PAP announces Sengkang GRC slate led by Lam Pin Min

Key Concepts:

• Political experience (Member of Parliament, Minister of State)
• Clinical practice (Pediatric Ophthalmology)
• Grassroots advising
• Team demographics (age, gender)
• Town council leadership
• Challenges faced by families (working parents, elderly care)
• Community projects (breakfast sets, fair price on wheels, legal aid)
• Deep tech venture building
• Concerns of youth (job prospects, housing costs, mental health)
• Digital literacy and online scams
• SME support (Singapore Business Federation, Catering Trade Association)
• Work-life balance

1. Political and Professional Background

• Elected to Parliament in 2006.
• Served as Minister of State for Health in 2014.
• Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport in 2017.
• The PAP team lost Sengkang GRC in the 2020 general election.
• Returned to clinical practice as CEO and Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Eagle Eye Centre.
• Senior Visiting Consultant at Singapore National Eye Centre.
• Remains committed to serving Sengkang residents as a grassroots advisor and branch chairman of Sengkang West branch.

2. Team Composition and Focus

• Team average age is 43, with equal gender representation.
• Diverse professional backgrounds.
• Shared passion to serve Sengkang residents and regain their trust.
• Combination of experience in government, town council leadership (Chairman of Ang Mo Kio Town Council), and grassroots work.
• Aims to address current challenges and future opportunities in Sengkang.

3. Understanding Family Challenges

• Identifies as a working parent with two young children and an elderly parent.
• Understands the juggling act of creating memories for children, balancing a demanding career, and caring for parents.
• Volunteered in Sengkang North, engaging with residents to understand their needs.
• Met families balancing careers and children, and elderly needing accessible amenities and safe environments.

4. Community Initiatives

• Initiated local community projects to make a difference for specific community groups.
• Examples: $2 breakfast sets, fair price on wheels, free haircuts, legal aid clinic.
• Goal: To build communities in Sengkang based on bonds and trust among neighbors.

5. Deep Tech and Innovation

• Leads a deep tech venture builder, helping scientists and founders turn ideas into real-world solutions.
• Focus on validation, scanning the horizon, identifying opportunities, and pivoting when necessary.
• Applies this spirit to Sengkang by planning thoughtfully and acting decisively for families.

6. Addressing Youth Concerns

• Educator at a local university for over 15 years.
• Understands the fears, concerns, and aspirations of young Singaporeans.
• Concerns include getting their first job, building a career, and the cost of owning a home.
• Importance of educational success and social mobility, based on interests, talents, and personal capabilities.
• Advocates for better mental health and well-being through hobbies and balancing work, studies, and family life.
• Emphasizes that life is not a race but a pursuit to be the best version of oneself.

7. Digital Literacy and Safety

• Shares concerns about creating a safer environment, especially in the digital age.
• Notes that seniors in Sengkang have experienced online scams.
• Devoted a large part of life to researching the effects of digital technologies and social media.

8. Supporting SMEs

• Works in the food and beverage business for 13 years.
• Understands the challenges of a competitive environment with unstable manpower and long hours.
• Contributes to the Singapore Business Federation committee and the Catering Trade Association.
• Champions support for SMEs, which employ 70% of the Singapore workforce.
• Supporting SMEs ensures better opportunities for Singaporeans through jobs and access to business.

9. Motivation for Entering Politics

• Enters politics now because having young children allows her to better represent Sengkang parents.
• Understands their struggles and feels the "mom guilt" of missing milestones.
• Motivated to step forward and make a difference for all families in Sengkang.

10. Conclusion

The speaker emphasizes a commitment to serving the residents of Sengkang by leveraging a diverse background in politics, healthcare, business, and education. Key priorities include addressing the challenges faced by families, supporting SMEs, promoting digital literacy, and advocating for the well-being of youth. The speaker's personal experience as a working parent serves as a driving force to create positive change in the community.