Sharp-eyed netizens would’ve noticed the uncanny resemblance between a new PAP candidate and a familiar face in the Singapore education system.
Turns out, they’re not imagining things and both Mr Ong Ye Kung and Mr Xie Yao Quan are cousins.
Mr Ong, who spoke to reporters on Nomination Day (30 June), says that both he and Mr Xie are cousins.
He had said that their mothers are sisters and when young, both Mr Ong and Mr Xie had played together.
He admitted that in the past, Mr Xie used to call him kor kor but now, he addresses him as minister which can be a bit awkward.
And he has a piece of advice for his younger cousin:
“Work hard…do your best, (have your) heart in the right place, be humble, show residents that you care and want to do your best to serve them.”
In response, Mr Xie posted a picture of the both of them when they were younger.
Other than describing their relationship, Mr Xie also lamented that the “tall” genes seemed to have skipped over him.
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Mr Ong Ye Kung
In GE2020, Ong will be leading a team in Sembawang GRC against the National Solidarity Party.
He had taken over the position of anchor minister from Mr Khaw Boon Wan, who is retiring from politics this year, and said that the Sembawang team will “go all out”
He told residents that the PAP team will do their best to take care of them:
“We are a good team, support us and we will do our best to take care of residents here.”
He is Singapore’s minister of education and is at the forefront of getting schools to reopen because they cannot have a lost generation due to Covid-19.
He should also be a familiar face to parents as he set out to answer FAQs and assure worried parents about how they intend (and managed to) keep school safe.
Mr Xie Yao Quan
Xie, 35, is the head of healthcare redesign at Alexandra Hospital.
Once an SAF regular, Xie is also a board member of SG Enable and co-leads a task force to promote products made or designed by persons with disabilities.
He has been a volunteer in Jurong GRC since 2015, where he led numerous schemes to support lower-income families.
Xie was formally introduced by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at PAP’s Bukit Batok East Branch.
Senior Minister Tharman had said that choosing Xie was ‘an easy decision’ and one candidate he has always been keen to select.
Xie is contesting in GE2020 as part of the PAP team for Jurong GRC led by Senior Minister Tharman against the Red Dot United team.
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