Minister Indranee Rajah will lead the PAP team to contest the newly formed Pasir Ris-Changi GRC in the general election.
The four-member team will include new candidate Valerie Lee Nai Yi, 39, Sembcorp’s head of corporate affairs for Singapore and Southeast Asia, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan and former Pasir Ris-Punggol MP Sharael Taha.
The team was formally introduced at a PAP press briefing on April 21 at Vidacity in Pasir Ris.
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, 70 confirmed he will not be fielded in Pasir Ris-Changi this round.
“I will continue to support PM Lawrence Wong and his 4G team and remain available to contribute to the team wherever and in whatever way PM Lawrence Wong feels best I can serve.” he said.
An MP in Pasir Ris for the past 28 years, SM Teo said he has “full confidence” that the current slate is a “strong team” that is ready to serve. “So, please give your support to the team,” he said.
Ms Indranee, 62, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance, and National Development, previously served at Tanjong Pagar GRC for 24 years, since entering politics in 2001.
“Today’s introduction is both poignant, yet exciting and at the same time disappointing because it means having to leave the residents of Tanjong Pagar GRC,” she said, adding that she would miss the uncles and aunties in the neighbourhood.
However, she assured Singaporeans that the party will field a solid team there, and being a candidate in Pasir-Ris Changi “brings a new opportunity to serve”.
Ms Indranee said she was most passionate about building strong communities where people cared for each other. At Pasir Ris-Changi, if elected, she would like to focus on three areas – cost of living, families as well as infrastructure.
“We will look at last-mile issues, how to plug the infrastructural gaps at the local level to make moving around easier for the residents, and how to reduce disamenities,” she said.
Her team would also assess the connectivity and amenities it could bring to the Changi area, while considering the concerns of Pulau Ubin residents.
In its manifesto titled “Together, forging a brighter tomorrow”, the Pasir Ris-Changi team pledged to redevelop towns and refresh public spaces. Efforts include the upgrading of Sea Shell Park, widening of Pasir Ris Drive 3, and installation of a new lift at an overhead bridge across Loyang Ave.
Valerie Lee wants to be a voice for those who feel unheard in the journey of starting a family
Ms Lee is a young working mother of a two-year-old girl. A lifelong Eastie, she grew up and still lives in the East.
She shared about her struggles in starting a family, and how they mirror the experiences of many Singaporeans. This shared experience makes her more determined to fight for couples facing the same issue.
“These experiences really broke me in ways that I didn’t expect. But it also made me more determined than ever to be a voice for those who often feel unheard in the journey of starting a family and subsequently maintaining one.”
Ms Lee has actively contributed to the community for nearly eight years, having served in various community organisations such as the CDC, the grassroots and the town council. She previously chaired the Frontier Community Club Management Committee in Pioneer SMC, and was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2023 for her dedication.
She said: “Through my years of volunteering, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best ideas don’t come from the top, but from the ground up, from Singaporeans themselves. And I love bringing those ideas to life.”
On her areas of focus if she were to be elected to parliament, Ms Lee said she would be advocating for families in areas like childcare accessibility and affordability, mental health and support for the service generation eldercare, as well as supporting residents living in private property.
She said that her generation is stretched because as caregivers, they have to raise children, look after ageing parents, and manage their households and careers.
“People who want their children to grow up in a Singapore that’s free, that’s fair, and full of opportunity – these are the people whom I want to represent,” she added.
SM Teo: PAP always seeks to renew itself
SM Teo entered politics in December 1992, when he was part of a team that contested and won a by-election in Marine Parade GRC. He was re-elected six times as an MP for Pasir Ris GRC and subsequently, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
SM Teo has helmed various ministries throughout his career, including Home Affairs, Defence and Education.
He served as deputy prime minister from 2009 to 2019, and has been Coordinating Minister for National Security since 2011. He was appointed Senior Minister in 2019.
SM Teo said the PAP has always had a policy of self-renewal. He noted that leadership became weak in countries without regular, systematic renewal.
While Prime Minister Lawrence Wong already has a team comprising experienced and newer ministers, SM Teo added that Mr Wong wants to strengthen the team and prepare it to take Singapore further forward in the next 10 to 15 years.
“So, this is quite critical, and I think for this coming general election, one of the important things is to help Prime Minister Lawrence Wong have the strongest possible team to help Singapore face this turbulent future, and that’s the best for all of us.”
