The People’s Action Party (PAP) has officially announced its candidates for the Sengkang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the upcoming General Election, scheduled before 23 November 2024. The four-member team is led by Dr Lam Pin Min, a former senior minister of state, and boasts three new faces.
Meet the Candidates
- Dr Lam Pin Min, 56, is an ophthalmologist and the only returning candidate from the previous election.
- Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, 43, a lecturer at the National University of Singapore, who also serves on various councils including the Media Literacy Council.
- Theodora Lai, 39, a venture capital director with significant leadership experience in the PAP.
- Bernadette Giam, 38, who heads a food and beverage enterprise and is the newest entrant into politics.
A Shift in Strategy
During a press conference held at the PAP’s Sengkang West branch, Dr Lam emphasised the need for a “refreshed” team following the lessons learned from the 2020 loss to the Workers’ Party (WP). In that election, the PAP captured 47.88% of the vote compared to the WP’s 52.12%.
Dr Lam noted, “We realised after GE2020 that there is actually a call for younger candidates, as well as female candidates that can best represent female residents within Sengkang GRC.”
Community Commitment
The candidates share a commitment to restoring trust among Sengkang residents. “A vote for our team means experienced leadership, renewed energy, and a steadfast commitment to Sengkang’s progress,” Dr Lam stated. The team aims to leverage their diverse professional backgrounds to serve the community effectively.
Looking Forward
As the electoral landscape prepares for the approaching General Election, Sengkang GRC is set to maintain its youthful demographic, with over half of its residents under 40 years old. The PAP’s newly announced team will face the current WP team, which includes He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim, Louis Chua, and a former member, Raeesah Khan, who resigned in 2021.
In the interim, residents can look forward to new community spaces and enhancements, including features like a dog run and a butterfly sanctuary, outlined in a recent five-year master plan by the current MPs in Sengkang.