GE2025: ‘Full of integrity, empathy, purpose’: Maliki Osman on East Coast successor Hazlina Abdul Halim

SINGAPORE – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman has

formally endorsed Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim,

the former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore, as his successor in East Coast GRC.

The 40-year-old will take over his work at the five-member group representation constituency’s Siglap ward, he told reporters on the sidelines of a walkabout at Bedok 85 Market on April 12.

Dr Maliki said he has known Madam Hazlina for many years, since she started out as a journalist.

Madam Hazlina started her career as a radio presenter for Mediacorp’s Ria 89.7FM. She later transitioned into television and was at one point an assignments editor on CNA’s Singapore desk.

She is now the senior vice-president of strategy and communications at advisory firm Teneo.

Dr Maliki said he also knew her through her work as the president of PPIS (Singapore Muslim Women’s Association) from 2020 to 2024.

Vouching for her qualities, he added that he has “known her to be one who is full of integrity, empathy, purpose”, which are qualities that will bode well for her in public life.

“As a former journalist, as well as having worked and headed the non-profit sector, I believe she knows well the needs of Singaporeans and that’s one of the key qualities of being in public office.”

Dr Maliki, 59, first broke the news to more than 100 grassroots leaders at Siglap Community Club on April 11. During the meeting, he also asked them to throw their support behind Madam Hazlina.

The development could mean that Dr Maliki is ready to wrap up his 24-year political career, which kicked off five election cycles ago in 2001, when he was elected an MP for Sembawang GRC.

But when asked on April 12, he did not confirm if he would retire.

Also present was

former brigadier-general and PAP new face Goh Pei Ming,

who expressed hopes of running in the constituency.

“I grew up in East Coast. I’ve attended school here. My family, my parents, my kids are all here,” said the 42-year-old, who was until recently the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) chief of staff – joint staff.

“My past, present and future are closely tied to East Coast, and I look forward to doing my best for everyone here in East Coast,” he added.

He said his candidacy in East Coast would be meaningful as he grew up in Bedok North and now lives in the Joo Chiat ward, which has been absorbed into East Coast GRC. He has also been active in its Kampong Chai Chee ward, becoming the vice-chair of its citizens’ consultative committee in 2019 and chairman of its community club’s management committee in 2021.

Mr Goh noted that the final slate will be decided by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, but said he is nevertheless currently focused on understanding other divisions of East Coast and integrating with the PAP team here.

Since Mr Goh’s last day with the SAF on March 31, he has made appearances in Punggol GRC, fuelling speculation that he could be fielded there.

Asked about his involvement in Punggol, Mr Goh said he finds it to be a “very useful” learning journey.

Punggol is a relatively new town with many Built-To-Order flats. In contrast, East Coast GRC, especially its Bedok town, is more mature and has more seniors, he pointed out.

“I think having seen both ends of the spectrum gives me a good sense of what the challenges are, and how I can better serve our people,” he said.

East Coast GRC is helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, 63. The other MPs are Dr Maliki; Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and National Development Tan Kiat How, 47; Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jessica Tan, 58; and Ms Cheryl Chan, 49.

All five current East Coast GRC MPs, as well as Mr Edwin Tong – whose Joo Chiat ward in Marine Parade GRC has been absorbed into East Coast GRC –  were at the April 12 walkabout.

That means eight PAP members, including four political office-holders, were present.

Asked who among the eight would be retiring or be fielded elsewhere, DPM Heng said the appearances are part of the team’s “overall exposure”.

“As you know, every round of election will have some renewal. As to the speed at which we are doing this renewal, (it) is something which the secretary-general would have to decide, not just for East Coast, but for the entire Singapore,” he said.

Mr Tong said the public might be interested in retirements and replacements during this season, but the PAP is focused on the equally important work of refreshing the party.

He said: “Change is pretty much a constant. We constantly review, refresh our team to serve our residents better.

“I, myself, for example, if I am fielded at East Coast for this GE, it would be my fourth GE, but my third GRC.”

Mr Tong made his political debut in 2011 in Moulmein-Kallang GRC, and was moved to Marine Parade GRC from 2015.

Mr Tong also said the PAP’s branches, activists and structures are equipped to deal with the regular cadence of change.

“Whoever will be the candidates, whichever is the team that is fielded, the support will be strong, and we will carry on and ensure that our residents’ interests will remain unchanged. That’s our priority,” he added.

Madam Hazlina’s first public outing in East Coast was on March 31,

when she visited a Chai Chee mosque alongside another new face – former Agency for Integrated Care CEO Dinesh Vasu Dash.

During her last East Coast walkabout on April 5, which covered three coffee shops in the Siglap estate, DPM Heng and Mr Tong, who is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, had introduced both her and Mr Dinesh to residents.

Mr Dinesh did not participate in the April 12 walkabout, in a signal that he could be fielded elsewhere.

East Coast GRC was where a PAP team led by DPM Heng locked horns with the WP in the 2020 General Election and secured 53.39 per cent of the vote, making it the second-worst performing GRC won by the ruling party.

The general election in 2025 will likely see the PAP go head-to-head with the Workers’ Party in the constituency for the fifth time.

Asked about its close winning margin in the last election, Mr Tong said the margin is “something that we can never take for granted”.

That said, he pointed out that the work is already cut out for the PAP, regardless of the opposition party that contests in East Coast.

“We’ve been working, as DPM said, for the past five years, and we stand on that,” he added.

The PAP has to work under the assumption that any constituency would be heavily contested, he said.

“We will have to work very hard to win every vote, to ensure that all our residents’ interests are met, and that they will be comfortable with the team that we will ultimately field at East Coast,” he said.