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Straits Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Temasek JC wins first place and $4,000 cash prize at ST's What's The News? quiz competition
Temasek Junior College was crowned champions of at the finals of the ST What's The News? competition at NUS University Cultural Centre on May 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE - While others were stunned, the four-member team from Temasek Junior College (TJC) were praying for the question on newly elected Pope Leo XIV's first words when he first appeared in public in Vatican City to be given to them. Rayner Ng, 16, said: '(The Pope's quote) had come out in ST's daily reports. I read about it from there and so, we answered correctly (when it was redirected to us).' In the past few weeks, the team of four from TJC had made reading the news a daily habit. Their efforts paid off, when they emerged the winner at The Straits Times' current affairs quiz competition on May 23. Temasek Junior College students answering the redirected question on Pope Leo XIV correctly during the short answer question round at the finals of the competition at NUS University Cultural Centre on May 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY 'It was more about applying what we had learnt in our day-to-day lives in this competition,' said one of the team members, 16-year-old Guo Yatian. Both excited and surprised to have won the competition, the team expressed their gratitude to the teachers and friends who had supported them throughout their journey. They took home a $4,000 cash prize for coming in first. The schools that finish second, third and fourth won $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Presbyterian High School students during the multiple choice question round at the finals of the competition at NUS University Cultural Centre on May 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY What's The News?, is an interschool interactive quiz competition organised by ST as part of its 180th anniversary outreach, and is supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE). The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is a partner. The preliminary round kicked off in April, where more than 6,000 students across 50 schools participated individually in an online current affairs quiz. Following an intense competition during the semi-finals on May 21, which featured four telematch games, four schools entered the finals – Presbyterian High School, Outram Secondary School, St Joseph's Institution and TJC. The finals were held at the event's campus partner, the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre. Temasek JC came in first, followed by St Joseph's Institution, Outram Secondary School and Presbyterian High School. Students answering questions during the quickfire multiple choice question round at the finals of the competition at NUS University Cultural Centre on May 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY On a stage modelled after a television game show set, the four finalist teams were pitted against each other in a game show. Students were given three challenges with a focus on current affairs. Teams first competed in a rapid fire multiple choice round consisting of ten questions. Their critical thinking and presentation skills were then tested in the next round, when students had 15 minutes to create one slide showing their answer to questions on different future trends in areas like healthcare and jobs. They had three minutes to present their answers. The final round was a trivia quiz where teams took turns to pick questions worth varying number of points based on their difficulty levels. Topics ranged from environment and health to sports and pop-culture. Ourtram Secondary School students during the presentation round at the finals of the competition at NUS University Cultural Centre on May 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY The Outram Secondary School team said they were extremely nervous coming into the finals. 'As a neighbourhood school, we were not expecting to be standing up here (on stage at the finals)' said one of the teammates when asked by the host Rishi Budhrani how they were feeling during the competition. Nonetheless, the team showed their worth, scoring the most points in the quick fire questions round. When asked about their biggest takeaways from the competition, Outram Secondary School student Kara Ringling, 15, said: 'I feel that in our generation, primary, secondary and JC schoolers, they find news very uninteresting. It's just something that is seen more as a task rather than something they could do in their leisure time. 'This competition has really opened our eyes that news can actually be interesting and something fun.' ST editor Jaime Ho speaking to attendees at the finals of the competition at NUS University Cultural Centre on May 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY ST editor Jaime Ho said : 'The finals today were a capstone to our event for young audiences as part of The Straits Times' 180th anniversary, and, really another milestone for our work with some of the youngest of our audiences. 'From Day 1, the participants showed just how ingenious, critical, and thoughtful they were. While I'm sure the students took away some lessons about the news from this experience, we also learnt a lot from the students.' He added: 'They taught us about how young people want to be reached and what makes them sit up and take note. It's also given us a chance to introduce contemporary issues in a more friendly way to those who may have found it quite daunting in the past. 'This event was one of my favourites of the ST180 events, and we hope we can bring it back year after year in some form. I'd also like to thank our various partners for helping us bring this event to life.' St Joseph's Institution students during the presentation round at the finals of the competition at NUS University Cultural Centre on May 23. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Mr Kangtai Zhong, assistant director of planning and development at the DrugFreeSG office , said: 'ST's aim of encouraging youth to think critically about current affairs whilst having fun aligns with our approach at CNB DrugFreeSG Office. 'We aim to equip youth with essential life skills and critical thinking abilities, enabling them to learn more and think more about the world we live in, specifically about the issue of drugs, so that they can grow into their roles as future leaders of our society and advocate for a drug-free Singapore.' Mr Shawn Huang attended the event on May 23 in his capacity as the outgoing senior parliamentary secretary in MOE. He has since been appointed the same role in manpower along with his current finance portfolio. ST's What's The News competition 'promotes media literacy and raises awareness on current affairs among our students', he said . 'Participants get to analyse news stories and understand complex global issues through interactive and fun activities. This not only sharpens their critical thinking skills but also encourages our youth to become more discerning and engaged citizens.' Mr Huang encouraged students to keep on learning. 'Be curious in your pursuits, and wherever you travel to, whomever you interact with, always ask good questions,' he said. 'Most important of all is when we come together in such competitions, is to make good friends, because in the future, all of you will be working together to build the future of Singapore.'
