If you’d banged your head against a wall in anger a week ago after finding out that cinemas will be reopening in Malaysia but not Singapore and only woke up today, you might think that the Covid-19 pandemic has ended.
Reader: Well, has it?
No. And you should really find less destructive ways to express your anger.
Reader: Stop telling me what to do! *bangs head against wall*
The only reason that Singaporeans are talking less about the coronavirus outbreak is that the country is going to have an election soon.
And with just over two weeks to Polling Day, PAP has started unveiling their potential candidates for this year’s General Election.
On Thursday (25 June) the ruling party introduced seven fresh faces:
Yeo Wan Ling, 44 (CEO of Caregiver Group)
Our first candidate, Yeo Wan Ling, started Caregiver Group – a company that specialises in home healthcare services.
According to Ageless Online, Yeo launched the company after her stressful experience of looking for a caregiving professional for her ailing 87-year-old grandmother, a process that took two weeks.
“I wished we had the resources to make decisions at the time,” Yeo said.
According to CNA, Yeo has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and political science and a Bachelor of Social Science in sociology from NUS.
She hopes to promote caregiving programmes, so the community can “take care of each other in a sustainable way”.
Alvin Tan Sheng Hui, 39 (Head of Public Policy and Economics at LinkedIn)
The second candidate, Alvin Tan Sheng Hui, has worked for two companies whose apps you have on your phone: Facebook and LinkedIn.
Currently the head of public policy and economics at technology firm LinkedIn, the 39-year-old also has experience in the SAF, United Nations, and non-profit organisation Oxfam.
According to Mothership, Tan describes his academic and career path as unconventional; he failed in school and did not qualify for any local universities.
But he went on to get a Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours) at Sydney University on a SAF Local Study Award and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University.
Tan started volunteering at Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng in 2005, and at Moulmein-Cairnhill since 2019, and served as a community volunteer for 15 years.
In addition to the digitisation and environmental issues, Tan’s focus area is “preserving and protecting” racial and religious harmony in Singapore.
Wan Rizal, 42 (Senior Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Science at RP)
Dr Wan Rizal is a senior lecturer in sports and exercise science at Republic Polytechnic.
Wan was a Normal (Academic) student who went on to study at Temasek Polytechnic, NIE, and later, NTU.
He earned his degree in physical education at the age of 31 and received his post-graduate doctoral degree from NTU in 2017.
This guy shows that it’s never too late to further your education.
He started volunteering in 2010 and was the chairman of Al-Islah mosque in Punggol.
Wan is part of Punggol’s Interracial and Religious Confidence Circle and has served on the Citizens’ Consultative Committees at Pasir Ris East and Punggol East divisions.
The father-of-four is currently a committee member on the advisory panel for Mendaki, Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Wan is also a strong advocate of social mobility through education.
“(Education) is how we can allow people who have less or did less well, to move up and prevent our society from being stratified.”
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Eric Chua Swee Leong, 41 (Former Civil Servant)
Eric Chua Swee Leong, who’s been a community volunteer for 15 years, is also the owner of the world’s most infectious smile:
The former civil servant studied Communication Studies at NTU after being awarded the Local Merit Scholarship by the Public Service Commission.
He went on to earn a Master of Communication Management from the University of Southern California.
Chua served as a uniformed officer in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) after graduating, rising up the ranks to become Commander of the 3rd SCDF Division.
Subsequently, Chua started working at the SGSecure Programme Office in the Ministry of Home Affairs, where he responded to emergencies such as fires, traffic and industrial accidents, and overseas humanitarian missions.
The 41-year-old, who recently became a father this month, aims to ensure that youths, especially those with modest backgrounds, have a “fair chance” to succeed in life.
Derrick Goh Soon Hee, 51 (Managing Director and Head of Group Audit at DBS Bank)
The fifth candidate, Derrick Goh Soon Hee, has over 27 years of experience in the banking and finance industry.
Goh is currently the managing director and head of group audit at DBS Bank, and looks like a younger version of that guy from that MRT safety video.
According to Mothership, Goh gave tuition to pay for his university fees at NTU, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Accountancy.
He went on to obtain a Master of Science in Applied Economics at NUS and a Master of Business Administration (with Honours) in Finance at The Wharton School.
Goh has been volunteering as a district councillor with the Southwest Community Development Council since 2013, and the Yishun grassroots organisation since 2017.
The 51-year-old said he wants “opportunities for everyone, especially those who are not well-off”, so everyone can “compete in the global arena.”
Speaking about entering public service, Goh quoted a philosopher, saying “if good men don’t involve themselves in the affairs of the nation, then be prepared to be managed by the not so good people.”
Poh Li San, 45 (Vice-president of Changi Airport Group)
Did you know that Singapore is going to build a fifth airport terminal?
Poh Li San, who is the vice-president of Changi Airport Group, is involved in the planning of the upcoming Terminal 5.
Poh graduated with a double Degree in Engineering and Economics from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign in 1998.
She was the first female full-time Aide-de-Camp to the former President, the late S.R.Nathan, and currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Sembawang Branch in Sembawang GRC.
Since 2018, the 45-year-old has been volunteering in grassroots activities and Meet-The-People sessions at Sembawang GRC.
In addition, Poh is a former Search and Rescue helicopter pilot with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
She is also multilingual, delivering her introductory speech in Mandarin, Malay, and English.
She hinted that she would contest in Sembawang GRC, because her time in Sembawang Air Base has left her with “plenty of strong memories” and made Sembawang a special place for her.
Raymond Lye Hoong, 54 (Managing Partner of Union Law LLP)
54-year-old Raymond Lye Hoong believes he is living the “Singapore dream”.
Now Managing Partner of Union Law LLP, Lye said he has benefited from Singapore’s meritocratic system.
When he was younger, his father’s business suffered after the British withdrew from Singapore, saying he remembers “moving from rental housing to rental housing,” and eating “plain noodle lunches”.
“The experience toughened me,” he said. “I worked hard, got some breaks in life and hoped to have improved the lives of my family.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Law from NUS and has a Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration from NUS as well.
Lye is grateful for the opportunities he had, and says every Singaporean should be given the same opportunities.
“What is important to me is that meritocracy remains attainable through a level playing field,” he added.
“I believe I am living the Singapore Dream, and I hope that dream not only remains attainable but will resonate even more with the young going forward.”
According to CNA, Lye has been volunteering with clans, societies, associations, boards and committees in healthcare, law, education, and media.
He has been a community leader for nearly 30 years, and has received several awards in the process, including:
- the Grand Award for Community Service
- the Public Service Star (BBM)
- the Public Service Medal (PBM)
Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth Grace Fu, who introduced Lye, said he has a “very good handle on the local issues that are being felt on the ground”.
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Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
