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CNA
24-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
At 35, he is an SME boss running to be a PAP MP for Sembawang GRC, with a nudge from Tin Pei Ling
Mr Ng Shi Xuan was by his father's bedside when he realised that the man who raised him was not going to make it. His father, fiercely independent and rarely one to ask for anything, suddenly made an unusual request: he wanted to see his youngest brother, who lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mr Ng, an optimist who had been holding on to the hope that his father would recover from his illness, knew then that it was not going to happen. The man who had been at the forefront of the family business was slipping away and Mr Ng's world was not going to be the same again. He was recounting this to me when he was thinking about how he had it in him to step up and shoulder responsibility when needed. He believes that this was shaped by his father who had worked hard to provide for the family throughout the years. That same instinct is now guiding Mr Ng into politics. At 35, he is just a bit older than me, yet he is already one of the younger potential candidates whom the People's Action Party (PAP) has introduced for this General Election. He is part of a five-member team contesting Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), led by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. On this team, he is the youngest. Speaking of his father, then aged 64, Mr Ng said that his health deteriorated rapidly within three months after doctors discovered a ruptured intestine. Barely a year before, his father had still been overseeing day-to-day operations at the family's industrial battery business, Powermark Battery & Hardware Trading. When he breathed his last on Dec 29, 2018 – just a day after his wife's birthday – there was no formal handover or final advice on how to run the family business. Around that time, Mr Ng was working at Enterprise Singapore and he was preparing to relocate to Beijing in China for a new posting. The government agency supports Singapore enterprises in innovation, growth and international expansion. However, his mother turned to him and asked him to stay, to step up and carry on the family business. Considering how that request meant a big change in the trajectory of his career, I asked if he ever felt like it held him back. Mr Ng did not pause for a moment. His answer came clearly and firmly: 'It was a call of duty. I was duty-bound. When my mum asked, I didn't hesitate. It was the right thing to do.' Now preparing for possibly one of the biggest transitions of his life – a move into politics – Mr Ng also believes that this is the right thing to do. As the boss of his family business, a small- and medium-size enterprise (SME), he stands apart from the typical PAP candidate, many of whom may have polished curricula vitae and stellar credentials. However, that does not mean that he is any less ready to serve. If anything, he believes that his experience in business and working to empower youth could offer a fresh perspective on what the ground needs right now. HIS PARENTS' LOVE LANGUAGE Mr Ng grew up in a household where affection came not through words but through consistent actions. In that sense, he never questioned his father's dedication. His father worked tirelessly doing odd jobs before founding Powermark Battery & Hardware Trading. 'Although my father didn't spend a lot of time with us, he was truly a family man. That's the best way I can describe him.' Mr Ng has an older brother, 41, who oversees the daily operations of the family business, while he focuses on business development. They have a younger sister, 30, who is a lawyer. 'My father poured all his time and energy into making sure we were fed, clothed and well taken care of,' he added. His mother was equally devoted at home. Mr Ng said that her love language was acts of service. She cooked for the family daily and still helps with the family business today. When he said this, I realised that I had already met her, back when I first stepped into the nondescript warehouse tucked away in Ubi's industrial area for our interview. She was a kindly, petite woman who had offered me a drink and invited me to wait for Mr Ng in the air-conditioned room upstairs of the warehouse. And of his sister, Mr Ng said that she had been active doing volunteer work since her school days. After he graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics, when he began to reflect on what mattered beyond business and profits, it was his sister who suggested that he spend time volunteering at community clubs. This led him to spend time at the nearest one to their home in the MacPherson estate in 2015, where he was quickly appointed treasurer of the MacPherson Youth Network – a group of volunteers dedicated to serving the community with a focus on youth. The group was one of many sub-committees under the community club. Since then, he has been deeply involved in grassroots work, even forming strong ties with former MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling, who encouraged his leadership. 'She gave me a lot of autonomy. That's why I could run so many youth events and new projects on the ground.' Mr Ng said that his concerns about the youth have also led him to take a stand against vaping, which he sees as a growing health threat, particularly among teenagers. In 2023, Mr Ng and his team of volunteers from the MacPherson Youth Network co-launched the anti-vaping pilot programme called Drop It, Stop It. In less than two weeks, the initiative saw 42 electronic vaporisers surrendered, mostly by people around 18 years old. 'The vape issue was raised by some of the social agencies we work with and they told us the children were either selling vapes, helping to peddle them or vaping themselves,' he said. 