GE2025: SM Lee to helm Ang Mo Kio GRC team, which has two new members
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(From left) Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Henry Kwek, Mr Ng Chee Meng, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, newcomers Jasmin Lau and Victor Lye, Mr Darryl David and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin on April 19.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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SINGAPORE – Former senior civil servant Jasmin Lau and Mr Victor Lye, who contested Aljunied GRC in the past, will join the Ang Mo Kio GRC
Rounding out the slate are incumbent Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs Darryl David, 54, and Nadia Ahmad Samdin, 35.
The two newcomers will replace Ms Ng Ling Ling
Speaking at a press briefing at the PAP Teck Ghee branch on April 19, SM Lee, 73, said: “Over the years, we have spoken up on many national issues in Parliament, contributed to robust debate and improvements in government policy.
“The PAP team has also been busy on the ground, working closely with residents to improve lives.”
He added that the team has steadily improved the estate, with flat and lift upgrading, and new parks, transport lines and bus services, among other things.
He said the new team members will bring fresh ideas and energy to do good, alongside veterans like himself.
When asked if this was his last election, he said: “And one day, all of us will have to go. I do not know whether this is my last term, that’s up to the PM, but I will serve as long as I’m useful, and as long as the PM thinks I’m useful.”
SM Lee, who will anchor the team, has represented the Teck Ghee ward for 41 years, having been first elected to Parliament in 1984.
He said the GRC team and the Yio Chu Kang and Kebun Baru SMCs are part of the Ang Mo Kio extended family.
“We all work together in Ang Mo Kio Town Council to deliver a wider range of activities and more efficient services for residents,” he said. The arrangement will be extended to the newly formed Jalan Kayu SMC as well.
He also thanked Ms Ng and Mr Gan for their contributions, and touched on the improvements they have made to amenities in their areas. “I’m very grateful to them for their many contributions over the past years. They’ve put their heart and soul into serving residents,” he said.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanking retiring MPs Ng Ling Ling and Gan Thiam Poh at the PAP Teck Ghee branch on April 19.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
The new team was spotted together in Hougang Village
Ms Lau, 42, was previously a deputy secretary of policy at the Health Ministry. She oversaw manpower, financing and regulatory measures in the healthcare system.
She has experience working in different government departments and statutory boards, including the Economic Development Board, and served on the boards of various non-governmental organisations.
The mother of two has also represented Singapore as part of the national netball team.
SM Lee said: “She spent time in different ministries and stat boards, including the Economic Development Board, and most recently, she’s been a deputy secretary in the Health Ministry. She will bring fresh ideas to improve residents’ lives, mobilise people and make things happen.”
Drawing from her experiences in the sporting arena, Ms Lau said she had to learn new skills from playing netball in primary school to basketball in her 30s. But she could build on the strong foundations she had from netball, like how to play as a team, which helped her to pick up the new sport.
She said: “So moving from public service into politics feels a little bit like my transition from netball into basketball. For 19 years or so, I worked on healthcare, manpower and finance policies.
“These experiences are now the strong foundations that I bring into the new court of politics, and I believe that as I hone my skills, I will be able to serve Singaporeans effectively. Yes, there are new skills to pick up, new rules of the sport to learn, but I believe that I can learn them well.”
PAP newcomers Jasmin Lau and Victor Lye during the line-up announcement on April 19, 2025.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Mr Lye, 63, is founder and chief executive of an artificial intelligence-driven asset management fintech company. He was part of the PAP team for Aljunied GRC that lost to the WP in the 2015 and 2020 general elections.
In February, he stepped down as chairman of the PAP Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch after 13 years.
He said he has walked the ground for years even when times were difficult, and added that, in effect, he has served three times, although not in Parliament, and he contested two elections no matter the odds.
He said: “We worked constantly to earn the trust of our people. Not just at election time, but right after every election, and in between every election. We have done our best.
“You may have one vote... If you do not use it well, the outcome can be quite damaging for our future.”
Ang Mo Kio is the largest GRC, with 161,235 electors, after Jalan Kayu SMC was carved out. The new SMC takes in areas that are in Ms Ng’s Jalan Kayu ward, and also parts of Mr Gan’s Fernvale ward.
Labour chief Ng Chee Meng will be fielded in the newly minted Jalan Kayu single seat.
The PAP team in Ang Mo Kio GRC secured 71.9 per cent of valid votes in the 2020 General Election against a Reform Party (RP) team.
Singapore United Party (SUP) secretary-general Andy Zhu and his team, who contested Ang Mo Kio GRC in GE2020 under the RP banner, polled 28.09 per cent of the vote.
A three-cornered fight is expected in Ang Mo Kio GRC between the PAP, SUP People’s Power Party
Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.
Sue-Ann Tan is a business correspondent at The Straits Times covering capital markets and sustainable finance.
