Minister Ong Ye Kung will lead a 5-member team to contest Sembawang GRC. He is joined by newcomers Ng Shi Xuan and Gabriel Lam. Incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar complete the team.
Current Sembawang GRC MP Poh Li San, who oversees the Sembawang West ward, will contest in the new Sembawang West SMC.
Gabriel Lam: A believer of second chances in life
An active community volunteer, Mr Gabriel Lam, 43, has been involved in the Yellow Ribbon project since 2011.
He plans to champion families and second chances in parliament.
“I understand solely the importance of second chances,” said Mr Lam. It applies not just to those who have been incarcerated but also to those who have made decisions in life leading to hardship, he added.
As the chief operating officer of a moving company, Mr Lam puts his beliefs into action. He has worked very closely with ex-offenders, mentoring them and offering them job opportunities in his company. This will give them a second chance to reintegrate into society with dignity and purpose.
Ng Shi Xuan: Speaking up for local businesses
At 36, Mr Ng Shi Xuan might be the team’s youngest member. Even so, this veteran grassroots volunteer has over a decade of experience under his belt, where he served as the vice-chairman of the MacPherson Youth Network.
A former civil servant with Enterprise Singapore, Mr Ng is currently the director of a local SME specialising in battery technology. If elected, he plans to champion children’s health and speak up for local businesses.
“I know the struggles of running a small business,” said Mr Ng.
“Too much paperwork, too many rules…Cutting red tape and helping them grow is one way to take care of our Singaporeans.”
A Sembawang, For everyone
Over the years, Sembawang has been transformed beyond imagination. What was once an ulu corner of Singapore is now a vibrant and well-connected neighbourhood, with world class amenities such as Bukit Canberra
It is also a caring one with initiatives such as Belanja A Meal, which encourages residents to buy a meal for a fellow resident who needs help.
However, according to Minister Ong, the development of Sembawang is far from complete. In fact, it has “many years, and even decades, of development ahead of it”.
One example of planned development will be at the site of the current Sembawang shipyard, which will be moving to Tuas. Nestled around Sembawang Park and surrounded by old colonial houses, the possibilities for new amenities will be up to residents.
“We will engage residents to imagine what can be built,” said Mr Ong. The same goes for the space next to the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System station in Woodlands.
“10 years ago, we said Sayang Sembawang because this is a special place. Five years later, our vision was to Make Sembawang Special. I think if we fulfil all our plans, this will be a Sembawang for everyone,” added Mr Ong.
