By S Ramesh/Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid | Posted: 23 March 2011 1638 hrs
SINGAPORE: The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on Wednesday introduced its first new woman candidate for the coming General Election.
45-year-old Ms Foo Mee Har is the global head of premium banking for Standard Chartered Bank.
Also introduced at the session was the son of a former Cabinet Minister. 35-year-old Desmond Lee Ti-Seng, an associate director in the Legal & Regulations Department of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, is the son of former Cabinet Minister Mr Lee Yock Suan.
The third PAP candidate introduced on Wednesday was 38-year-old Steve Tan Peng Hoe, currently the executive secretary of Young NTUC, the labour movement's official youth wing.
Ms Foo joined the Stanchart in 1994 and has since held a number of senior roles across businesses and functions.
Ms Foo joined the PAP in 2010 and has been helping out at the Cashew division in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. She has taken part in various community events and Meet-the-People Sessions.
"I have been doing quite a lot of block visits in different areas, looking at people's homes. Obviously there are plenty of happy Singaporeans....and (there are also) people who need our help," she said at the introduction session.
Ms Foo has also been inducted into the PAP executive committee as assistant secretary to the Women's Wing.
For Mr Steve Tan, he has been exposed to helping workers in different ways in his 10 years with the labour movement. These include managing scholarships and education grants, administering insurance claims for workers and issuing transport vouchers and other assistance schemes.
He said: "I come from a generation which straddles the Singapore as it was developing and the Singapore that we see today....definitely plugged into the psyche of the workers today and Singaporeans today. We have lived meritocracy through our own lives."
Steve is currently a grassroots volunteer at Tampines East. He is the third PAP candidate from the labour movement to be introduced so far. The other two are Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Ong Ye Kung.
Mr Desmond Lee Ti-Seng started his career as a Justices' Law Clerk of the Supreme Court, providing legal research support.
Before leaving the government service, Desmond worked in the Legal Policy Division of the Ministry of Law as deputy director, where he was involved in the development of legal policies and the review and amendment of various pieces of legislation such as the Criminal Procedure Code.
Desmond said: "When I told him (his father Lee Yock Suan) I was approached by the PAP and invited to drink tea, his advice was, 'think very carefully. Are you able to serve? Do you have the heart for the people and this is serious stuff, 100 percent of your time'. I thought it was very sound advice. The road to reach here was a long and rigorous one and that gave me a lot of time to reflect and think."
The latest batch brings to six so far the number of PAP's new faces made known to the electorate.
Speaking at Wednesday's introduction session, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said the renewal process of PAP has been systematic and structured.
This is done by finding people who will be able to serve the wider interest of Singaporeans, said Mr Wong, who is also the PAP's First Assistant Secretary General.
Mr Wong said that he hopes the opposition, like the PAP, will introduce their election candidates early.
He said this will help the electorate know what the candidates can offer.
The PAP has said it will be fielding more than 20 new candidates in the coming General Election.
Mr Wong said the process of renewal is important as new blood can contribute new ideas and energy to the party.
It also connects the party to societal changes and aspirations on the ground.
"That is the difference between us and many countries....we plan, we think ahead, we want to make sure that there is always a team of people available and around (and) with experience who can take Singapore to the next lap," said Mr Wong.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong reminded Singaporeans that provisions have now been made in Parliament to have up to nine opposition members as Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) so that the voice of the opposition continues to be heard in the House.
He said: "In our parliamentary system, we have tried to ensure that all kinds of voices are heard including the opposition voice. Even if they fail to get into Parliament, we have the NCMP system and the NMP (Nominated MP) system so that opposition and alternate voices can be heard. In the coming election we have also changed the law so that if less than nine opposition candidates are elected, there will at least be nine opposition MPs in Parliament. I don't think any other countries have done that."
Mr Wong also urged voters to weigh the intentions of the opposition to capture a Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
Both opposition MPs Low Thia Khiang and Chiam See Tong have of late spoken of the need for their parties to make a breakthrough by winning a GRC in the coming General Election.
Mr Wong said: "What voters should take into account is to see which political party, which candidate can really do well for them, which is a stronger team, stronger candidate that will bring them forward in the future.
"If you ask why the opposition want to win a constituency, I think the intention is quite clear. Some of them say, 'we want to do that for renewal', others say they want to be the first one to break through into a GRC and win the GRC.
"But what is this election about? Is it about the interests and ambitions of political parties and individual interest to create a legacy and make a history? That is what voters should ask themselves.
"This election is about the future. So when you cast a vote you are not casting a vote for the political party's future, you are casting for your future. So when you exercise your vote, think carefully which political party will do well for you, which MP will work hard for you and enable to achieve what you want to do. That is really the main question.
"You should choose the group that is strong and the people who can deliver for you. You deserve to elect the best for you."
Later Wednesday, MP Low Thia Khiang, who had previously said the opposition must capture a GRC to ensure continuity and renewal, responded to DPM Wong's remarks.
The Workers' Party chief said: "Renewal is important, too, not only to the PAP but to the opposition as well, if an opposition party wants to continue to play a role, if Singaporeans want an opposition party to play a role, to be able to give them a choice during election and to help to safeguard the future of Singapore."
When asked if he would personally lead a team to contest a GRC, Mr Low declined comment.
- CNA/ir
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