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025 in low-res: A look back at the Singapore election through an old digicam
Fans, clappers and phones held by supporters at a PSP rally at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Red Dot United candidates taking the pledge at a rally at the field in Boon Lay Way on April 30, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY A WP supporter raising an inflatable hammer at a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PAP supporters cheering at a rally at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY GE2025 in low-res: A look back at the Singapore election through an old digicam SINGAPORE – With a digicam in hand and sweat dripping down my forehead, I press the shutter button, hoping to capture a group of people cheering. The dim rally lighting and fast-moving crowd overwhelm the camera – it lags, and the moment slips away. I try again. Then again. I get my shot, but not without losing a few others along the way. There's a kind of beauty in the slowness of a point-and-shoot digital camera – a contrast to the electric pace of GE2025 and the speed of the latest mirrorless cameras and even smartphones. Once considered outdated, digicams have become trendy again among Gen Z digital natives aged between 13 and 27 years old. They seek the nostalgic Y2K aesthetic, having grown up with pictures taken on these cameras. Many new businesses have sprung up, selling deadstock or secondhand cameras. Photojournalist Shintaro Tay holding a Canon IXUS 275HS after the Singapore Democratic Party rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. PHOTO: RYAN CHIONG Armed with a Canon Ixus 275HS, I wondered what it was like for people in the past to capture their experiences of the general election. The grungy, almost nostalgic effect of the low-fi pictures made me reflect on how they might compare with photos from past eras – especially my first time taking pictures at a rally in 2013, when I was a 17-year-old student – and what they might reveal about this moment in time. Before the GE2025 rallies began, I wondered if people would show up. After all, it had been a decade since such rallies were last held. Would they prefer to tune in from the comfort of their homes instead? After all, we have all got used to wireless communication since the pandemic. However, as I looked through the lens, I realised some things have not changed. The boisterous characters, the fiery speeches and the riot of colours were just like what I remembered from my first experience. It was as though time had stood still for a moment, reminding me that despite all the changes around me, some things remain timeless. WP supporters waving inflatable hammers at a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Supporters of Mr Ng Chee Meng, PAP candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, cheering at a rally at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY An SDP supporter waving flags at a rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Youth holding up their phones to capture People's Power Party candidate Samuel Lee speaking at a rally at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on April 29, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY A PSP volunteer cheering at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY WP supporters listening intently to a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Red Dot United supporters, standing on muddy grass after an evening rain, listening to a rally at Boon Lay Way on April 30, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SDP supporters holding hands during a rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PAP supporters waving party flags at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY A People's Power Party supporter with a flag tucked into her hair at a rally at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on April 29, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock addressing the crowd at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY People's Power Party secretary-general Goh Meng Seng before a rally at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on April 29, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SDP chief Chee Soon Juan signing copies of his books after a rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Contractors taking down a camera after an SDP rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY A stage being dismantled after a PAP rally at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PAP supporters waiting for the election results at Bukit Gombak Stadium on May 4, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Red Dot United supporters saying the pledge at the end of a rally in a field in Boon Lay Way on April 30, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY The Singapore flag held by a supporter at a PSP rally at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Shintaro is a photojournalist with The Straits Times. Through journalism, photography and documentary-making, he strives to shine a light on the everyday man. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Low-res but real – looking back at the Singapore election through a digicam
