GE2025: PAP’s Yip Hon Weng has plans for more elderly-friendly services in Yio Chu Kang SMC

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SINGAPORE – When Mr Yip Hon Weng was introduced as the PAP candidate for Yio Chu Kang SMC in the 2020 General Election, he was a political newbie.

With just a few weeks to go before the election then, the first-time candidate had limited opportunity to introduce himself to residents – a challenge made even more daunting by the constraints of campaigning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As a newcomer, you need visibility. People need to know who you are, and with your face covered by a mask, it’s hard to build that familiarity,” Mr Yip told The Straits Times on April 29 before a walkabout.

Now, five years on, an endless stream of residents come up to Mr Yip as he walks through Ang Mo Kio 628 Market and the surrounding housing blocks.

They greet him warmly – some offering candid feedback, others expressing steady support.

The incumbent Yio Chu Kang MP who is seeking re-election said he spent much of his first term earning the trust of residents “the hard way” – through tireless house visits, face-to-face engagement and a ground-up approach focused on listening to residents’ concerns, following up and delivering results.

But Mr Yip is not taking this trust for granted come Polling Day on May 3.

“Nearly every seat is contested. We must fight hard each time,” said Mr Yip, who is going up against the People’s Alliance for Reform’s Dr Michael Fang this election.

In the last election, Mr Yip secured 60.82 per cent of the vote against the Progress Singapore Party’s Ms Kayla Low.

Mr Yip said having a contest gives residents a choice at the ballot box, and it is important for people to make that decision for themselves.

Regardless of what the opposition is doing, he said he and his team remain focused on their outreach efforts and plans to serve residents.

He also urged voters to assess MPs on two fronts: whether they are present and effective on the ground, and whether they speak up in Parliament.

On the municipal level, he pointed to how he has tackled issues ranging from requests for more covered walkways to the placement of incense burners around the estate. He has also tried his best to explain the trade-offs and the thought process behind each decision to residents.

Beyond estate matters, Mr Yip said MPs have a responsibility to raise feedback in Parliament and ensure policies are scrutinised from various perspectives.

In Parliament, he has spoken on over 130 Bills and filed more than 500 parliamentary questions, covering both local and national issues. These include topics such as the cost of living, scams and education – which he said are concerns frequently raised during house visits.

Looking ahead, he remains committed to continuing the work he has started.

If re-elected, he hopes to further improve the amenities and estate conditions in Yio Chu Kang, with projects like the upcoming neighbourhood renewal and home improvement programmes.

Drawing on his experience with the Ministry of Health and Agency for Integrated Care, Mr Yip plans to enhance Yio Chu Kang’s status as Singapore’s first fully dementia-friendly neighbourhood by introducing more services for seniors.

One of the plans is to have more clear signage, colourful zoning and wall murals, and he also hopes to introduce healthcare and wellness programmes to better support the growing elderly population.

“I want to ensure that our community remains well-connected, accessible and supportive for everyone,” he said.

“It’s not about grand promises, but about delivering on what matters most – ensuring that residents’ needs are heard, and their concerns are addressed.”