Latest news with #MarymountSMC
AsiaOne
03-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PAP's Gan Siow Huang wins Marymount SMC with 70.70% of votes over PSP's Jeffrey Khoo, Singapore News
Results for Marymount SMC GE2025 Gan Siow Huang (PAP) 70.70% Jeffrey Khoo (PSP) 29.30% The People's Action Party (PAP) has won Marymount SMC against the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). PAP's Gan Siow Huang received 14,868 votes while PSP's Jeffrey Khoo received 6,163 votes. Marymount SMC has 23,275 electors. In the 2020 general election, PAP won Marymount SMC with a vote share of 55.04 per cent against PSP. For our GE2025 microsite, visit here. editor@
AsiaOne
30-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Chee Hong Tat hopes to follow in Ng Eng Hen's footsteps in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, wants to serve until he retires
Chee Hong Tat hopes to follow in Dr Ng Eng Hen's footsteps in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, where he wants to serve residents until he retires. The Minister for Transport and incumbent MP for the GRC was speaking at the People's Action Party's (PAP) rally for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC on Wednesday (April 30). Chee began his speech at Bishan Stadium by thanking Dr Ng, who served as MP in the Toa Payoh Central division from 2001 to 2025. Dr Ng had also recently announced his retirement from politics. "I am very grateful to Dr Ng for his mentorship since I joined politics 10 years ago in 2015," Chee said, adding that he was honoured to take over as the anchor minister for the GRC. Chee added that like Dr Ng, he hopes to campaign with the future PAP team, attend their rally and give a speech in support of them. Chee said the GRC saw improved accessibility and transport connectivity along with estate upgrades over the past five years. He also spoke about the completion of the Toa Payoh Integrated Development by 2030, which will include a regional sports centre, polyclinic, public library and town park. Chee drew cheers when he also said he would "help the residents of Bishan fight for a hawker centre". He said that residents told him there were several hawker centres in Toa Payoh, but none in Bishan. "I don't make empty promises. If I say I will do something, I will make sure I do it for you," he said. Saktiandi Supaat, who has worked alongside Chee in the GRC since 2015, spoke about the infrastructure upgrades around the neighbourhood. The 51-year-old said the MANGO portal he launched after the last election granted over $1.1 million in aid to residents. Newcomer Cai Yinzhou, a social entrepreneur, said that he will champion for inter-generational projects for seniors to continue learning and greater support for caregivers from vulnerable families. Elysa Chen, another new candidate, extended her gratitude to her predecessor Chong Kee Hiong, who stepped down after 10 years of service. She also spoke about future estate upgrades and extending support to middle-income families. In her speech, Marymount SMC's PAP candidate Gan Siow Huang noted the changes in Marymount SMC over the past five years, including new bus routes, food rescue programmes and TCM massages for residents. The former army-general recalled receiving a bag of sweets and a bottle of medicated oil during the election campaign. "Your kindness gives me the strength to keep fighting," she said. "Make every day a good day to be in Marymount." 'Trust needs to be earned': Ng Eng Hen Also speaking at the rally was Dr Ng Eng Hen, who said that elections are "both complicated and simple" with every political party telling voters different things. However, Dr Ng believed that each General Election boiled down to whom voters trust more. "Trust is not built on promises," he said. "Trust needs to be earned, tried and tested through good times and bad times." Dr Ng, who is also Defence Minister, then listed the PAP's contributions to Singapore the past 60 years, including the establishment of the Singapore Armed Forces and managing Covid-19. He also expressed confidence in Chee, saying he "needs no introduction neither my endorsement". "These proven MPs are MPs you can trust," he added. Chee and his team will face the Singapore People's Party in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, where the PAP won with 67.23 per cent of the vote in 2020. Gan will defend Marymount SMC against Jeffrey Khoo of the Progress Singapore Party. She secured the SMC with 55.04 per cent of votes in the previous election. [[nid:717479]]
AsiaOne
30-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Chee Hong Tat hopes to follow in Ng Eng Hen's footsteps in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, wants to serve until he retires, Singapore News
Chee Hong Tat hopes to follow in Dr Ng Eng Hen's footsteps in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, where he wants to serve residents until he retires. The Minister for Transport and incumbent MP for the GRC was speaking at the People's Action Party's (PAP) rally for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC on Wednesday (April 30). Chee began his speech at Bishan Stadium by thanking Dr Ng, who served as MP in the Toa Payoh Central division from 2001 to 2025. Dr Ng had also recently announced his retirement from politics. "I am very grateful to Dr Ng for his mentorship since I joined politics 10 years ago in 2015," Chee said, adding that he was honoured to take over as the anchor minister for the GRC. Chee added that like Dr Ng, he hopes to campaign with the future PAP team, attend their rally and give a speech in support of them. Chee said the GRC saw improved accessibility and transport connectivity along with estate upgrades over the past five years. He also spoke about the completion of the Toa Payoh Integrated Development by 2030, which will include a regional sports centre, polyclinic, public library and town park. Chee drew cheers when he also said he would "help the residents of Bishan fight for a hawker centre". He said that residents told him there were several hawker centres in Toa Payoh, but none in Bishan. "I don't make empty promises. If I say I will do something, I will make sure I do it for you," he said. Saktiandi Supaat, who has worked alongside Chee in the GRC since 2015, spoke about the infrastructure upgrades around the neighbourhood. The 51-year-old said the MANGO portal he launched after the last election granted over $1.1 million in aid to residents. Newcomer Cai Yinzhou, a social entrepreneur, said that he will champion for inter-generational projects for seniors to continue learning and greater support for caregivers from vulnerable families. Elysa Chen, another new candidate, extended her gratitude to her predecessor Chong Kee Hiong, who stepped down after 10 years of service. She also spoke about future estate upgrades and extending support to middle-income families. In her speech, Marymount SMC's PAP candidate Gan Siow Huang noted the changes in Marymount SMC over the past five years, including new bus routes, food rescue programmes and TCM massages for residents. The former army-general recalled receiving a bag of sweets and a bottle of medicated oil during the election campaign. "Your kindness gives me the strength to keep fighting," she said. "Make every day a good day to be in Marymount." 