GE2025: Jasmin Lau and Victor Lye spotted in Ang Mo Kio GRC along with SM Lee Hsien Loong
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PAP veteran Victor Lye and former senior civil servant Jasmin Lau arriving with Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Hougang Village on April 13.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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SINGAPORE – Former senior civil servant Jasmin Lau and PAP veteran Victor Lye have been spotted in Ang Mo Kio GRC.
Both were seen alongside Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Hougang Village on April 13. With them were Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Darryl David and Nadia Ahmad Samdin. Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Ng Ling Ling, who are also currently MPs for the GRC, were not with them.
Speaking to the media, SM Lee stopped short of confirming the Ang Mo Kio GRC team, but, referring to both Ms Lau and Mr Lye, said that he would be delighted to have them on his team.
Ms Lau, 42, was previously deputy secretary (policy) at the Ministry of Health
She was one of eight new faces revealed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on April 12 who look set to run under the PAP banner in the upcoming general election.
Ms Lau said: “This is my first walkabout... glad to be here with the Ang Mo Kio team, also glad to be standing on the shoulders of giants, and being able to learn from them.”
She added that it has been “warm” meeting all residents in Ang Mo Kio.
“What I bring to the table is a listening ear, a sincere heart, and my strong hands to serve the residents.”
She said she felt “very honoured” but also “a little bit stressed” learning from SM Lee, the team and generations of leaders who have served in the area and done so much for the people.
“So it is with some pressure to come here to learn, and if I do have the chance, and if PM so decides to send me here, I would be very honoured to take up this chance to work with everybody here.”
Mr Lye, 63, was part of the PAP teams for Aljunied GRC that lost to the WP in the 2015 and 2020 general elections.
He was the chairman of the PAP Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch for 13 years, but stepped down in February
Mr Lye had said on his social media post then that “while my chapter here draws to a close, I look forward to new opportunities to serve and contribute to our collective vision of a better Singapore for all”.
He said: “I just want to say that we have been working across Singapore as one team, wherever we are.”
He added that he is familiar with the area as many of his residents where he served in Aljunied GRC also frequent the place.
“Also, I used to live in Ang Mo Kio. I am also quite familiar with that part of Singapore,” he said, adding that he will do his best for Singapore wherever he is fielded.
“I have served Singapore and Singaporeans the best I can, no matter what the odds. Whether I’m fielded in Ang Mo Kio, or not at all, is not the most important thing,” he said.
“It is important to see where our hearts are to do our best for Singapore. Especially when you know the world is not getting any easier, especially when you know domestically there is going to be greater political diversity.”
SM Lee said that both bring experience in different areas: Mr Lye, who is founder and chief executive of an artificial intelligence-driven asset management fintech company, has considerable private experience and considerable ground experience in Aljunied, and before that, volunteering in different branches, he said.
Ms Lau has experience working in different government departments and statutory boards, including with the Economic Development Board, and served on various boards of non-governmental organisations. SM Lee believes she can contribute to how residents’ lives can be improved, and can come up with ideas and solutions, mobilise people and make things happen.
“I think when you have a new person come in, we bring experience from where they were and also hope for how they will grow into their new job,” SM Lee said. “I am quite sure that these two will have that potential and will show that performance.”
The PAP team there garnered 71.9 per cent of valid votes in the 2020 General Election against a Reform Party (RP) team.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong taking a wefie with (from left) Ms Jasmin Lau, Mr Darryl David, Mr Victor Lye and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin at Hougang Village on April 13.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Ang Mo Kio is the largest GRC
It is poised for a three-cornered fight in the upcoming polls, with two opposition parties staking their claims on the constituency.
People’s Power Party (PPP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng said the party will field a team in a challenge to SM Lee.
The PPP’s team for Ang Mo Kio GRC will be headed by party treasurer William Lim, a 47-year-old who works as a limousine service provider.
The Singapore United Party (SUP) also said it will contest Ang Mo Kio GRC
Both have so far failed to reach a deal
Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.
