Former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi among PAP new faces spotted in Nee Soon GRC

SINGAPORE – Former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi was spotted in Nee Soon GRC on March 27, the first time he has been seen in public since resigning from his seat in Parliament.

Dr Syed Harun, a 39-year-old psychiatrist, was seen with Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and other Nee Soon GRC MPs during a visit to the former Northview Secondary School.

The school is now being used as a temporary prayer site while the Darul Makmur Mosque undergoes upgrading works.

Other PAP new faces spotted at the event included intellectual property lawyer Deryne Sim, 40, Ms Lee Hui Ying, 36, and Mr Jackson Lam, 40, who in February stepped down from his post as PAP branch chairman in Hougang SMC.

The pair have also been spotted at previous Nee Soon events in recent months.

On Feb 14, Dr Syed Harun and lawyer Raj Joshua Thomas resigned as Nominated MPs (NMPs).

It is the first time an NMP has quit before seeing out the full term. The two men were appointed NMPs in July 2023, and had about a year left on their 2½-year terms.

The timing of the pair’s resignation fuelled speculation that they might be fielded in the upcoming general election, which must be held by November.

In a Facebook post at the time, Dr Syed Harun, who is consultant psychiatrist and medical director at the Starfish Clinic of Psychiatry & Mental Wellness, put up his resignation letter in which he said it would be most appropriate that he resign as he intends to explore opportunities for political service.

On March 27, he was seen speaking to Mr Shanmugam and other Nee Soon GRC MPs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Carrie Tan and Derrick Goh.

Mr Louis Ng, who is also a Nee Soon GRC MP, was not at the event.

Dr Syed Harun also stood next to Mr Shanmugam and Associate Professor Faishal when they spoke to reporters.