Fans, clappers and phones held by supporters at a PSP rally at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Red Dot United (RDU) candidates taking the pledge at a rally at the field at Boon Lay Way on April 30, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY A WP supporter raising an inflatable hammer at a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PAP supporters cheering at a rally at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY GE2025: Low-res but real – looking back at the Singapore election through a digicam SINGAPORE – With a digicam in hand and sweat dripping down my forehead, I press the shutter button, hoping to capture a group of people cheering. The dim rally lighting and fast-moving crowd overwhelm the camera – it lags, and the moment slips away. I try again. Then again. I get my shot, but not without losing a few others along the way. There's a kind of beauty in the slowness of a point-and-shoot digital camera – a contrast to the electric pace of GE2025 and the speed of the latest mirrorless cameras and even smartphones. Once considered outdated, digicams have become trendy again among Gen Z digital natives aged between 13 and 27 years old. They seek the nostalgic Y2K aesthetic, having grown up with pictures taken on these cameras. Many new businesses have sprung up, selling deadstock or secondhand cameras. Photojournalist Shintaro Tay holding a Canon IXUS 275HS after the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. PHOTO: RYAN CHIONG Armed with a Canon Ixus 275HS, I wondered what it was like for people in the past to capture their experiences of the general election. The grungy, almost nostalgic effect of the low-fi pictures made me reflect on how they might compare with photos from past eras – especially my first time taking pictures at a rally in 2013, when I was a 17-year-old student – and what they might reveal about this moment in time. Before the GE2025 rallies began, I wondered if people would show up. After all, it had been a decade since such rallies were last held. Would they prefer to tune in from the comfort of their homes instead? After all, we have all got used to wireless communication since the pandemic. However, as I looked through the lens, I realised some things have not changed. The boisterous characters, the fiery speeches and the riot of colours were just like what I remembered from my first experience. It was as though time had stood still for a moment, reminding me that despite all the changes around me, some things remain timeless. WP supporters waving inflatable hammers at a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Supporters of Mr Ng Chee Meng, PAP candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, cheering at a rally at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY An SDP supporter waving flags at a rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Youths holding up their phones to capture People's Power Party (PPP) candidate Samuel Lee speaking at a rally at Yio Chu Kang stadium on April 29, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY A PSP volunteer cheering at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY WP supporters listening intently to a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Red Dot United (RDU) supporters, standing on muddy grass after an evening rain, listening to a rally at Boon Lay Way on April 30, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SDP supporters holding hands during a rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PAP supporters waving party flags at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY A People's Power Party (PPP) supporter with a flag tucked into her hair at a rally at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on April 29, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PSP chairman Tan Cheng Bock addressing the crowd at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY People's Power Party (PPP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng before a rally at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on April 29, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SDP chief Chee Soon Juan signing copies of his books after a rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Contractors taking down a camera after a Singapore Democratic Party rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Contractors dismantling a stage after a PAP rally at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY PAP supporters cheering as they wait for the election results at Bukit Gombak Stadium on May 4, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Red Dot United (RDU) supporters saying the pledge at the end of a rally in a field at Boon Lay Way on April 30, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY The Singapore flag held by a supporter at a PSP rally at Jurong West Stadium on May 1, 2025. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Shintaro is a photojournalist with The Straits Times. Through journalism, photography and documentary-making, he strives to shine a light on the everyday man. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: WP's Michael Thng wants to focus on Singapore's future in final days of campaign
Workers' Party candidate Michael Thng said he hopes voters can look at the need for a more diverse Parliament. ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN GE2025: WP's Michael Thng wants to focus on Singapore's future in final days of campaign Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - Candidates from various political parties may be throwing snipes and jabs over the last few days of the hustings, but WP candidate Michael Thng remains steadfast in wanting to focus on one thing – what he believes Singapore can be. At times, there may be a need to call attention to missteps or issues in the past, he said. But in his view, the coming general election is about the 'system we want to build for Singapore, going forward'. The 37-year-old said his two speeches so far – his maiden rally speech at Temasek Junior College on April 26, and his appearance at MediaCorp's roundtable discussion alongside candidates from four other parties the next day – have focused on the same issue. 