'They came to us asking, 'Can you do anything? Is there something we should be doing?' Because obviously, when a syndicate reaches their kids, it becomes very real. Their question was: How can we protect our youth?' He added, 'If the issue is already here, then we have to make a stand that we're against such vices.' During his time in public service with Enterprise Singapore, he spent years focused on helping Singapore businesses grow. He believes that his experience in both the private and public sectors would be useful when he needs to speak up for SMEs, which he sees as under-represented. 'It's definitely good to have more private-sector candidates stepping forward, because we have skin in the game. We're fully invested in Singapore. Our businesses are here and we're very hands-on people,' he said. 'Take Gabriel and myself, for example. He moves things and I design batteries. We're on the ground solving real problems every day. 'Especially at a time like this, when the business climate is so turbulent, it's important to bring in more perspectives from the private sector,' he said, referring to Mr Gabriel Lam, chief operating officer of Shalom International Movers, who is also part of Sembawang GRC's line-up. Looking into the future, which will encompass keeping an eye on the young, Mr Ng wants to be a bridge between the government and the next generation. 'It's really about nurturing the next generation and helping them maximise their potential. With fewer children being born nowadays, every child must thrive.' Pointing to Singapore's declining birth rate, he stressed that the nation can no longer rely solely on population numbers to ensure its well-being. In the past, when families had a larger number of children, it was enough for the broader population to thrive, but that is no longer the case, he added. This makes the health and well-being of the younger generation even more important to him, especially as a father of three young children, all of whom are under six years old. In his household, he encourages his children to be more engaged with books and conversations with people, rather than spending too much time on gadgets. Having been on a vegetarian diet throughout his life, he said: 'Although my wife is not a vegetarian, she believes that a plant-based diet is an important part of sustainable living. As a result, we are raising our children as vegetarians as well.' A WORD ABOUT BALANCING PRIORITIES When it comes to the kind of MP he hopes to be, Mr Ng envisions himself as an approachable guy. He does not have a particular MP who is a role model, but there was a piece of advice from former Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Edward Chia that he had not forgotten. Mr Chia, who joined politics in 2020, was the co-founder and managing director of the Timbre Group, a Singapore food-and-beverage, music and events firm. Mr Ng recalled: 'We were having a chat about how to balance business, family and politics. That's when he said something that really stuck with me. 'You chose this life. Your business partner didn't, your family didn't'." Mr Chia's words were a reminder that as a father, he would need to balance well his growing business, family life and role in parliament. I then asked what had ultimately led him to want to take on all these responsibilities now. Mr Ng was quick to credit his supportive wife Marie Luo, 36, a preschool principal and former civil servant. She understood the weight and purpose of public service and has been his steadfast supporter from the start, he said. 'When I told her ... she said, 'Yes, you have to do it. If your ideas are accepted and you believe you can enrich the conversation, then go ahead',' he added. Even now, Mr Ng is still coming to terms with the fact that he has stepped into the political sphere. His candidacy was confirmed on Nomination Day this Wednesday (Apr 23). When he first started volunteering with the MacPherson Youth Network and working alongside Ms Tin as a grassroots volunteer, entering politics wasn't on his mind at all. And his decision to stand for election this time didn't come from a single 'eureka' moment. 'It happened gradually. People started talking to me and they saw that I was serious. I didn't dismiss their ideas. I listened, took their feedback seriously and worked on it. 'And when something good came out of it, they'd tell me I was doing a good job,' he said, referring to the success of the anti-vaping campaign, for example. He added, 'If you look at me on paper, I'm not your typical PAP candidate. I'm not a high-ranking civil servant or military leader.
CNA
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Chee Soon Juan needs to explain why he abandoned Bukit Batok for Sembawang West, says Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE: Dr Chee Soon Juan needs to give a better explanation on why he 'abandoned Bukit Batok to come to Sembawang West", Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said during an election rally on Thursday (Apr 24). Speaking on the second day of the General Election campaign, the anchor minister for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) said that if the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief became MP for the adjacent Sembawang West single-seat ward, he would not be able to properly take care of residents there. 'If residents vote for Dr Chee Soon Juan and he becomes the MP, he becomes in charge, I cannot do that. I won't be able to do that because his job is not to work with me. His job is to challenge me, and his job is to challenge the government,' said Mr Ong, who is the party's assistant treasurer. Mr Ong was among the speakers at Woodlands Stadium, along with Sembawang West single-seat candidate Poh Li San and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC candidates, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, Mr Alex Yam and Ms Hany Soh. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will give the final speech of the night. Mr Ong shared that several Sembawang West residents have asked him if he is still in charge of the area and if they have been left out of his care. "I want to assure Sembawang West residents, you are still part of the big Sembawang family, and I would say in fact, you are part of the bigger northern family," he said. To keep the "strong family ties", Mr Ong urged voters to choose People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Poh Li San, whom he called a "close colleague". 