[Tee tiong huat]

S'PORE: People’s Action Party (PAP) on Sunday (Apr 13) formally announced its slate of four candidates who will be contesting in the Workers’ Party-held Sengkang GRC in the upcoming General Elections. They are: former senior minister of state Lam Pin Min, 56, National University of Singapore (NUS) lecturer Elmie Nekmat, 43, partner at deep tech venture Theodora Lai Xi Yi, 39, and company director Bernadette Giam, 38.

He was co-opted to the PAP’s Central Executive Committee in 2024. The committee is the party’s top decision-making body. NEW FACES

The 3 others introduced on Sunday have no previous experience standing in a GE, are among roughly 30 new candidates to be fielded by PAP in coming contest, its largest slate of new faces in recent history. A PAP activist since 2016, Assoc Prof Elmie teaches communications & new media in Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences at National University of S'pore (NUS). He sits on a number of boards and councils, including the S'pore Sports Council, the National Library and the Media Literacy Council. He is also an adviser to ruling party's youth wing Young PAP, is also assistant secretary in party's Malay Affairs Bureau. During his introduction, Dr Elmie said given Sengkang's demographic of families with young children & ageing parents, creating a safer digital environment is at forefront of his concerns. He said young children are susceptible to online bullying on social media and seniors towards scams. "In Parliament, I will push for stronger govt policies & will promote more programmes in Sengkang to help create a safer digital environment as well as a brighter future for our seniors and our children," said Dr Elmie

As for Ms Lai, she started out as a party activist in 2009 was chairperson of the PAP Policy Forum from 2019 to 2020. Ms Lai is a partner & the co-founder at a venture capital firm, Moringa Ventures. She is also principal at private equity firm Tembusu Partners. She is founding member & past chairperson of Young Women's Leadership Connection – a network which aims to empower & connect young women leaders. She said her experience managing many challenges of early-stage companies & start-ups "from zero to one" would be helpful in Sengkang. "It is a constant effort of validation, scanning the horizon and identifying right opportunities & pivots if necessary," said Ms Lai. "I want Sengkang residents to know that I'm always in their corner, and I'm ready to serve."

A newcomer to politics compared w/others, Mrs Giam is presently a director at Creative Eateries, a local food & beverage enterprise includes a diverse list of brands, including Bangkok Jam & Suki-Ya, under its umbrella. She was appointed branch chairperson of ruling party's Sengkang East division Jan 23, replacing communications professional Marcus Loh. Mrs Giam served on S'pore Council of Women's Organisations' Women's Register from 2016 to 2022, has been a member Nanyang Poly's Business Management Advisory Committee since 2016.  She has served on Nanyang Poly (NYP) Business Management Advisory Committee since 2016, as well as Convent of Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) Alumni Association. Mrs Giam said many questioned her why entered politics as a mother of 2 young children, adding it"s "precisely for this reason" she is well-equipped to "better represent" Sengkang's parents. "I understand their struggles," said Mrs Giam, "I feel same pangs of mum guilt when I miss my children's milestones. "I tell myself to be courageous & step forward now, though children are young. We can make a difference for all our families in Sengkang."