'I think Singaporeans want to know where we are headed, and want to know why (the) Workers' Party is part of that journey, and that is what I am going to focus on,' he said. Mr Thng's message to voters is simple – that policies will go through more scrutiny and deliberation with 'more balance in Parliament'. 'It needs to happen with a different party as part of that process, not with a reliance on an 'ownself check ownself' kind of mechanism, which we have seen has gaps. That is what I hope the electorate can focus on,' he said. Speaking to The Straits Times at a void deck in Tampines Street 91 on April 30, the chief operating officer and co-founder of tech start-up Showdrop was all smiles, fresh off a series of home visits in the vicinity. Throughout the interview, passers-by approached to shake the political newcomer's hand and wish him luck. While Mr Thng may be new to WP's team of candidates contesting Tampines GRC, he has volunteered with the opposition party since 2011. Tampines is touted as one of the most hotly contested constituencies, with four parties – the PAP, WP, National Solidarity Party (NSP) and People's Power Party (PPP) – vying for it. Mr Thng said he was tapped to help out with the party's outreach there in the lead-up to the polls. The WP has been walking the ground in Tampines GRC since at least 2016, but did not contest it in the 2020 General Election. Mr Michael Thng interacting with residents at 915 Tampines Street 91 on April 30. ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN Having had time to familiarise himself with the area, Mr Thng said he has developed a lot of affinity for it, with the sense of community being one example he brought up. As residents in the area come from all walks of life, Mr Thng said his approach to people is to 'adopt a listening posture' when seeking to understand them. Asked how he relates to people who may have different circumstances in life, he said: 'No single individual will have the full spectrum of experiences... I think as long as we develop this listening posture, we will be able to at least empathise and have that curiosity to really understand what is going on, and then (have a) desire to fix it.' On the competition, he said his team has bumped into the PAP team almost every other day, and their interactions are cordial. He recounted an incident that took place earlier that morning, when he saw Mr Baey Yam Keng, who checked in with the WP team to find out how they were doing. An elderly resident that Mr Thng was speaking to then quipped that 'you are all so friendly', he said with a laugh. 'We were joking (that) it shouldn't be war right? That is basically the way in which we interact with them (other parties). It is professional, it is cordial.' He added that his team has bumped into the NSP candidates once or twice during campaigning, but has yet to run into the PPP team. Mr Thng was quick to dismiss the idea that the contest for Tampines GRC is between WP's Mr Faisal Manap and the PAP's Mr Masagos Zulkifli. Echoing what Mr Faisal had said in an interview on April 28, he said that it was a competition between both teams. Besides Mr Faisal, the incumbent MP for Aljunied GRC, and Mr Thng, the WP team also features Mr Jimmy Tan, the co-founder of industrial equipment supply firm Immanuel Engineering; Institute of Mental Health senior principal clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping; and former diplomat Eileen Chong, who now works at Singapore-based charity Asia Philanthropy Circle. Mr Thng said: 'It is important that we look at the team as a whole, because I think particularly for us, we each bring a very unique, very different perspective. 'I hope folks will recognise that and... think that it is worth voting for.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
GE2025: WP's Alexis Dang on a health scare, preparing for rallies and going up against DPM Gan
The WP's Punggol GRC candidate Alexis Dang greeting a resident during a walkabout at One Punggol Hawker Centre on April 26. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY GE2025: WP's Alexis Dang on a health scare, preparing for rallies and going up against DPM Gan Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – When the gates at Temasek Junior College opened ahead of WP's second rally on April 26, the party's supporters streamed into the compound with banners, inflatable hammers and loudhailers. Backstage, WP candidate Alexis Dang paced back and forth, quietly mouthing her script to herself as she prepared to emcee the rally. She took copious notes as former Hougang SMC MP Png Eng Huat briefed her on the rally line-up and gave her tips on how to engage the audience. 'The first rally went well, so we need to keep that energy up,' he told her. After exchanging hugs, handshakes and pats on the back with fellow WP candidates, Ms Dang took several deep breaths before walking up on stage to greet the throng of supporters. Ms Dang, 39, is part of the WP slate for Punggol GRC – one of the most hotly contested constituencies in the election. The senior director at global advertising tech firm Teads gave her first rally speech at the party's Sengkang GRC rally on April 24. 'I went through a lot of soul-searching' Her path to becoming a new WP candidate began in 2020, when she joined the party as a volunteer and started helping with house visits and Meet-the-People Sessions. Campaign videos by the WP drew her attention, she said, because of the party's 'willingness to work hard for the people, even though it is not easy'. 'That resonated with me, because I think I'm definitely not somebody who likes to take the easy route, and that's the reason I'm here,' she added. For Ms Dang, a turning point came after a routine check-up in April 2024 detected high levels of tumour markers in her body. The results meant there was a likelihood she had cancer, and a doctor she consulted said the tumour markers likely indicated late-stage cancer. After months of scans and tests, doctors eventually found that it was a bacteria infection that caused her tumour markers to spike. She has since been cleared of the infection. 