GE2015: Meet PAP’s new faces for Tanjong Pagar GRC
The People’s Action Party on Wednesday unveiled candidates who will be contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC in the upcoming General Election.
The slate comprises National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Chan Chun Sing, 45, Law and Education ministries Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah, 52, surgeon Dr Chia Shi-Lu, 43 as well as new faces Joan Pereira, 47 and Melvin Yong, 43.
Pereira is a Temasek Cares assistant general manager while Yong is a former Assistant Commissioner of Police.
Joan Pereira
Joan Pereira is a mother of two who enjoys brisk walking and reading. She studied in the Convent of the Holy infant Jesus and Catholic Junior College, before obtaining a degree in Bachelor of Arts from the National University of Singapore.
She works for Temasek Cares, which is a non-profit philanthrophic organisation set up by Temasek Holdings in 2009.
Pereira has worked with the community for 25 years, starting at Queenstown Community Centre, where she implemented community programmes.
She also implemented the Wellness Programme from 2007 to 2015 in 87 constituencies to encourage the elderly to form social networks, stay active, healthy and engaged in the community.
“Having served people all my working life, I believe in the benefits of strong bonds. When deep bonds are formed among families and neighbours, they look out for one another. They share one another’s joys and challenges, resulting in strong families, a strong community and a strong Singapore.”
Melvin Yong
Melvin Yong is also married with two children and enjoys reading and jogging. He is married to his childhood friend and pre-school teacher, Connie.
The football fan obtained a degree in bachelor of accountancy at the Nanyang Technological University as well as a master of science in criminal justice at the University of Leicester.
Yong joined the Singapore Police Force in 1995 and retired on 17 August this year.
The former student of Chinese High School and National Junior College served the community in 2011 by initiating a nation-wide youth engagement programme called Delta League, which kept more than 10,000 youths “meaningfully” occupied, he said after the press conference.
Earlier in 2002 he was also involved in the grassroots organisation in Punggol North.
