We can’t solve all problems, but we lend a listening ear: Desmond Tan talks about being a first-term MP

SINGAPORE – After 4½ years as an MP, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan sometimes feels like he is a therapist or counsellor during his Meet-The-People Sessions.

There are residents asking for help with scams or to appeal for financial aid or housing assistance. Then, there are others who drop in looking for resolution to their family disputes, while some are unhappy with the authorities and are looking to rant, he said.

“The kind of issues that I’m asked to deal with sometimes can be quite encompassing. Some of these are very personal,” he explained.

“We can’t solve all problems, (but) we will lend a listening ear. They come to us because they have nobody else to turn to, and they trust us. So that’s a good thing.”

Mr Tan was on The Usual Place podcast recently, where he spoke about his experience so far as a first-term MP.

The episode is now

out on ST Podcasts’ YouTube channel.

In the lead-up to the upcoming general election, The Usual Place features MPs and others involved in the upcoming election, to find out how they are preparing themselves.

Mr Tan, who has been an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC since 2020, said he “won’t call it a job because... it’s an elected role that has no fixed job description and no fixed terms of reference”.

The 54-year-old, who spent almost three decades in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) before becoming the People’s Association’s chief executive director in 2017, was also tasked to take on positions in the Government soon after he became an MP.

In 2020, he was appointed Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, and Home Affairs. In 2022, he became Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. In 2024, he was

promoted to his current position.

Being relatively new to his government roles, Mr Tan said that he does get imposter syndrome sometimes.

“Like it or not, you have to really level up very quickly in any policy position. You are not an expert overnight; we all have to learn.”

He takes criticism in his stride, accepting that it comes with the job. For example, as NTUC’s deputy secretary-general, he

took some heat over the recent Allianz-Income Insurance deal that was called off,

with some chatter online questioning his experience and background.

Reflecting on the matter, Mr Tan said that his job was to convey the position of the NTUC Central Committee, and the public’s expectations over what ought to be done or what the committee should know may not always tally with the reality of its role.

“Sometimes, there may be disagreement in opinions, but we have to continue our path,” said Mr Tan, who holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Nanyang Business School. “As long as I speak the truth, and I’m clear about my conscience, I have nothing to worry about.”

He credited part of his strong mental strength to the time he spent in the military – be it physical pain or online criticism, it is part and parcel of character building and strengthening resilience.

“I learnt to take things a little bit more easy. I actually don’t read a lot of online comments,” said Mr Tan.

“I’ve learnt to just do my job and let people express how they feel. More importantly, it’s about my own stakeholders – people who have put their trust in me. I make it a point (and put in) extra effort to explain to them why I take certain positions, (and) why I say what I said. My conscience is clear.”

Being in the armed forces shaped a large part of his life, but having hung up his army boots for the grassroots (and later to join politics), what does he miss about it?

For a start, he misses wearing the uniform – “you don’t have to worry about what you wear today. You just wake up, (and) you know you’re going to wear the uniform”.

The other thing he remembers fondly is the camaraderie and brotherhood in the military.

On the other hand, he would give the “very long marches” and the overnight missions a miss now, as his body would not be able to handle it.

With an impending general election – it is due by November 2025 – Mr Tan was asked what lessons he had learnt from running as a rookie in the last one.

He let on that he lost 3.5kg due to the punishing schedule of the hustings. So in anticipation of this year’s campaign, he said that he is gaining some weight and working out when he can.

Emotionally, he is also more prepared – he shared how he has built relationships with the residents in his ward, and has put in the work since the last election, to serve the community.

Also, in his first election outing, some bestowed on him the nickname “Down-To-Earth Desmond” online, while some shared personal stories of their encounters with him, especially during his time in the SAF.

Mr Tan, who rose to the rank of brigadier-general, said: “I didn’t expect some of the stories that came out. In fact, I couldn’t even remember some of the stories.

“I’m glad that I made a positive impact on some of them, and they provided feedback for my campaign... and I appreciate their support.”

When asked what label he would give himself, Mr Tan said: “I don’t think I want to have a label for myself. (I’m) just Desmond Tan.”