'You vote for her, she become the MP, I can continue to work closely with her, I can continue to pay close attention to Sembawang West,' he said. In his speech, Mr Ong also addressed recent public claims by Dr Chee which he said, tried to paint Sembawang West SMC as "a lonely island", separate from the Sembawang family. "I thought about it and realised why Dr Chee said these things. Dr Chee doesn't want Sembawang West to be part of the bigger Sembawang family. Why? Politically, I think he knows it disadvantages him," said the health minister. "Better for Sembawang West to become a lonely island, cut off from the rest of Sembawang town. Make Sembawang West residents feel it's unfair. Make you feel upset. Make you feel angry. Then he has a better chance to win the elections." CALCULATED POLITICAL MOVE Mr Ong called Dr Chee's move from Bukit Batok to Sembawang West a "calculated political move", a decision taken after a decade of not being interested in that area. He noted that during the 2016 by-election in Bukit Batok, the SDP chief had 'abandoned' his Holland-Bukit Timah GRC team to stand in that contest. He lost that contest and also the 2020 General Election in that ward, noted Mr Ong. "When the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee published its report recently, he told Bukit Batok residents … 'You know me, I am not going anywhere'. Shortly after that, he packed up and left, and came to Sembawang West," said Mr Ong. While his explanation for going back on his commitment on Bukit Batok was that it has become part of Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, the SDP has also given up on Holland-Bukit Timah GRC this election and freeing up its resources, noted Mr Ong. "After 10 years of not being interested in Sembawang GRC, it is forming a team to compete and contest in Sembawang GRC. He could've easily formed a team, if he was really committed to Bukit Batok, to contest in the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC. He chose not to," he said. He added that in a local podcast, Dr Chee had said that he chose to contest in a Single Member Constituency as such a ward is smaller and can be covered in three weeks. "He acknowledged it is a beachhead. Win it first, and then 'strategise from there'," said Mr Ong. "I think Singaporeans are very perceptive. We all already know this is a calculated political move. "There is nothing wrong with making a political calculation and switching constituencies. It happens in politics. But be upfront with your voters. Don't tell Sembawang West residents 'I am doing it for you'." POH LI SAN "UNDERESTIMATED" Mr Ong also said that Dr Chee has underestimated Ms Poh and the 'strength of the Sembawang family'. He said that what the Sembawang West SMC contest is really about, is about keeping Ms Poh in the Sembawang family and keeping out Dr Chee. 'It is also about voting for Li San who has been working hard for you for the past five years, committed to you, versus voting for Dr Chee who tells you everything he does, he does it for you, when in reality, you are really part of his 'northern strategy', you are part of his beachhead for a further strategy in future,' said Mr Ong. Mr Ong was referring to the 'northern strategy' that Dr Chee announced in March when he first made public that SDP intends to contest in Sembawang GRC – a constituency that they did not contest in the last two general elections. The National Solidarity Party (NSP) was the opposition party that contested Sembawang GRC in 2015 and 2020. This year, the party continues contesting the GRC, setting the stage for a three-way fight between itself, SDP and PAP. On Thursday, Mr Ong said: 'I believe Sembawang residents are fair minded, and they know who has been working for them all these years.' In her speech which was delivered before Mr Ong's, Ms Poh said that her opponent and his party may offer 'bold promises', such as reducing GST rates to 5 per cent, introducing minimum wage and sharply cutting the number of foreign PMETs. However, they do not explain who would be paying for such proposals nor the long term impact these ideas may have on the economy and jobs, she said. 'Let's be honest, money dont fall from the sky,' she said. Proposing a cut in GST rates without an alternative plan means that taxes have to be raised from elsewhere, she added. 'We need well thought out policies to run this country well, not populist soundbites,' she said. "DIVISIVE POLITICS" UNWANTED IN SINGAPORE During his speech, Mr Zaqy talked about the importance of the unity and cohesion that Singapore has built over the years, and that politics should not be allowed to undo this. 'What keeps me up at night, especially during the general election, is seeing how, across the world, politics has become a source of division,' he said. He noted societies have been split over issues such as race, religion or single-issue causes. 'Pro-LGBT, anti-LGBT causes, pro-abortion, pro-life causes, pro-Palestine, pro-Israel. Even families and friendships are torn apart just because of politics,' he said. He said that everyone has their own belief systems and principles, and politicians do as well, he added. 'As politicians, we too, face personal conflicts when we have to put national interests first, ahead of our own personal grievances and pain,' said Mr Zaqy. 'But we must never, never allow politics to feed into this, to create division among our people.' 'Divisive politics is not the kind of politics we want in Singapore – and I hope that in this General Election, we continue to respect that across all parties that are contesting,' he added. He said that for nearly 60 years, PAP has upheld the principle of unity and steered clear of divisive politics. The party never puts any one race, religion or group against another, he said. 'Because we know - once unity is lost, it is very hard to get back. And that is a serious thing,' he said. 'We can have different views. We can debate policies. We welcome ideas and change. But let us never cross that line into politics that divides us as Singaporeans.'
