[SINGAPORE] Political parties were busy over the weekend announcing new faces in their teams, ahead of the next general election that’s widely expected to take place before the middle of the year.
At various events on Saturday (Mar 29) and Sunday, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) introduced a number of new candidates.
The opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) also announced its intention to contest in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, which is currently helmed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
PAP’s slate for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC
Spotted at a walkabout on Sunday was the PAP’s likely line-up for the newly formed Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, including two current MPs as well as a new face, The Straits Times reported.
Diana Pang is a business development director with 19 years of experience in audit, tax and business advisory.
She was introduced by Manpower Minister Tan See Leng – MP for the Marine Parade division in Marine Parade GRC – at a walkabout at Eunos Crescent Market and Food Centre.
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Pang is the second vice-president of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations.
She chairs the Fengshan Women’s Executive Committee as well as the People’s Association Women’s Integration Network Council.
She is also a long-time volunteer at East Coast GRC.
Also at the walkabout were South East District Mayor Mohd Fahmi Aliman, MP for the Geylang Serai division in Marine Parade GRC; and Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, an MP in Nee Soon GRC.
Faishal was formerly an MP in Marine Parade GRC when he first entered politics in 2006, before he joined Nee Soon GRC in 2011.
SDP to contest Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC
The SDP will contest in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, said its party chairman Paul Tambyah during a food distribution event at 888 Plaza at Woodlands Drive on Sunday.
Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC is anchored by PM Wong.
This will also be the third constituency that the SDP said it will contest in the north – apart from Sembawang GRC and the newly formed Sembawang West SMC.
The SDP did not name its team for the four-member Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, but noted that it will put up “a good slate” for the election, comprising younger members and election veterans.
PAP’s two new faces in Sembawang GRC
Two new faces – Ng Shi Xuan and Gabriel Lam – were introduced by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who is an MP for Sembawang GRC, at the launch of a community initiative to help seniors in Bukit Canberra on Saturday.
Ng is director of battery company Powermark Battery and Hardware.
He was a public servant and was previously at Enterprise Singapore, before leaving to continue the family business with his brother after their father died.
He is also vice-chairman of the MacPherson Youth Network, and has been a grassroots volunteer in MacPherson for 10 years.
Lam is chief operating officer of moving company Shalom International Movers. He was previously spotted in Tampines GRC.
Ong previously said he expects to have more than one new face in his team contesting the upcoming election for the five seats in Sembawang GRC.
SPP to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Potong Pasir SMC
The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) said it will return to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir SMC.
The party will announce the candidates it intends to field after Parliament is dissolved, said SPP secretary-general Steve Chia in Toa Payoh Lorong 4 during a walkabout on Saturday.
The SPP has contested Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC at the last three elections.
At Potong Pasir, SPP has contested there four times directly and twice under the Singapore Democratic Alliance coalition, in the last six general elections.
Potong Pasir was a stronghold of former SPP secretary-general Chiam See Tong, who was the MP for the area from 1984 to 2011.
