The People’s Action Party has introduced its four-member team for Sengkang GRC, led by former senior minister of state Lam Pin Min, for the upcoming general election.
Dr Lam Pin Min, 56, an ophthalmologist, will lead the PAP team to win back the Opposition-held GRC. The other members of the team include Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, 43, a university lecturer; Ms Theodora Lai Xi Yi, 39, a partner at a deep tech venture builder; and Mrs Bernadette Giam, 38, a director at a local food and beverage enterprise.
At the introduction of his team at the People’s Action Party’s Sengkang West branch on Sunday (Apr 13), Dr Lam highlighted that the team has an equal gender representation with an average age of 43. Although coming from diverse professional backgrounds, he noted that they share the common passion to serve Sengkang residents and regain their trust.
“I sincerely hope that Sengkang residents can give us a chance to serve them as their elected representatives. A vote for our team means experienced leadership, renewed energy, and a steadfast commitment to Sengkang’s progress.”
Dr Lam has not stopped walking the ground since first being elected to Sengkang West SMC in 2011. With over 14 years of service for Sengkang residents, Dr Lam is a familiar, constant presence in the town. Dr Lam is also a member of the PAP’s Central Executive Committee.
The PAP Sengkang team has been hard at work walking the ground. Assoc Prof Elmie Nekmet and Ms Lai took over as branch chairs in March 2022. They have been actively organising community events for several years, including launching the new Buangkok Community Centre (CC) in August 2024.
The plans for the CC were first unveiled in 2019, when Sengkang was then a government consituency. The CC is uniquely tailored to the needs of the young families living in Sengkang, with numerous study spaces and over 70 enrichment programmes.
Elmie Nekmat, 43, Associate Professor of Communications and New Media and Vice Dean of Students, National University of Singapore
Assoc Prof Elmie teaches communications and new media in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore.
He joined the party in 2016 as an activist and currently serves as an adviser to Young PAP and assistant secretary in the Malay Affairs Bureau.
He sits on several boards and councils, including the Singapore Sports Council, the National Library and the Media Literacy Council.
A father of four daughters, Assoc Prof Elmie is concerned about creating a safer online environment. This is because young children are susceptible to cyberbullying, while seniors may fall victim to scams.
He recounted during house visits, concerned parents have exclaimed to him about the need for the government to safeguard children from the harmful effects of social media. Some have shared stories of their children suffering from depression due to online bullying and harassment.
“In Parliament, I will push for stronger government policies and will promote more programmes in Sengkang to help create a safer digital environment as well as a brighter future for our seniors and our children,” said Assoc Prof Elmie.
Theodara Lai, 39, Partner and Co-Founder at a deep tech venture builder
Ms Lai has been active in the party since 2009 as a writer at Meet-the-People Sessions before chairing the PAP Policy Forum between 2018 and 2020.
Like many families in Sengkang, as a working mother with two young children, she understands the demands of balancing career, childcare, and supporting aging parents.
“If given a chance [to serve], I hope to make the journey smoother for our residents in Sengkang, starting from their homes and create a supportive environment for them, one family at a time.”
Ms Lai was a founding member and chairwoman of the Young Women’s Leadership Connection, a network which aims to empower and connect young women leaders.
She said her experience managing the many challenges of early-stage companies and start-ups “from zero to one” would be helpful in Sengkang.
“It is a constant effort of validation, scanning the horizon and identifying the right opportunities and pivots if necessary.”
Bernadette Giam, 38, a director at local food and beverage enterprise
Mrs Giam has actively engaged in community volunteer work for over a decade. She also champions women empowerment through community initiatives targeted at supporting young working women.
As a working mother of two young children, Mrs Giam wants to enhance support for young parents in Sengkang through quality childcare options, infant care facilities, and after school programmes to help parents raise their children well.
Mrs Giam stressed that her role as a mother motivated her to enter politics because she is well-equipped to “better represent” the needs of Sengkang’s parents who face similar challenges.
“I understand their struggles. I feel the same pangs of mum guilt when I miss my children’s milestones,” she continued. “I tell myself to be courageous and step forward now, even though my children are young so that we can make a difference for all our families in Sengkang.”
Mrs Giam is a director at Creative Eateries, a local food and beverage company, where she oversees strategic initiatives and business development.
She has been an active member of industry associations, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Catering Professionals Singapore (ACAPS) since 2016 and the Young Business Leaders Network under the Singapore Business Federation since 2022.
Additionally, Mrs Giam has contributed her expertise to the Nanyang Polytechnic Business Management Advisory Committee since 2016.
“As someone who has worked in a small-to-medium enterprise, I hope to bridge the gap between the business community and youth through mentorship, networking opportunities, and real-world exposure. I believe providing these resources will give our youth a competitive edge in achieving success,” she said.
Dr Lam believes ‘one plus one may not necessarily equal two’
Opposition parties have been advocating a “one-plus-one” narrative, suggesting that if one votes for the Opposition, the PAP will work harder. Dr Lam responded, “One plus one may not necessarily equal two. In fact, one plus one can be less than one.”
He elaborated, “If parties within the same constituency have conflicting policies and poor coordination, the outcome can be poorer. Efficiency can suffer. So, one plus one can be less than one.”
Dr Lam acknowledged the difficulty of regaining Sengkang GRC, but the team remains resolute. He said, “No matter how difficult the journey may be or what the chances will be…we are very determined to try to win it (Sengkang) back.”
“The new refreshed, Sengkang team has younger candidates with different perspectives. With my experience in the government, the town council, and in grassroot and community work, we hope to be able to bring a new perspective for our residents and hopefully we can win back their hearts and minds.”
