Jamus Lim in US for three-week summer fellowship; former WP MPs to cover for him in Sengkang GRC

Sengkang GRC MP Jamus Lim will be away from July 18 to Aug 8. PHOTO: JAMUSLIM/INSTAGRAM

SINGAPORE - Workers' Party (WP) MP Jamus Lim is taking leave from his Sengkang GRC duties for about three weeks to attend a summer fellowship programme in the United States.

Associate Professor Lim will be away from Monday (July 18) to Aug 8.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Prof Lim said former WP MPs Low Thia Khiang and Png Eng Huat will be temporarily taking over his constituency responsibilities, with the help of volunteers.

Mr Low, 65, former WP chief and a former Aljunied GRC MP; and Mr Png, 60, a former Hougang MP, had both retired from electoral politics at the 2020 General Election.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, a WP spokesman said on Tuesday that Mr Low will be covering the estate walks, while Mr Png will take over the Meet-the-People Sessions in Anchorvale, which is Prof Lim's ward in the group representation constituency.

She added that Mr Low had been on an estate walk on Tuesday morning.

"Prior to his departure, Jamus had doubled up on house visits and will double up upon his return to stay on schedule. He will still be available virtually to attend to other responsibilities as an MP, such as town council meetings," said the spokesman.

Prof Lim, 46, an associate professor of economics at the Asia-Pacific campus of Essec Business School near Buona Vista, said he will also continue to be available to help with residents' concerns virtually. He added that he will be back to catch up with residents on National Day and meet them at related festivities.

Sengkang GRC currently has three MPs - Prof Lim, Ms He Ting Ru and Mr Louis Chua - following the resignation of Ms Raeesah Khan last year.

Prof Lim will be in California, where he is attending the annual Draper Hills Summer Fellow Programme, which began in 2005, at Stanford University's Centre on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law.

According to the school's website, it is a three-week training programme for global democratic leaders holding senior roles in their respective fields such as business, government or the non-profit sector.

This year's programme participants comprise 32 leaders from 26 countries who were selected from hundreds of applicants.

Fellows will stay on the Stanford campus and attend classes conducted by Stanford faculty, visit Silicon Valley technology firms and connect with peers.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.