidate part of the east coast grc (another ward with a best-scoring losing result, alongside fengshan smc), would replace lee as the last ncmp seat, on 4 february 2016.