Latest news with #ChuaChuKang
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MP Jeffrey Siow being considered for new Cabinet line-up
SINGAPORE - Newly minted Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Jeffrey Siow is among various potential office holders whom Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is considering for the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle following Singapore's recently concluded general election. Speaking to the media on May 17, Mr Siow said: 'PM is readying his Cabinet, he is building his team. I understand he has been speaking to various people in his team who would be taking up positions in the Cabinet. I am one of the people he has spoken to.' The MP for the GRC's Brickland ward did not reveal which political office he is being considered for, saying these matters have yet to be finalised. 'We have to give it a bit of time. It is an important decision for (the) PM to form his team. But in the discussions I have had, I am very happy he knows the experiences and the skills that I have. 'He knows what I can contribute to his team,' Mr Siow said at the sidelines of a sustainability themed event outside Keat Hong Shopping Centre. 'Whatever role that he thinks that I can play in his team, I will be very happy to contribute... I will give it my best,' he added. The PAP fielded 32 new candidates for the 2025 General Election on May 3, the largest batch of fresh faces in decades. PM Wong is expected to announce changes to his Cabinet soon. A veteran civil servant, Mr Siow retired as second permanent secretary for trade and industry and manpower before entering politics. He was also principal private secretary to then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong between 2017 and 2021. After 2021, he became the first managing director of Enterprise Singapore. He has also held key government roles in the Transport and Education ministries. With 24 years in the public service, Mr Siow is the most senior civil servant to run in the election in 2025. During the 2025 General Election, PM Wong had highlighted how some of the PAP newcomers could grow into larger leadership roles, and name-dropped Mr Siow alongside other first-time MPs such as Mr David Neo from Tampines GRC and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash from East Coast GRC. At the 2025 Brickland Green Festival on May 17, Mr Siow was accompanied by other MPs in the group representation constituency, including Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Keat Hong) and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (Chua Chu Kang). Chua Chu Kang GRC, which has more than 93,000 voters, saw some significant boundary changes in GE2025. The new Tengah estates have been folded into the constituency, and Bukit Gombak, overseen by Ms Low Yen Ling, was carved out as a single-member constituency. Ms Low was the previous chairman for Chua Chu Kang Town Council. The new leadership and chairman of the town council are yet to be revealed, and Mr Siow said this is being sorted out. Mr Siow added that with Tengah's growing population, Chua Chu Kang would have about 150,000 voters in the next four to five years. 'There is a lot of work to be done in terms of preparing how we will cover the residents... and provide the same level of service as we are now doing. We are looking at the (GRC) boundaries and what the future make-up of the GRC is going to be like.' At the 2025 Brickland Green Festival on May 17, a new Brickland Green Village initiative was launched to redistribute bruised fruits and vegetables that are commonly ignored by shoppers. The initiative will also run upcycling workshops as well as a repair corner where residents can learn to fix faulty household items. At the event, UOB and the SG Eco Fund also launched a two-year partnership to drive greater environmental awareness in the community, including painting environment-themed murals islandwide. SG Eco Fund is a $50 million push under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment that supports green initiatives in the community. Mr Siow is known among the green groups for being consultative. When he was at the Ministry of Transport over a decade ago, he was the point man for engagements with nature groups after a proposal for the Cross Island MRT line to cut through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve sparked outrage. Since then, such engagements between the nature community and government agencies have become more frequent. 'Being involved in the Cross Island Line discussions with the nature groups really taught me a lot about the importance of the environment,' he said. When he was principal private secretary to then PM Lee, Mr Siow was involved in planning the former PM's 2019 National Day Rally speech. It was the year that then PM Lee announced that Singapore would spend $100 billion over the next 100 years to protect itself against rising sea levels. 'We debated whether we should talk about climate change,' said Mr Siow, noting that it was the topic's debut in a rally speech. But the then PM Lee held the view that tackling climate change needs to be a national agenda. For the sake of his two children, Mr Siow is supportive. 'Ensuring that we are able to manage changes in the environment and do them well is very important on my personal agenda.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
New Paper
17-05-2025
- Business
- New Paper
MP Jeffrey Siow being considered for new Cabinet line-up
Newly minted Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Jeffrey Siow is among various potential office holders whom Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is considering for the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle following Singapore's recently concluded general election. Speaking to the media on May 17, Mr Siow said: "PM is readying his Cabinet, he is building his team. I understand he has been speaking to various people in his team who would be taking up positions in the Cabinet. I am one of the people he has spoken to." The MP for the GRC's Brickland ward did not reveal which political office he is being considered for, saying these matters have yet to be finalised. "We have to give it a bit of time. It is an important decision for (the) PM to form his team. But in the discussions I have had, I am very happy he knows the experiences and the skills that I have. "He knows what I can contribute to his team," Mr Siow said at the sidelines of a sustainability themed event outside Keat Hong Shopping Centre. "Whatever role that he thinks that I can play in his team, I will be very happy to contribute... I will give it my best," he added. The PAP fielded 32 new candidates for the 2025 General Election on May 3, the largest batch of fresh faces in decades. PM Wong is expected to announce changes to his Cabinet soon. A veteran civil servant, Mr Siow retired as second permanent secretary for trade and industry and manpower before entering politics. He was also principal private secretary to then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong between 2017 and 2021. After 2021, he became the first managing director of Enterprise Singapore. He has also held key government roles in the Transport and Education ministries. With 24 years in the public service, Mr Siow is the most senior civil servant to run in the election in 2025. During the 2025 General Election, PM Wong had highlighted how some of the PAP newcomers could grow into larger leadership roles, and name-dropped Mr Siow alongside other first-time MPs such as Mr David Neo from Tampines GRC and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash from East Coast GRC. At the 2025 Brickland Green Festival on May 17, Mr Siow was accompanied by other MPs in the group representation constituency, including Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Keat Hong) and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (Chua Chu Kang). Chua Chu Kang GRC, which has more than 93,000 voters, saw some significant boundary changes in GE2025. The new Tengah estates have been folded into the constituency, and Bukit Gombak, overseen by Ms Low Yen Ling, was carved out as a single-member constituency. Ms Low was the previous chairman for Chua Chu Kang Town Council. The new leadership and chairman of the town council are yet to be revealed, and Mr Siow said this is being sorted out. Mr Siow added that with Tengah's growing population, Chua Chu Kang would have about 150,000 voters in the next four to five years. "There is a lot of work to be done in terms of preparing how we will cover the residents... and provide the same level of service as we are now doing. We are looking at the (GRC) boundaries and what the future make-up of the GRC is going to be like." Mr Jeffrey Siow (second from left), Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (second from right) and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (right) watching a performance at Brickland Green Festival 2025 on May 17. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN At the 2025 Brickland Green Festival on May 17, a new Brickland Green Village initiative was launched to redistribute bruised fruits and vegetables that are commonly ignored by shoppers. The initiative will also run upcycling workshops as well as a repair corner where residents can learn to fix faulty household items. At the event, UOB and the SG Eco Fund also launched a two-year partnership to drive greater environmental awareness in the community, including painting environment-themed murals islandwide. SG Eco Fund is a $50 million push under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment that supports green initiatives in the community. Mr Siow is known among the green groups for being consultative. When he was at the Ministry of Transport over a decade ago, he was the point man for engagements with nature groups after a proposal for the Cross Island MRT line to cut through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve sparked outrage. Since then, such engagements between the nature community and government agencies have become more frequent. "Being involved in the Cross Island Line discussions with the nature groups really taught me a lot about the importance of the environment," he said. When he was principal private secretary to then PM Lee, Mr Siow was involved in planning the former PM's 2019 National Day Rally speech. It was the year that then PM Lee announced that Singapore would spend $100 billion over the next 100 years to protect itself against rising sea levels. "We debated whether we should talk about climate change," said Mr Siow, noting that it was the topic's debut in a rally speech. But the then PM Lee held the view that tackling climate change needs to be a national agenda. For the sake of his two children, Mr Siow is supportive. "Ensuring that we are able to manage changes in the environment and do them well is very important on my personal agenda."
CNA
17-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
PM Lawrence Wong 'readying his team', in discussions with MPs on new Cabinet
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is said to be readying his team and having discussions with various MPs on joining his new Cabinet. Among them is newly-elected Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Jeffrey Siow, who says he is among those whom Mr Wong has spoken to. The prime minister is expected to announce his new Cabinet soon.
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
MP Jeffrey Siow being considered for new Cabinet line-up
Chua Chu Kang GRC MPs Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (left) and Mr Jeffrey Siow (second from right) choosing apples with a resident at Brickland Green Festival 2025 on May 17. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE - Newly-minted Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Jeffrey Siow is among various potential office holders that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is considering for the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle following Singapore's recently-concluded general election. Speaking to the media on May 17, Mr Siow said: 'PM is readying his cabinet, he is building his team. I understand he's been speaking to various people in his team who would be taking up positions in the Cabinet. I'm one of the people he has spoken to.' The MP for the GRC's Brickland ward did not reveal which political office he is being considered for, saying these matters have yet to be finalised. 'We have to give it a bit of time. It's an important decision for PM to form his team. But in the discussions I've had, I'm very happy he knows the experiences and the skills that I have. He knows what I can contribute to his team,' said Mr Siow at the sidelines of a sustainability themed event outside Keat Hong Shopping Centre. 'Whatever role that he thinks that I can play in his team, I'll be very happy to contribute...I will give it my best,' he added. The PAP fielded 32 new candidates for the 2025 General Election on May 3, the largest batch of fresh faces in decades. PM Wong is expected to announce changes to his Cabinet soon. A veteran civil servant, Mr Siow, retired as second permanent secretary for trade and industry and manpower before entering politics. He was also principal private secretary to then PM Lee Hsien Loong between 2017 and 2021. After 2021, he became the first managing director of Enterprise Singapore. He has also held key government roles in the Transport and Education Ministries. With 24 years in the public service, Mr Siow is the most senior civil servant to run in the election this year. During the 2025 General Election, PM Lawrence Wong had highlighted how some of the PAP newcomers could grow into larger leadership roles, and name-dropped Mr Siow alongside other first-time MPs like Mr David Neo from Tampines GRC and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash from East Coast GRC. At the 2025 Brickland Green Festival on May 17, Mr Siow was also accompanied by other MPs in the GRC including Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Keat Hong) and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (Chua Chu Kang). Mr Jeffrey Siow (second from left), Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (second from right) and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (right) watching a performance at Brickland Green Festival 2025 on May 17. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN The one-day festival allows residents to learn about environmental sustainability through the arts. The community event also saw the launch of a new initiative focused on reducing waste. Community leaders driving the new Brickland Green Village initiative will rescue and redistribute bruised fruits and vegetables that are commonly ignored by shoppers. The initiative will also run upcycling workshops as well as a repair corner where residents can learn to fix faulty household items. At the event, UOB and the SG Eco Fund launched a two-year partnership to drive greater environmental awareness and community engagement on sustainability initiatives across Singapore. A signature component of the partnership is the Green Mosaic Programme, which will involve the community in painting environment-themed murals islandwide. SG Eco Fund is a $50 million push under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment that supports green initiatives in the community. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: After poor showing, PSP vows to regroup, but can it reinvent itself to be relevant?
PSP chief Leong Mun Wai speaking to the media outside the party's headquarters on May 3. ST PHOTO KELVIN CHNG News analysis GE2025: After poor showing, PSP vows to regroup, but can it reinvent itself to be relevant? Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - From one election to the next, the PSP has gone from being a political upstart with two Non-Constituency MP seats in Parliament to an opposition party with an unclear future. The party fielded 13 candidates in six constituencies, and lost all of them – including West Coast-Jurong West GRC where it was said to have the best chances of winning. The PSP also contested Chua Chu Kang GRC, and the Pioneer, Bukit Gombak, Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs. The outcome, with the PSP obtaining between 24.17 and 39.99 per cent of the vote share across the six constituencies, means that it will lose both its NCMP seats. Reserved for the election's best losers , the role seems likely to go to the WP's candidates from Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC, who lost narrowly to the PAP. PSP will lose its parliamentary presence. And what of its future, when it does not seem to have been able to attract younger candidates, or individuals who seem to stand out more, such as those fielded by the WP? In GE2020, the PSP was a newly-formed political party that made a mark because of its founder – former PAP