It’s no secret that Finance Minister Lawrence Wong spent a large part of his formative years in the east.
The 4G PAP leader told The Straits Times in an interview that he grew up in an ordinary family in the Marine Parade housing estate and spent a majority of his schooling years in the area.
Minister Wong attended a PAP Community Foundation (PCF) kindergarten in Marine Parade and then moved on to Haig Boys’ Primary, where his mother taught. Subsequently, he went to Tanjong Katong Secondary Technical School and Victoria Junior College in his junior college years.
When quizzed why he didn’t attend Raffles Institution, he said it made sense for him to study near home, where all his friends were.
ESM Goh recalls Minister Wong’s Marine Parade roots
When it was announced that Minister Wong was chosen to be 4G leader on Apr 14, 2022, there were a flurry of congratulatory messages on social media.
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s Facebook post stood out, he wrote: “Marine Parade can be proud of Lawrence. He grew up in our estate. His father was an RC leader. Congrats, Lawrence. You have your work cut out for you.”
Well, with a Facebook handle called Mparader, one could understand ESM Goh’s excitement of the appointment of Minister Wong as leader of the 4G team.
A few days later, ESM Goh followed up with another personal post, this time sharing photos of Minister Wong’s growing up years.
These photos were first published in 2015 in a blog called MP Then and Now, which also saw PCF Marine Parade celebrate its SG50 Carnival.
In his Facebook post, ESM Goh again reiterated the Marine Parade connection.
“Marine Parade is proud and excited to produce Singapore’s 4G leader… Congrats, Lawrence. We have your back, son.”
