WHEN ELECTED, new PAP candidate for Chua Chu Kang GRC Jeffrey Siow will help his residents make the best use of government policies and programmes.
His fellow PAP candidate for the GRC, Dr Choo Pei Ling, will be a strong voice for her residents. She will speak up especially for families and caregivers feeling stretched by life’s demands, and for young people.
“In the public service, my North Star was always to build a better Singapore and to improve the lives of Singaporeans,” said Mr Siow, who was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as the Ministry of Manpower. There, he launched the SME Pro-Enterprise Office to help businesses stay competitive. He also formulated policies to give gig workers stronger protection.
Mr Siow was also Principal Private Secretary to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
“To me, this is still public service, but it is more direct and personal,” he added about his decision to run for office. “Making policies and programmes relevant to people, because different people are affected differently depending on their individual circumstances.”
Dr Choo also focused on the necessity of journeying alongside residents, having volunteered in the community for more than 20 years. Dr Choo is also Assistant Professor in the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Health and Social Science Cluster, where she teaches healthcare students and researches mobility for stroke victims.
“I hope to listen more to residents, walk alongside them, and bring people together and build a united caring home that we love,” said Dr Choo about how she will serve Chua Chu Kang.
“I’m also a young mother and I can completely understand the struggles and the daily pressures – never-ending pressures – from juggling work, childcare and caregiving,” she added.
“Many middle-aged residents share with me that they feel very stretched. …I want to be a helping hand.”
Mr Siow and Dr Choo join a refreshed Chua Chu Kang GRC team. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim will remain in the GRC.
Mayor (South West District) Low Yen Ling will contest the new Bukit Gombak SMC adjacent to Chua Chu Kang, while working closely with her former GRC teammates.
“Every election, we need to ensure that there is a process of renewal. We want to bring in new candidates so that we lead Singapore forward,” said DPM Gan, who will lead the PAP’s Chua Chu Kang team. “So that we can engage a new generation of voters and population who have different aspirations, different vison, different passion.”
At the same time, DPM Gan added that experienced MPs offer stability. Both he and Mayor Low have represented Chua Chu Kang since 2011; MP Zhulkarnain has done so since 2020.
“So as you can see from the slate of candidates that are put forward this round, there’s a balance of renewal as well as continuity,” said DPM Gan.
The PAP builds connections between Chua Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak — and stands with all of Singapore
Significantly, the PAP team has successfully worked together with Chua Chu Kang residents to improve the town in the previous five years. This close co-operation will continue. This will be the case at inter-branch level as well, with Bukit Gombak becoming an SMC for the first time in over 20 years.
“Now, over 4000 homes — in Keat Hong especially — have benefited from our Neighbourhood Renewal Programme,” said MP Zhulkarnain on the PAP success alongside Chua Chu Kang residents. “And the Home Improvement Programme has commenced on a large scale in Chua Chu Kaag. Just in Keat Hong alone, almost two in three houses have undergone Home Improvement Programme upgrading, or will be undergoing [these home upgrades].”
MP Zhulkarnain also pointed out that under the current PAP team, Chua Chu Kang residents can look forward to an upcoming hawker centre, as well as a new Jurong Region Line MRT station. These will enhance connectivity between the GRC and other places in Singapore, as well as between people.
Meanwhile, Mayor Low highlighted the deep connections built between her Bukit Gombak SMC and Chua Chu Kang GRC.
“The Bukit Gombak family will always be part of the Chua Chu Kang family support network,” she said.
Mayor Low mentioned how Chua Chu Kang’s GE candidates were with her at the launch of the Chua Chu Kang 5-year plan earlier this month (5 Apr).
The 5-year plan earmarks $212 million for rejuvenating Chua Chu Kang. In particular, Bukit Gombak merchants and residents will get a boost with the neighbourhood centre and its shops getting a makeover into a Modern Heritage Heartland Hub, and a 700-seater food court at the new Central Manpower Base.
“That is the real good spirit that we will continue,” said Mayor Low. “We will always work together to aggregate our strengths, our resources, as well as our networks for the best interest of our residents.”
Mayor Low is particularly focused on helping her residents in tangible, everyday ways.
“Not just the hardware [of infrastructure],” she said about her plans. “But the software, the heartware. The programmes that will address and help our residents to defray the cost of living [and] their household expenses.
And DPM Gan was frank about why voting for the PAP will especially matter for Singapore in 2025 and beyond.
“We are really facing a very challenging environment globally. Singapore – every country – is facing a lot of uncertainty, a lot of volatility, as you’ve seen in recent months. And it is important for us to come together as a united people,” said DPM Gan.
“So that we have a strong mandate from the people so that we can tackle these challenges and create opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans,” he continued.
“That’s the priority at the moment for us to focus on as we enter this General Election.”
