Diana Pang Li Yen, MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, holds racial harmony close to her heart. During the racial riots in the 1960s, her mother was rescued by a Malay family.
Ms Pang, 51, recounted how her 78-year-old mother narrowly escaped a racial riot while walking to school as a teenager.
“A Malay family grabbed her from the streets, protecting her from the wrath of the riot,” she told Petir. “Ever since then, she has been very grateful. She firmly believes that we are one people, regardless of race, language, religion. In our family, I was brought up to be non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, and to listen to all sides.”
Ms Pang said that promoting racial harmony is “an important part” of her identity, and will be a key focus for her in her role as MP for the Geylang Serai area.
Geylang Serai is an area with a great deal of history, heritage and diversity. Not many are aware that it is also home to over 160 religious organisations and clan associations, she noted.
Diana explained her familial connection with clans and associations. Her father is a member of the Pang clan, and her Hakka grandparents received assistance from the Foong Shoon Fui Kuan when they first arrived in Singapore.
“The association provided free lodging and helped [my grandparents] until they could support themselves. That’s why I decided I need to give back.”
As MP for Marine Parade-Braddel Heights, Ms Pang has already visited with several religious organisations and clans. She intends to work with them to better assist residents.
“The religious organisations and clans have one similarity. They all want to do good and help the community,” she said. “I would like to know them better and work together to see how best we can support the residents and needy individuals within my constituency. Together, we can make one family better, one at a time.”
Ms Pang plans to host a mid-autumn gathering in early October, inviting representatives from various religious organisations and clans. Her team is exploring the idea of arranging a visit to Parliament House followed by a sit-down meal, providing an opportunity to better understand these groups. She also intends to continue strengthening the racial and religious harmony circles in the constituency.
Engaging residents directly to understand their needs
As a new MP, Ms Pang has been engaging with residents to better understand their needs. One important way is through shared language of communicaiton. Although she can converse in basic Malay, she intends to improve her proficiency to communicate more effectively with residents, especially the elderly.
“I’ve always wanted to learn Malay,” she said, “Now, I’m actively seeking a tutor to study the language systematically.”
Ms Pang also believes in engaging stakeholders directly and looking at issues from their perspectives. In late May, the Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre underwent cleaning.
Ms Pang and her team organised a town hall meeting for all stall holders before the cleaning, rather that leaving it to authorities to inform stall holders through letters that might seem impersonal.
She viewed the meeting as an opportunity for the market and food centre stall holders to voice their concerns.
She and a party activist personally invited each stall holder to the meeting, where representatives from relevant authorities like the town council and National Environment Agency were present to ensure all opinions were heard.
“As an MP, my role is to facilitate. I’m a ‘matchmaker’ here at Geylang Serai. I told the stall holders that while I cannot solve every problem, I connect them to the right people to help them resolve their issues.”
Separately, Ms Pang is assembling her team of activists and volunteers to better serve the community, her prior experience as a former district councillor and community leader coming in handy for the task.