'Trust needs to be earned': Ng Eng Hen Also speaking at the rally was Dr Ng Eng Hen, who said that elections are "both complicated and simple" with every political party telling voters different things. However, Dr Ng believed that each General Election boiled down to whom voters trust more. "Trust is not built on promises," he said. "Trust needs to be earned, tried and tested through good times and bad times." Dr Ng, who is also Defence Minister, then listed the PAP's contributions to Singapore the past 60 years, including the establishment of the Singapore Armed Forces and managing Covid-19. He also expressed confidence in Chee, saying he "needs no introduction neither my endorsement". "These proven MPs are MPs you can trust," he added. Chee and his team will face the Singapore People's Party in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, where the PAP won with 67.23 per cent of the vote in 2020. Gan will defend Marymount SMC against Jeffrey Khoo of the Progress Singapore Party. She secured the SMC with 55.04 per cent of votes in the previous election. [[nid:717479]]
Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
PSP's minimum wage idea is ‘easy way out', says PAP's Gan Siow Huang
PAP candidate for Marymount SMC Gan Siow Huang greets residents at Bishan Park and along Bishan Street 22 on April 26. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - The PSP's proposal for a minimum monthly wage in Singapore 'sounds simple' and is an 'easy way out', said PAP's Gan Siow Huang, who is defending her Marymount seat in the general election. In an interview with The Sunday Times on April 26, she noted that the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) by the PAP's Government offers a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for lower-wage workers. 'I do not assume that a single wage, minimum wage, will be sufficient for all... The more difficult thing is how to have a more targeted minimum wage for each sector, and that takes a lot of hard work,' said Ms Gan, who is the Minister of State for Education and Manpower. 'Because in each sector, we have to get both the employers and unions to come together to a common landing on what is a reasonable, sustainable minimum wage for that sector.' Ms Gan, 50, spoke to ST after a walkabout in Bishan on April 26, when she was asked about the comments made by her opponent, Mr Jeffrey Khoo, during a PSP rally two days ago. PAP candidate for Marymount SMC Gan Siow Huang greets residents at Bishan Park and along Bishan Street 22 on April 26, 2025. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Mr Khoo, the chief executive of a regional risk consulting firm, had called for a $2,250 minimum monthly wage and policies to prioritise Singaporeans in the workforce. The PWM, said Ms Gan, links wage increases to skills upgrading and productivity, and it is a more calibrated approach that takes into account industry needs. The Workfare Income Supplement scheme, a government initiative that provides cash and CPF top-ups for lower-wage workers, is another way to help workers, she added. Mr Khoo had also suggested implementing stronger 'Singaporean-first' policies in relation to the Government's Fair Consideration Framework, which sets out requirements for employers here to consider the workforce fairly for job opportunities. In response, Ms Gan said such comments do not take into account Singapore's size and lack of natural resources. Likening it to United States President Donald Trump's political slogan, she said: 'You look at the US' 'Make America great again'. Are they? 'Our market is very small... So if you want to compete for businesses, if you want to bring in investments, you must make sure we have talent and be humble. While we have very good talent here, we don't have enough.' PAP candidate for Marymount SMC Gan Siow Huang greets residents at Bishan Park and at a coffee shop along Bishan Street 22 on April 26. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Instead of shutting others out, she added that Singapore should aim to build a strong and diverse workforce that includes local and global talent. The battle in the single-seat ward will see Ms Gan, who won 55.04 per cent of the vote against PSP's Ang Yong Guan's (44.96 per cent) in her first contest in 2020, facing a PSP opponent again. Mr Khoo was part of the PSP's best performing team at the last polls, which took 48.32 per cent of the vote in West Coast GRC. On her opponent, Ms Gan noted that though Mr Khoo has experience contesting in elections, his experience is in West Coast, not Marymount, where the needs of residents are different. 'For the last five years, I've been very active on the ground, and I am confident that by now most residents will know what I stand for, who I am, and I think I'm in a better position,' she added. In her time as Marymount MP, said Ms Gan, she brought several projects to fruition, including a new bus stop and bus service 162 along Sin Ming Road, sheltered linkways, and the redevelopment of Thomson Community Club. The club is expected to be completed in a few weeks after a delay – it was originally estimated to be completed by late 2021, but work stopped when the previous contractor encountered unforseen business challenges during the pandemic and could not continue. She added that plans are underway for three more Active Ageing Centres in the area and a new covered linkway across Bishan Street 22 which connects to Bishan North Shopping Mall. She said: 'This is a high demand, high-interest item by the residents. The last five years, many residents have been asking me to have this built so that it will be more convenient, rain or shine, for them to access the neighbourhood town.' Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times specialising in Singapore's education landscape. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
