GE2015: PAP unveils Ang Mo Kio GRC team
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday unveiled the People’s Action Party team to contest Ang Mo Kio GRC comprising himself, Koh Poh Koon, Darryl David, Gan Thiam Poh, Dr. Intan Azura Binte Mokhtar and Ang Hin Kee.
"In the PAP team we are renewing our slate and presenting new candidates, and reinforcing our team with potential office holders to strengthen the leadership, to form the next generation of leaders that will take over me and my team," Lee said.
Lee also announced IT manager Lee Hong Chuang as the candidate for Hougang SMC and Lam Pin Min for Sengkang West SMC.
Meanwhile, MP Seng Han Thong will be retiring.
David, 44, is currently a deputy director at Temasek Polytechnic's School of Design. The former media veteran was previously a host of The Pyramid Game.
After the press conference, David spoke to reporters about his connection to the residents in Ang Mo Kio GRC.
"In terms of Ang Mo Kio - Hougang, I've spent quite a lot of time on the ground understanding the residents, knowing the profile of the place. We tend to do quite a lot of breakfast sessions with our residents, especially elderly residents. I've become quite familiar with these uncles and aunties," he said. He was also able to connect with elderly residents in both Mandarin and in dialects, he added.
Dr Koh, 43, a self-employed colorectal surgeon, stood as a PAP candidate in the 2013 Punggol East by-election, in which he lost to The Workers' Party's Lee Li Lian.
"From the (2013 Punggol-East) by-election, it has given me the opportunity to serve people and through the interaction, it has allowed me to gather issues that are closer to the hearts of Singapore," he said to reporters after the press conference.
Regarding social media comments about his supposed lack of knowledge of the ground, he said, "The online space is free for all. They are free to form their opinion. But what's most important for us as community leaders is to focus on the real work in serving people. Those whom we've been able to touch base and interact with will be able to form a more balanced opinion."
Gan forms part of the Ang Mo Kio team as his Punggol South ward was absorbed into the GRC after the boundaries changed recently.
MP Inderjit Singh, who announced his retirement much earlier, was also present.
When asked about his future plans, he said, "Now I am fully focused in helping Prime Minister and Ang Mo Kio for the campaign for this election. I think I've been around for a long time, I cannot just leave. But I also have to campaign for Kampong Bahru, which is in Nee Soon... I've been around for 31 years, I think you will continue to hear from me in other capacities."
With additional reporting by Nurul Azliah Aripin
