GE2020: LinkedIn public policy head, ex-SCDF Commander introduced as PAP candidates
SINGAPORE — The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) introduced its fifth batch of new candidates for the 10 July election on Thursday (25 June), bringing the total number of fresh faces unveiled to 19.
Introduced by the party’s vice-chairman Masagos Zulkifli, they comprise Alvin Tan Sheng Hui, Asia Pacific head of public policy and economics at LinkedIn and Eric Chua Swee Leong, former commander of the 3rd Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) division.
The other two are Yeo Wan Ling, chief executive officer of Caregiver Asia who was formerly on the Economic Development Board (EDB)’s Global Operations team and Dr Wan Rizal, a senior lecturer in sports and exercise science at Republic Polytechnic.
In the virtual press conference streamed from the PAP’s headquarters in New Upper Changi Road, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos noted that the quartet possess varied and interesting journeys in their lives and will address the need for diverse viewpoints in the party.
“Our expectation of them is that crucibles will make them competent and able leaders and that they will serve with integrity,” he added.
A total of 11 candidates were introduced on Thursday across three separate sessions, but it is not known which constituencies they will contest during the upcoming GE.
The PAP has said it will unveil 26 new candidates, aged 30 to 56, over a three-day period. Ten of them are female candidates, the party added, as part of its efforts to bring in more women to its line-up.
Alvin Tan: Digitalisation, lifelong learning
Tan, 39, was previously head of public policy in South-east Asia for Facebook and represented the company in arguing against Singapore’s anti-fake news law,
He had made a written submission for the company in early 2018 to a committee studying online falsehoods, saying it did "not believe that legislation is the best approach to addressing the issue".
“I need to say at the onset, that I am no longer at Facebook, but I do feel very strongly about these issues –disinformation on social media – particularly in a world where there is a proliferation of information, accelerated by technology,” said the father of two.
“There are multiple areas in which you can help to defend a society and indeed, defend its civic practices including electoral politics. One of the most important ways is to inoculate your population through digital literacy.”
Tan had a somewhat unconventional educational journey: He was once held back a year, and did not get into a local university. Despite a bumpy start, he eventually earned a Bachelor of Economics (with First Class Honours) from Sydney University, and later a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University.
Apart from the technology sector, he has had stints at the Ministry of Defence, at the United Nations and non-profit Oxfam, as well as in investment banking at Goldman Sachs.
“I want to use my skills and experience across the private, public and nonprofit sectors to help Singaporeans become even more nimble to prepare them for the future of work that has arrived much sooner than you and I expected,” said Tan, who noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for such digital skills.
“And (if) by the time COVID-19 is over, and we haven't changed, we haven't been comfortable with technology, (then) I think we might have failed our people. And so I will continue to really tirelessly advocate (for it),” he stressed.
Tan, who has been a grassroots volunteer since 2005, mainly in the Kreta Ayer area, and has helped seniors there to learn how to use technology like headphones, smartphones, and messaging apps.
Eric Chua: Working with youths
Chua, 41, is the son of a forklift driver and a factory production operator who was formerly a stay-at-home seamstress.
He was later awarded the Local Merit Scholarship (Civil Defence) by the Public Service Commission to read Communications Studies at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). After graduating in 2002, he served with the SCDF and later became Commander of the 3rd SCDF Division.
The father of an eight-day-old son later became the director of the SGSecure Programme Office at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
A grassroots volunteer of 15 years, Chua was previously the chairman of the People’s Association Youth Movement’s Central Youth Council and various grassroots committees.
“If elected, one of the several areas I like to focus on is to ensure that youths, especially those from humble family backgrounds like I did, will continue to have a fair chance to succeed in life,” he said.
While noting that the system in Singapore works fine, he stressed that “a working system doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need work. In fact, we need to work hard to keep the system going”.
Yeo Wan Ling: Elderly and caregiving, freelance workers
Yeo, 44, left the EDB after a 17-year stint to set up the Caregiver Group, a global company that specialises in healthcare at home.
The group includes Caregiver Asia, a social enterprise that connects families in need of care with freelance caregivers.
“When I started my social enterprise, it was because I saw that there was a gap, a need in the community for home care services, and this is in particular, for long-term care for the elderly and infirm,” said Yeo, who is married.
She was motivated to leave the EDB, where she was in charge of bringing in foreign direct investment from the Americas as well as North Asia, after spending time with her grandmother during the latter’s twilight years.
“I realised the importance of being able to grow old with grace and with dignity,” said Yeo.
“I want to be the ‘in’ community champion. For caregiving programmes, so that our community can take care of each other in a sustainable way.”
Yeo also pointed out that there are several gaps here in the way that the needs of young families – who want to balance work with looking after their children – are handled, as well as those in the area of freelancers, “particularly in this time of economic turmoil”.
“I have met up with people who have suddenly found themselves needing to take on extra jobs. Because in a family, when previously there used to be more than one breadwinner, there’s only one sole breadwinner now, with the same type of commitments and burdens,” she said.
Dr Wan Rizal: Education, key to social mobility
The 42-year-old father of four said he strongly believes that “education is the key to social mobility”, citing his own “nonlinear” educational path.
Dr Wan Rizal was a student from the Normal Academic stream who got into polytechnic and later earned his degree in physical education at the age of 31. In 2017, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy from NTU.
“(Education) is how we can allow people who have less, or did less well to move up and prevent our society from being stratified. Singapore must continue to be a nation of opportunities for all, not for just the privileged few are the lucky ones, but for every Singaporean,” he said.
Dr Wan Rizal stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has proven that Singapore must continue to provide multiple pathways for Singaporeans to continue improving their skill sets.
He started volunteering in 2010 and was the chairman of Al-Islah Mosque in Punggol as well as part of Punggol’s Interracial and Religious Confidence Circle.
He also served on the citizens’ consultative committees, at both Pasir Ris East and Punggol East divisions.
Currently, he is a committee member on the advisory panel for M3 – made up of Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (Mesra) – the Ministry of Transport as well as the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
“I’m humbled to now be given the opportunity to serve the community at a higher level. I hope to be the voice in Parliament that upholds social mobility,” said Dr Wan Rizal.
“I believe that our education (system) is on the right track. Now I hope to be part of its further development.”
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