PAP Candidate Gan Siow Huang Explains Why She Spoke So ‘Fiercely’ During Nomination Day

Last Updated on 2020-07-07 , 6:08 pm

Even before the General Election was called—heck, even before the Circuit Breaker was called, we got to know Gan Siow Huang, the first female General in the SAF who had then been tipped to contest in the General Elections. A plot twist then occurred during Nomination Day when it was revealed that she was going to go alone to contest in an SMC.

That’s one brave General who walks the talk.

During her introduction video, she doesn’t sound like a typical soldier, though she looks like she can stare into your soul.

But come nomination day, when she addressed the voters, Ms Gan reverted to Brigadier-General Gan.

Firstly, she didn’t walk to her mic. The mic walked to her.

And when she spoke, she spoke while on a strict “sedia” stance—her entire body was so straight and rooted to the floor, a wild boar would bounce back to Mars if it tried to ram into her.

And the way she spoke?

Classic.

The 45-year-old was so serious in her speech, she sounded like she was going to a war.

In fact, if you don’t understand English and watch this video, you’d think that the woman has just gone back to SAF and is preparing for a war with some dragons.

You can take the girl out of the army, but you can’t take the army out of the girl.

The Marymount SMC candidate then reverted to Ms Gan in a video posted this morning, when she revealed why she decided to address her voters like she was addressing her soldiers during an ops parade.

In it, her team showed her the war cry video, and she laughed at it, saying that it was very “creative”.

She then added, “Frankly, I think, I’m usually not so fierce…I’m very approachable.”

So why turned from Ms Approachable to BG Rage during the speech?

“I had to tell my residents that I’m serious about wanting to serve them; serious about wanting to make Marymount the best home for all. Now, I’m here to get to know the residents face to face, and I hope that they’ll see the true me.”

Don’t Want to be Viewed as “SG Mulan”

When asked on her thoughts about being viewed as “SG Mulan”, she said, “I take it as a compliment, but I rather not be given another label. Really, too many labels about me. I want to be known as Siow Huang. I hope people will see me for who I am and get to know me.”

In case you’ve not watched the video, here’s something shocking: her arms and body were moving as she spoke.

You can read more about her here.

A Battleground in a New Turf

Marymount SMC is a new Single Member Constituency that’s carved out from Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC.

It was previously known as Bishan North in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC, and had been served by Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.

Ms Gan faces a challenge from Progress Singapore Party’s Dr Ang Yong Guan, who, too, has signed on in the SAF and left the force in 2003 as a Colonel. He now runs his own private clinic.

Dr Ang is a veteran in politics, having contested with the Singapore Democratic Party in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC at the 2011 General Elections and with the now-dissolved SingFirst in the Tanjong Pagar GRC at the 2015 General Elections.

Marymount SMC comprises areas in Bishan Street 22 – 25, nearly half of Sin Ming and whole of Shunfu, inclusive of Thomson V One & Two, Thomson Park Estate, Bishan Park, Marymount MRT station, Thomson Garden Estate and Eunoia Junior College.

And on a side note, candidates have been talking about NCMP (Non-Constituency Member of Parliament) in recent days. So, what’s an NCMP? Do you know that it’s just like an MP but the allowance is much lower? Watch this video to find out more: