Latest news with #EricChua
New Paper
23-05-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Girls' Brigade Singapore to grant 5,000 residents' wishes, from home appliances to school supplies
Madam Noorashikin Ahamed, 34, can now prepare healthier meals for her husband, who has asthma that has affected his brain function, using an air fryer she received on May 22. "My husband is on a strict diet. (With this air fryer), I can now cook air-fried chicken meat or fish. No need to add pan-fried oil, so his meals are healthier," said the homemaker, whose wish was granted by the Girls' Brigade Singapore (GBS). Other wishes fulfilled as part of a project to support vulnerable Singaporeans included a speed agility training set for 12-year-old Haiyul Qhayyum Abdullah from Cantonment Primary School. "I have wanted a speed agility ladder training set for a very long time," said the Primary 6 pupil. "I will try to lend this stuff to my friend to train in football together." Haiyul and Madam Noorashikin are among 5,000 residents whose wishes are being fulfilled between May 22 and July 31 as part of the fifth and largest edition of GBS' annual Girls' Brigade Friend in Deed project. Under the project, which started in 2021, beneficiaries can ask for any item within a $60 budget. Wishes granted in the past included bedsheets and home appliances such as electric kettles; health and wellness items like mobility aids and blood pressure monitors; and school supplies and toys for children. This is the first year the project is partnering with the Ministry of Social and Family Development's social service offices, which helped to identify more beneficiaries. GBS president Sharon Liat said: "This project is close to our hearts because it gives us a chance to know Singaporeans from all walks of life. We love listening to their stories and giving them a chance to wish for something that they would really want or need." At the launch of the 2025 edition of the project on May 22, 40 households in the Jalan Kukoh neighbourhood were the first to receive their wishes, distributed by 43 Girls' Brigade members and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, and Culture, Community and Youth. Girls' Brigade Singapore president Sharon Liat and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, flag off deliveries to beneficiaries on May 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI "As the social issues we face grow increasingly complex, community partners such as Girls' Brigade play a key role in leveraging networks to galvanise resources to uplift families and individuals who need an additional helping hand," said Mr Chua. "This includes ComLink+ families, who face additional challenges and often have to stretch limited resources to meet various needs," he said, noting that nearly 2,700 beneficiaries under the Girls' Brigade Friend in Deed project are in ComLink+, up from 400 in 2024. Under the ComLink+ scheme, low-income households get financial incentives and other support if they take steps to improve their lives, such as holding stable jobs with CPF contributions. "I hope that more community and corporate organisations will be part of efforts such as this so that together we can ensure that no one is left behind as Singapore progresses," said Mr Chua, who will be sworn in as Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law on May 23. He will retain his social and family development portfolio but will relinquish his role in community, culture and youth. Corporal Pan Ying En (left), and Corporal Chloe Wang at The Girls' Brigade launch of the GB Friend in Deed Project 2025 at Jalan Kukoh on May 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Secondary 3 students Pan Ying En and Chloe Wang, both 15, from Raffles Girls' School (Secondary), said they felt heartened by the warm reception from beneficiaries. "When we went to deliver the gifts, I saw how they smiled a lot. They were really welcoming and tried to ask us to go in (to their homes) and talk to them," said Ying En. GBS has fulfilled the wishes of more than 12,500 beneficiaries to date. Members of the public who wish to adopt or deliver wishes to beneficiaries may do so till July 31. For more information, visit
Business Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
Singapore election 2025: PAP wins Radin Mas, Queenstown
[SINGAPORE] The People's Action Party's (PAP) incumbents have defended two Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs) in the south, with high winning margins: Queenstown and Radin Mas. In Queenstown SMC, PAP's Eric Chua clinched 81.12 per cent of the votes against People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) candidate Mahaboob Batcha. The single seat was newly carved out from Tanjong Pagar GRC, a stronghold of the ruling party, for this general election. Meanwhile, in Radin Mas, PAP's Melvin Yong took 69.17 per cent of the votes, in one of General Election (GE) 2025's two three-cornered SMC contests. He defeated PAR's Kumar Appavoo, who took 7.36 per cent, and independent candidate Darryl Lo, who garnered 23.47 per cent. As Kumar did not achieve more than 12.5 per cent of the valid votes, he will lose his S$13,500 deposit, whereas Lo will keep his. In GE2020, Yong achieved the highest vote share among all single-seat wards, winning 74.01 per cent in a straight fight against Kumar, who was running under the Reform Party's (RP) banner. RP, together with Peoples Voice and the Democratic Progressive Party, formed PAR in 2023. For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
AsiaOne
03-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PAP's Eric Chua wins Queenstown SMC with 81.12% of votes over PAR's Mahaboob Batcha, Singapore News
Results for Queenstown SMC in GE2025 Eric Chua (PAP) 81.12% Mahaboob Batcha (PAR) 18.88% The People's Action Party (PAP) has won Queenstown SMC against the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR). PAP's Eric Chua received 20,900 votes while PAR's Mahaboob Batcha received 4,864 votes. Chua had campaigned for a more caring and vibrant Queenstown, continuing the support for seniors and lower-income families, along with organising hawkers' and seniors' festivals. Batcha, in his electoral debut, pushed for estate upgrades and improved transport connectivity in the constituency. Queenstown SMC has 28,911 electors. Queenstown SMC is a newly formed constituency this year, carved out from Tanjong Pagar GRC into a single seat. For our GE2025 microsite, visit here.
Business Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Times
GE2025: PAP sweeps Radin Mas, Queenstown SMCs; Darryl Lo keeps deposit
[SINGAPORE] People's Action Party (PAP) incumbents have defended two Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) in the south, with high winning margins: Queenstown and Radin Mas. In Queenstown SMC, the PAP's Eric Chua clinched 81.12 per cent of the votes against People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) candidate Mahaboob Baatsha. The single-seat was newly carved out from Tanjong Pagar GRC, a stronghold of the ruling party, for this general election. Meanwhile in Radin Mas, the PAP's Melvin Yong took 69.17 per cent of the votes, in one of GE2025's two three-cornered fights in an SMC. He defeated PAR's Kumar Appavoo, who took 7.36 per cent, and independent candidate Darryl Lo, who took 23.47 per cent. As Kumar did not achieve more than 12.5 per cent of valid votes, he will lose his S$13,500 deposit, whereas Lo will keep his. In GE2020, Yong achieved the highest vote share among all single-seat wards, winning 74.01 per cent in a straight fight against Kumar, who then ran under the Reform Party's (RP) banner. RP formed the PAR in 2023 together with Peoples Voice and the Democratic Progressive Party. For more election coverage, visit our GE2025 microsite
