PAP announces candidate line-up for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Sengkang West, Hougang SMC for coming General Election
SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) candidates for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency and single member constituencies, Sengkang West and Hougang, were announced today (Aug 15) at the party’s Punggol South branch.
The Ang Mo Kio GRC led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will see new face Mr Darryl David and Dr Koh Poh Koon – who contested for the PAP in the Punggol East by-elections in 2013.
Mr David, 44, succeeds Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, who will be fielded in another constituency to be announced at a later date. Mr David is the deputy director at Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design. He may be more popularly known as the former sportscaster and presenter for regional broadcaster ESPN Star Sports and Singapore’s MediaCorp TV.
Mr David began his community work as a District Councilor with the North-East Community Development Council (CDC) in 2009.
“As an educator for almost 14 years, I’ve learnt that it’s only through patience and empathy that you’re able to realise the potential of the student because every student learns differently. So likewise, when you deal with residents and their problems, you have to appreciate that every problem is unique to every resident, and I think that’s where patience and empathy will come in,” said Mr David.
He has been active in three wards over the past 2½ years – Sengkang West, Kebun Bahru and Ang Mo Kio-Hougang – spending the most time in Ang Mo Kio-Hougang, where he said made him realise the importance of speaking in residents’ language.
“It’s really important to be able to establish that connection and connectivity with the elderly residents, especially those who aren’t so comfortable with speaking English to be able to begin helping them with the issues that they face,” said Mr David, who speaks Mandarin and Hokkien.
Mr Seng Han Thong, who has served as a member of parliament since 1996, will be stepping down at the next general election. He will be succeeded by Dr Koh Poh Koon. The 42-year-old colo-rectal surgeon has been serving the community as a grassroots volunteer since 2002 and is now the Vice-Chair of the Citizen’s Consultative Committee in Yio Chu Kang.
Dr Koh said as a doctor, he has encountered patients who face financial problems and fall through the cracks. And having benefitted from opportunities and access to education in Singapore himself, Dr Koh said he is “determined to do more to help our people succeed”.
“Being with patients and residents from all walks of life have given me a clear perspective of issues that affect them and that is why I continue to serve despite my earlier setback.”
Also joining the Ang Mo Kio GRC team is Mr Gan Thiam Poh, whose Punggol South ward now comes under the GRC. Mr Gan replaces Mr Inderjit Singh, who will also be retiring at the end of this term after serving four terms a member of parliament. Mr Singh had announced his retirement from politics in a Facebook post on July 24.
Over at Hougang SMC, the PAP will be fielding newcomer Lee Hong Chuang. The 45-year-old Senior IT Manager at IBM is also the chairman of the PAP branch in Hougang.
Mr Lee said he’s been talking to Hougang residents to understand their needs. “There are a lot of things that we can (do to) actually enhance the environment. So I told the residents, probably they need to be a little patient, we see how we can actually work together as a team. We wanted to move forward together as a team… I will definitely do my best and do it well together with the residents.”
As Hougang is an older estate, he added that he wants to renew the town to make sure it is a better place, including adding more facilities such as running tracks for community bonding.
PM Lee noted that Mr Lee Hong Chuang’s contest in Hougang will be a tough fight but he will have the party’s full support.
At Sengkang West, incumbent MP Lam Pin Min will defend his SMC seat in the coming elections.
Speaking at the press conference this morning, PM Lee said: “ In parliament, your vote will decide the MPs and the ministers who will look after Singapore and take it forward.”
“In the PAP team, we are renewing our slate and we’ll be presenting fresh candidates to represent a new generation of voters, and also reinforcing our team with potential office holders who can strengthen my group of ministers, (parliamentary) secretaries, officeholders to form the next leadership for Singapore beyond me and my senior ministers.”
He added: “We are taking this very seriously, we are not taking any chances. And I ask voters to please vote for the PAP team, vote for me and my team so that you and your children can have a brighter future.”
