GE2025: PAP’s Foo Cexiang once dreamt of opening a football cafe; he now wants to bring people together as MP

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SINGAPORE – If Edwin Tong is Lionel Messi, then Foo Cexiang aspires to be Roberto Baggio, not for dazzling footwork or goal-scoring flair, but for the legendary Italian footballer’s grit and resilience.

Breaking into a sheepish grin, the PAP newcomer says he has been unable to dribble since he tore his ligament during national service.

“If my friends see me kicking a ball, they’ll know I wayang (‘acting out’ in Singapore slang) lah. I can’t!” adds the vice-president of port ecosystem development at PSA Singapore.

The year is 1994 and Singapore is in the grip of World Cup fever. A certain ponytailed No. 10 catches his eye, and just like that, the future politician, then a mere boy of nine, gets swept along in the current of exhilaration. 

He watches, transfixed, as Baggio fires Italy through the tournament one nail-biting game at a time. Eagerly, he asks his father to rouse him for the final, but wakes up only in time for penalties and the horror of watching his new-found hero sky his spot kick over the crossbar. 

“Ironically, that miss made me love him even more,” recalls the now 40-year-old. “This whole idea that he came within touching distance of the trophy, was unable to win, but was still so well loved by everyone. I think when people see the heart you put in, they will love you for it.” 

It is this belief that drives him to pour his all into every project, whether it is overseeing electric vehicle policy, as he did as a director at the Ministry of Transport before stepping down in April, or campaigning for a seat in Parliament. 

These days, Mr Foo spends most of his time in Tanjong Pagar GRC, ploughing through block after block without so much as a toilet break. Armed with only his fraying voice and stack of name cards, he strides along HDB corridors bellowing: “Hello everyone, this is Foo Cexiang from the PAP. I’m doing house visits. I’ll be happy to see you if you’re home!” 

Even now, more than midway through the hustings and just three days to Polling Day, his boundless energy has yet to ebb. He greets everyone he passes with an open smile and exuberant “Hi!”, before launching into easy conversation in English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese or Hainanese. 

“For me, the natural way to connect with people is by showing them my warmth. And it’s a real warmth, it comes from deep within me, and I think they can feel it quite quickly.” 

Not one to dwell on negativity, he blithely shrugs off the mean comments pelting the unflattering photo that accompanied news of his resignation, and is not daunted by sceptics, either.

“Sometimes, I meet residents who have strong emotions or challenges, and may not behave so positively towards me. But when they explain what they have been going through, it actually also energises me because I want to see how I can best gain their trust and help them.” 

While first impressions are important, his track record, he believes, will count for more in the long run, should he get elected on May 3. If that happens, he plans to improve accessibility in the estate and curate more programmes to bring together residents of all ages in this eclectic, multi-generational neighbourhood. 

For him, Tanjong Pagar’s diversity is its strength.

“The older generation has a lot of appreciation for this area, while the younger generation has a lot of aspirations. So they rub off one another, and that is why I’m very excited to be here.” 

As father to three young girls aged three to eight, Mr Foo also understands the challenges parents face in keeping children occupied without resorting to technological crutches. His solution? To ramp up child-friendly infrastructure like playgrounds, as well as to organise more community events where parents can leave their children under the supervision of a trusted neighbour, and catch a bit of a breather. 

Above all, he vows to be an MP who listens.

“Some of the residents ask me, ‘Will you speak up for us in Parliament?’ And my 100 per cent commitment is that I will certainly listen to you and understand where you’re coming from, digest it properly, and if I agree that it is in the best interest of the residents, I will speak up. 

“But that is different from saying that I will raise everything you tell me, because the individual’s perspective may not be the same as (that of) the significant group of residents.” 

Likewise, he asks for grace – in particular, the chance to explain to residents why certain policies get green-lit. The former civil servant is well aware that not all schemes prove universally popular, and will try his best to break down why resources are allocated in this way. 

While he cannot guarantee accord, he promises to go “all in” in every interaction. No regrets, no airs – that has been his approach to life since losing his mother at age 21. 

She was diagnosed with cancer in March 2006 and died, aged 51, in August that year. To make the most of her remaining time, mother and son crammed a lifetime’s worth of conversations into six months. 

“We watched old videos, we talked about the past and some of the future – things like, do I hope to get married? How many children? A lot of these conversations that, if she had been around, we would probably have had in the years to come. And it was a very reassuring process,” says the eldest of three children. His father is retired.

How would she feel about his latest endeavour? Proud, he hopes.

“But I’m also very sure that she will tell me that I need to work very hard. That’s my mum. She would always say, ‘You have done this, but the next thing is going to be harder, so you need to keep on working.’” 

Because he is running on the strength of his convictions, he does not feel the need to play up party tricks or stand out in the fresh crop of newcomers making waves this election. 

As he points out: “This is the first English interview I’m doing and I’m already coming to the end of my campaign. For me, it’s really about what I want to fight for.” 

Over his campaign hangs the long shadow of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding prime minister and the first MP of Tanjong Pagar. He also has to fill the shoes of Ms Indranee Rajah, who has moved from Tanjong Pagar GRC to run in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, and whose name is brought up by more than a few residents during his walkabout.

But Mr Foo feels no pressure. On the contrary, the chance to carry on their legacy galvanises him.

“I’m convinced that the PAP is still the party to take the country forward in terms of the values that we have espoused over the years,” he says. 

“In today’s era of great political contest and complexity, I believe it will require deeper and more direct engagement with Singaporeans. That is why I’ve chosen to step forward.”

But he did hesitate before taking the leap of faith, held back by the prospect of ceding yet more precious time at home. Already, the demands of this election are taking a toll on his family.

“My daughter received her first Edusave award the other day, on Saturday, but I couldn’t attend (the ceremony). So there will be moments when you wish you were there.”

How then will this aspiring parliamentarian, who wants to champion the welfare of children, ensure his own offspring do not end up with the short end of the stick?

By taking them along on the job, so he hopes. Should he triumph at the polls and realise his vision of putting together more family-friendly activities in the ward, his wife and children could join as volunteers or attendees – “and then the children will get to see what Papa is doing”. 

His foray into politics has extracted one more sacrifice: His dream of running a football cafe will have to be postponed for now. 

“Politics is a whole different calling. That was just an idea I thought would be nice.” 

Still, one thing remains consistent: his goal to bring people from all walks of life together to find common ground over good conversation.