'During that period, I went through a lot of soul-searching. When facing something like that, you don't think about the things in life you regret doing. Instead, you think about what you did not do. It really put things in perspective for me,' said Ms Dang. She began thinking about what she wanted to do with her life that would give her more purpose and fulfilment. While her health scare turned out to be nothing serious, she said: 'If I had not gone through this, I don't think I would have been strong enough to stand in this election.' WP candidate Alexis Dang with former Hougang SMC MP Png Eng Huat before a rally at Temasek Junior College on April 26. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Ms Dang, who is single, lives with her mother and her younger sister. Her younger sister, who is two years her junior, is her greatest source of support and '100 per cent aligned in this political endeavour', she said. Her older sister supports the PAP. 'She didn't really understand why I wanted to align myself with the opposition initially,' Ms Dang said, adding that her sister was surprised by the amount of support the WP received after campaigning started. 'Now, she is more open-minded about hearing what people have to say, and I think that is a good start. We definitely don't have to be aligned in our political views, and we can agree to disagree in this family.' Jitters on Nomination Day Things have moved quickly for Ms Dang since the Writ of Election was issued. On April 18, she was introduced as one of the WP's new faces. On Nomination Day, it emerged that the party had decided to field her in Punggol GRC alongside three other political newcomers: Mr Harpreet Singh, Mr Jackson Au and Ms Alia Mattar. Describing it as an exhilarating experience, Ms Dang said: 'Before we left for the nomination centres, (WP chief Pritam Singh) gave us a pep talk and we were all very pumped up. We thought – okay, we got to do this well, we're here for a mission.' (Clockwise from left) Ms Dang and her fellow Punggol GRC candidates Jackson Au, Harpreet Singh and Alia Mattar taking a wefie after a walkabout at One Punggol Hawker Centre on April 26. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Going head-to-head with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and his PAP team is something she does not take lightly. 'This is a formidable opponent that we are up against... More than a week ago, I was just a typical, average Singaporean, just like everyone else. Now, my team and I are going up against the DPM,' she said. If elected, Ms Dang said she will bring up issues residents have raised as pain points, including two topics close to her heart – with the first being education. She views education as the main driver of social mobility today. 'I hope I can help to look into new policies that will enable students from all sorts of family backgrounds to put their potential to the best use, absorb well and not just rush through the syllabus,' she said. Ms Dang added that she intends to look into helping students whose families are unable to afford tuition, by providing them with supplementary educational support. She also wants to help those making career transitions. She said she had switched jobs, from a role in finance to one in the technology sector, and knows such transitions are not easy. 'I want to help put together a programme that will empower our citizens to improve their skills in the right way and prepare them for a new economy. That is something I want to champion,' she said. On the campaign trail On April 26, Ms Dang began her day early in the morning with a cup of iced milk tea with honey. She then rushed out to meet her teammates at One Punggol for a walkabout, which The Straits Times observed. Ms Dang said she would usually take long morning walks at MacRitchie Reservoir, but has given those a miss since the start of the hustings due to a packed campaign schedule. As she made her rounds at One Punggol Hawker Centre with her fellow Punggol GRC candidates, queues formed as residents waited to meet them. The four of them have grown close over the course of the campaign, Ms Dang said. Mr Au is the 'backbone of the team', and Mr Harpreet Singh is the one that she and Ms Alia turn to for advice. 'Our WhatsApp group chat name is 'solid solid team', which is what Harpreet referred to us as on Nomination Day,' she said. Ms Dang posing for photos with residents during a walkabout at One Punggol Hawker Centre on April 26. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY When Ms Dang sat down for lunch, her plate of ayam penyet was barely touched as residents continually went up to her for handshakes and photos. Speaking to ST between bites, she said: 'The Punggol residents have been nothing but warm and welcoming to us. We definitely have to give it our best shot. We cannot disappoint the residents.' Asked how she felt about the comments on her appearance when she was first introduced as a WP new face, Ms Dang said: 'I was definitely a little bit surprised, because I don't think of myself in that way. 'I think what we should be focusing on is the work we are trying to do here. I am appreciative of any positive feedback that people have shared so far, but I definitely hope that people can also focus on what the Workers' Party is trying to bring to the table, which is diversity of thoughts and more representation in Parliament.' She added: 'Ultimately, we want to bring different voices from different communities to Parliament to help us formulate better policies that are reflective of what Singaporeans need and want.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