stalwart Tan Cheng Bock. It also made headlines in the lead up to that election when it announced that Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged brother of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, had joined the party. That year, the PSP built its campaign on the need for a greater opposition presence in Parliament as a check on the PAP. It was a message that seemed to resonate with the electorate, and allowed the PSP, with a team comprising its three leaders Dr Tan, party chief Leong Mun Wai, and party first vice-chair Hazel Poa, to capture 48.32 per cent of the vote share in the then-West Coast GRC. But ahead of GE2025, the boundaries for the constituency were redrawn, with about 41,000 voters from Jurong GRC – mainly from Jurong Spring and Taman Jurong, both considered PAP strongholds – added to the renamed West Coast–Jurong West GRC. The changes in electoral boundaries could be a reason for the outcome in GE2025, but it is unlikely to be the only one. During the 2025 hustings, the PSP's five new faces - Mr Lawrence Pek, Ms Stephanie Tan, Mr Sumarleki Amjah, Mr Sani Ismail and Mr Tony Tan - did not seem able to capture the public's attention in the same way that political newcomers from other opposition parties had managed to. For example, the WP fielded a slew of candidates with notable backgrounds, such as senior counsel Harpreet Singh, 59, and ex-MFA diplomat Eileen Chong, 33, who drew the crowds at rallies. The PSP had fielded as part of its slate for Chua Chu Kang GRC the former secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation Lawrence Pek – a candidate who was touted as the party's 'star catch'. But he and his team were unable to best their opponents, a team led by Manpower Minister and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng. The party also relied on the strong branding of its founder, which some political analysts dubbed the 'Tan Cheng Bock' effect. In GE2025, as the results have borne out, it is no longer enough. Given that this could be the final general election Dr Tan, 85, is contesting, it is vital that the party develops a reputation that grows on that of its founder, if it wants to remain relevant going forward. Observers have pointed out that the PSP seems to struggle to attract young talent. Of its five new faces this election, only one is under 40 – the party's candidate for Pioneer SMC, Ms Stephanie Tan, a 37-year-old homemaker with a law degree. In an interview on The Straits Times' current affairs podcast The Usual Place, Ms Poa said that the party has been trying to recruit younger candidates. 'But the problem that we have been facing is that they're usually more hesitant. A lot of them actually worry about their career prospects if they are seen to be opposition candidates,' she said. Winning a constituency during the election would help the party overcome this hurdle and persuade more people to come forward, she added. Given the latest results, the party's strategy of recruiting fresh talent will have to be relooked. The PSP's lacklustre performance this GE was surprising, since it had time to build up a track record in Parliament with its NCMPs. Over the past five years, Mr Leong and Ms Poa had gone up against the PAP in Parliamentary debates, sparring on national issues such as the GST hike, public housing and foreign workers. The PSP had highlighted this track record during the campaign, and issued invitations to opponents in the various constituencies to debate on national issues. None of the PAP teams in those wards took them up on their offer, with Mr Desmond Lee, the anchor minister for the PAP team contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC, asking voters to instead scrutinise contesting parties' plans for the area. In response, Mr Leong had said the main role of an elected MP was not to manage estates, but to debate national policies. The PSP went on to raise various issues on the campaign trail, including on a universal minimum wage and reversal of the GST increase. But PSP may have misread the desire for debate on national policies, especially given the geopolitical headwinds resulting from US President Donald Trump's new tariffs worldwide. The PSP had called the government's response to the tariff situation 'overblown'. But the PAP's outstanding performance this GE with 65.57 p er cent of the vote share is a signal that Singaporeans have less desire to rock the political boat, given the choppy seas ahead. Finally, the PSP had experienced a change of leadership right before the hustings, with Mr Leong re-elected as party chief on March 26. He is the party's fifth leader since it was founded in 2019, after first becoming secretary-general in April 2023. He had stepped down as secretary-general in February 2024, to take responsibility for a correction direction he received under Singapore's fake news law for a social media post. Ms Poa had taken over the role then, only to relinquish it to Mr Leong just before the election was called. This change would undeniably have had an impact on the party's campaign strategy. When the results were revealed, Mr Leong said they were shocking, but thanked voters who had supported his party. It will study the results seriously and humbly, and reconsider how it can gain further trust from Singaporeans, he told reporters. The PSP's performance in GE2025 is undoubtedly a setback. How it does in the next election hinges on whether it is able to pick itself up and shape a clear identity before then. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
