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PAP introduces 2 new faces for Pasir Ris-Punggol

This article is more than 12 months old

The six-member People's Action Party (PAP) Pasir Ris-Punggol team now has two new faces.

They are former defence chief Ng Chee Meng, 47, and Temasek Holdings investment director Sun Xueling, 36, also known as Soon Sher Rene.

Their candidacy was officially announced by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean at the PAP Punggol North Branch at Edgedale Plains yesterday.

The others on the Pasir Ris-Punggol slate are Mr Teo, Minister of State and Mayor Teo Ser Luck, Mr Zainal Sapari, and Dr Janil Puthucheary.

Mr Ng and Ms Sun take over from Ms Penny Low, who announced that she was stepping down after three terms as MP; and Mr Gan Thiam Poh, who joined the Ang Mo Kio team after his Punggol South ward was absorbed into the GRC.

UNITED: Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Ms Sim Ann, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Dr Teo Ho Pin, and Mr Christopher de Souza. PHOTOS: LIANHE WANBAO

There are, however, no changes in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Bukit Panjang SMC and Yuhua SMC.

The PAP team defending the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC is led by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan. Other members are Minister of State Sim Ann, MPs Liang Eng Hwa and Christopher de Souza.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu is defending her seat in Yuhua.

She announced this to reporters at the Yuhua branch office yesterday, before joining her residents for a National Day dinner.

Also defending his seat in Bukit Panjang is Dr Teo Ho Pin.

Desmond Choo moves to Tampines

TAMPINES TEAM: (From left, standing) Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Baey Yam Keng and Ms Cheng Li Hui. (From left, seated) Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Mr Heng Swee Keat. TNP PHOTO: JUDITH TAN

Food seems to be the central theme of this election campaign.

And a sign of who is more familiar with the ward.

After years of Hougang Teochew porridge, People's Action Party (PAP) politician Desmond Choo now has a taste for something different.

"Sarawak kolo mee," said Mr Choo, 37, who was introduced as the new face of the five-men Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team.

"The lines are very long, at least a 25-minute wait. This is the place you must go and try, Tampines Round Market."

For the record, the food centre is at Tampines Street 11.

Change of diet and change of fortune?

Mr Choo, a Teochew himself, was defeated by Workers' Party (WP) Yaw Shin Leong in the 2011 General Election.

After Mr Yaw did a disappearing act amid allegations of an affair, a by-election was held in 2012.

Mr Choo, a baby-faced former police scholar and now senior executive with NTUC did better but still lost, this time to WP's Png Eng Huat.

After promising Hougang residents he will "always be there for them", is Mr Choo changing his mind now?

He said: "The PAP continues to be there for the Hougang residents... I believe that over the years, we have built up a good system.

"We have committed volunteers, activists and supporters, and we will continue to make sure that Hougang will be well taken care of."

Hougang was never going to be an easy battleground for any PAP candidate.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean acknowledged as much in 2012. But even after two defeats, Mr Choo continued to work the ground as the ward's grassroots adviser.

UPGRADING

Six months after the by-election defeat in 2012, the Government announced a Lift Upgrading Programme, Home Improvement Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme for Hougang.

A new bus service was also introduced.

But PAP decided to move Mr Choo to Tampines to join Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Masagos Zulkifli, MP Baey Yam Keng and new face Cheng Li Hui.

The PAP team pulled in 57.2 per cent of the votes at the last General Election against a then largely-unknown team from the National Solidarity Party (NSP).

Mr Choo and Ms Cheng, 39, will replace current Tampines GRC MPs Mah Bow Tan and Irene Ng, who are stepping down from politics.

Ms Cheng was a stark contrast to the battle-hardened Mr Choo. She appeared shy with the media.

Mr Mah described her as "full of energy, very hard-working and very quiet, but gets things done".

"I would say she is the 'talk less, do more' type and things get done," he said.

A councillor in the North West Community Development Council since 2004, Ms Cheng spoke of the need to give back to society.

"I feel that our seniors would like to continue to be active participants in society and have much to contribute.

"If we can enable society to provide opportunities for them, this will give them meaning and ultimately, benefit everyone," she said.

But it was inevitable the food question was going to come up.

Ms Cheng said: "I usually spend my time at the 200-series neighbourhood centre. If I'm there early in the morning, my favourite would be mee siam to start the day.

"My lunch is usually quick, so I'd just take a prata and then move on. I would have dinner with some activists, we would have zi char."

Yes, in Tampines.

Spotlight on:

TAMPINES GRC

GE 2015

Voters: 143,426

PAP: Mr Heng Swee Keat, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mr Desmond Choo and Ms Cheng Li Hui

GE 2011

Voters: 137,532

PAP: Mr Mah Bow Tan, Mr Heng Swee Keat, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Ms Irene Ng and Mr Baey Yam Keng

% of votes: 57.2



PASIR RIS-PUNGGOL GRC

GE 2015

Voters: 187,252

PAP: Mr Teo Chee Hean, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Mr Zainal Sapari, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Mr Ng Chee Meng and Ms Sun Xueling (also known as Soon Sher Rene)

GE 2011

Voters: 168,971

PAP: Mr Teo Chee Hean, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Ms Penny Low, Mr Zainal Sapari, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Dr Janil Puthucheary

% of vote: 64.8



HOLLAND-BUKIT TIMAH

GE 2015

Voters: 104,397

PAP: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Mr Christopher de Souza and Ms Sim Ann

GE 2011

Voters: 91,607

PAP: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Mr Christopher de Souza and Ms Sim Ann

% of votes: 60.1



YUHUA

GE 2015

Voters: 22,599

PAP: Ms Grace Fu

GE 2011

Voters: 23,199

PAP: Ms Grace Fu

% of votes: 66.9



BUKIT PANJANG

GE 2015

Voters: 34,299

PAP: Dr Teo Ho Pin

GE 2011

Voters: 33,053

PAP: Dr Teo Ho Pin

% of votes: 66.3

Singapore ElectionsDr Vivian BalakrishnanNg Chee MengPasir RisUncategorisedPAPPeople's Action PartyDPM Teo Chee Hean