Diana Pang Li Yen, MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, finds deep fulfillment when she can bring joy to her residents. A recent case involving a family with special needs children left a lasting impression, reminding her of the meaningful difference an MP can make.
The 51-year-old told Petir that a woman had recently sought her help during a Meet-the-People session. The lady was in a difficult situation, having to deal with a husband’s illness, setbacks in business, and four young children, of which two had special needs.
Having returned after some time overseas, the family was now staying with the woman’s parents in their rental flat.
Ms Pang said: “The woman told me she initially didn’t want to attend the session because her friends had told her that coming to MPS is useless. She was at her wits end and didn’t know what to do next. I talked to her and realised that her issue is not one dimensional, but multifaceted.”
The couple had intended to buy their own flat, but their HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter had expired. The husband was ill and had been seeking medical treatment overseas. After listening to the woman’s predicament, Ms Pang advised her to apply for a rental flat first. It was a more feasible option given the couple’s financial constraints.
Ms Pang recounted: “At the end, she hugged me and said, ‘Thank you so much for listening and showing me a light at the end of a tunnel.’ I reassured her, ‘We are always here for you as long as you need us.”
This heartwarming exchange brought joy to the first-term Member of Parliament. “Her story made my day because if I can light a tiny sparkle of joy in anyone’s eyes, that is what I’m here for.”
Ms Pang’s team included the family in the WeCare programme, facilitating applications for bursaries and aid, and the branch’s vegetable and necessities distribution programme.
Additionally, they have arranged for the family to receive regular food packs from Food from the Heart. The team also assisted with applications to the Social Service Office, Housing & Development Board, and the children’s school to ensure the family gets the support they need.
Ms Pang, a business development director, oversees Geylang Serai constituency.
The PAP’s Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team restarted their MPS sessions the very Monday after Nomination Day, when the GRC was returned uncontested at the recent general elections. Ms Pang conducts her MPS every Tuesday.
Diana Pang: Every single day is an interesting one in Geylang Serai
In person, Diana Pang exudes a bubbly and friendly demeanor. The first-term MP has already got a strong grasp of her residents’ issues.
Geylang Serai constituency has an elongated north-south orientation, she noted.
“My constituency is interesting. From north to south, the residents have diverse needs,” she said.
Ms Pang explained that residents living in new Build-to-Order flats at Tai Keng Gardens and Bartley face housing-related issues such as moving in, key collection, and transportation.
On the other hand, residents living near the Geylang and Eunos area have various animal-related concerns, which extend beyond neighbourhood cats, dogs and birds, to more exotic creatures like otters, civet cats, and even bats.
“We even have a rooster problem that gives me a headache. I call it the rooster with European timing because it crows at the wrong hours of the day!”
Before entering politics, Ms Pang was an active volunteer in the community for over two decades. She chaired the Fengshan Women’s Executive Committee and the People’s Association Women’s Integration Network (WIN) Council.
Her extensive volunteering experience has stood her in good stead. For example, having officiated at over 300 marriages as a solemniser, her keen understanding of marriage laws and regulations gives her a unique perspective on marriage-related issues that residents may face. These including applying for long-term visit passes for foreign spouses.
Ms Pang believes that a lot of what she has done as a volunteer can be applied to her new role as a MP.
“I continue to do what I love – meeting people, talking to people, listen to their issues and trying my best to help them. In life, there are little dots, and these dots all come together as one right now. I will not take what is given to me for granted. I am committed to serving my residents,” she said.
She acknowledged the uniqueness of each situation, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to resolving her residents’ issues.
Ms Pang acknowledged the diversity of views and emphasized the importance of finding a balanced approach. “My team continues to engage residents and explore solutions that consider the needs of diverse groups. We want to achieve a win-win outcome for the community”
“I will always try to be more creative. Do not just think within the box. Sometimes, the person is exceptional, [so] we will think of an exceptional way to solve this exceptional problem, right? When your intentions are right, everything else will fall into place.”
