GE2025: History repeats itself as woman gets to take photo with SM Lee for 2nd time in a decade
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SM Lee Hsien Loong taking a photo with Ms Choy Ning Zhen and her daughter, which echoed the photo (right) he had taken with her a decade ago.
PHOTOS: JASON QUAH, COURTESY OF CHOY NING ZHEN
SINGAPORE – A routine shopping trip at Hougang 1 mall on April 20 turned into a thrilling encounter for Ms Choy Ning Zhen and her nine-year-old daughter Hayley Ng.
Ms Choy, a professional from the tourism and attractions industry, was at a FairPrice supermarket when she spotted Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“Mr Lee!” She called out excitedly. “I took a picture with you when my daughter was in my womb. Now she is here!”
SM Lee turned to the mother and daughter, and asked the Primary 3 pupil of Nan Chiau Primary School where she was studying, and at what level. Beaming, he posed for a photo with them.
Ms Choy, 38, rushed back to him shortly afterwards when she found on her mobile phone the photo that SM Lee had taken with her a decade ago.
Looking at the photo, SM Lee quipped: “We were both so young back then, and you are still young now.”
Speaking to The Straits Times afterwards, Ms Choy said: “It was so surreal! I felt exactly how I felt 10 years ago when I saw him. Excited, in tears, trembling! What are the odds of meeting Mr Lee twice in a lifetime?”
The former Ang Mo Kio resident, who has since moved to Sengkang, added: “My daughter kept saying, ‘Mama, I can tell you are so happy. Today is the best day of your life, right?’”
Joining SM Lee on the walkabout were former senior civil servant Jasmin Lau, 42, as well as Mr Victor Lye, 63, who contested Aljunied GRC in the past. They are part of the Ang Mo Kio GRC team, alongside incumbents Darryl David, 54, and Nadia Ahmad Samdin, 35, who visited the mall on April 20.
While the group members were all given a warm reception, SM Lee was clearly the star.
The supermarket branch senior executive, Ms Pinky Maria, 62, who is from the Philippines, went back to work on her day off just to see SM Lee.
She said: “I have been here for 17 years. Where I came from, we hold (Singapore’s founding prime minister) Lee Kuan Yew in very high regard. And I didn’t want to miss this good opportunity to see Mr Lee Hsien Loong.”
The PAP’s Ang Mo Kio GRC team members were at the mall for more than an hour, visiting the stores and foodcourt, shaking hands and taking photos with delighted shoppers and diners.
SM Lee Hsien Loong (centre) with the PAP’s Ang Mo Kio GRC team members (from far left) Nadia Ahmad Samdin, Victor Lye, Jasmin Lau and Darryl David on a walkabout at Hougang 1 mall on April 20.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Ms Lau said that the reception from the residents has been “super warm”, and it is their smiles that keep her going. Her family has also been supportive in helping her to look after her children, and adjusting to her new schedule.
She added: “Most people are happy to just understand who I am. As a new candidate, I have to introduce myself and say a little bit more.”
Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.
