A Temasek Holdings investment director and potential election candidate for the People's Action Party (PAP) was seen at a tree-planting event in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC yesterday.

Ms Sun Xueling, also known as Soon Sher Rene, was with Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan and MP Janil Puthu-cheary at Punggol Promenade greeting residents and helping with tree-planting. The 36-year-old started helping out at grassroots events in Buona Vista in 2001 before she joined Punggol West.

Punggol West grassroots leaders said she has been seen at closed-door PAP sessions recently and there has been speculation on whether she will be a candidate.

Ms Sun told reporters: "This is my first formal event. I've started working more with Dr Janil and participating at grassroots events on and off."

On whether she might be fielded, she said that was a decision for the party to make. "I started helping out in Buona Vista and, through other grassroots members, I've come to know more of these events, which I find meaningful," she said.

Ms Sun, who is married and has a daughter, spoke at the PAP's 50th Anniversary Rally in 2004 on the changing face of the party and Singapore's future. That year, she received the Service Award at the Young PAP Awards.

Mr Teo, the anchor minister for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, told reporters that candidates will be revealed "in good time". As for opposition parties bidding for the GRC, he said: "Our focus is really on making sure that we look after the residents as well as we can."

Mr Teo, who is also Home Affairs Minister, launched the Clean and Green SG50 Mass Tree Planting event at Punggol Promenade with 50 families from Punggol West.

The initiative will see 5,500 trees planted at locations across Singapore. About 20,000 people will be involved in planting more than 100 species of trees native to Singapore.