PAP - THE WEAKEST LINK

IDENTIFY PAP'S WEAKEST LINK IN BISHAN-TOA PAYOH GRC - VOTE NOW! 

The most senior Minister in a GRC team is normally its strongest anchor, the most valuable asset. In the case of Bishan-Toa Payoh however Wong Kan Seng has after his disastrous handling of the Mas Selamat escape become the worst liability, possibly in the entire PAP line-up.

Through the years Bishan-Toa Payoh was assumed to be a PAP stronghold because of Wong, and the GRC has never been contested by the Opposition. This is no longer the case. Opposition veteran leader Chiam See Tong has declared his intention to run against the PAP here.

Chiam’s task may be easier than thought. Without a reliable anchor, the other members of the PAP team here are exposed, and a quick survey of their profiles and track records suggest they are not the strongest. An Opposition win is not out of the cards. Besides Wong, one of the other four incumbent MPs will be most responsible for a PAP loss. 

Who is The Weakest Link? You decide.

Candidate 1: Hri Kumar Nair, Senior Counsel

High-flying litigation and dispute resolution solicitor with one of the top local law firms. You’d want him to represent you in court, but as an MP? Serving first term as a MP and has never faced an electoral contest before.

Highest Education Qualifications

LLB Honours (2nd Class, Upper) (National University of Singapore)

Career

1992	Legal Assistant; Senior Legal Assistant, Drew & Napier
1997	Junior Partner, Drew & Napier
2000	Equity Partner, Drew & Napier
2001-Present	Director (Litigation & Dispute Resolution) , Drew & Napier

Candidate 2: Dr Ng Eng Hen

Was a surgeon in private practice before entering politics. Also an ACS old boy who attempted a cut of the weightage of mother tongue subjects in the PSLE, but made an embarrassing turn around after incurring the wrath of angry Chinese teachers. One of the “virgin ministers” who have never faced an electoral contest before.

Highest Education Qualifications

Master in Medicine (Surgery), National University of Singapore

Career

1992	Consultant Surgeon, Singapore General Hospital
1997-2001	Private Practice, Mount Elizabeth Hospital

Government Office

2002	Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower; Minister of State, Ministry of Education
2003	Acting Minister for Manpower
2004-Apr 2008	Minister for Manpower
2004-July 2005	Second Minister for Education
July 2005-Present	Second Minister for Defence
Apr 2008-Present	Minister for Education

Candidate 3: Zainudin Nordin

Zainudin has never faced an electoral contest before and is serving only in his first term as MP. He has no significant experiences outside the schools and has possibly the shortest resume in Parliament. Despite his distinct lack of pedigree, he is Mayor of Central Singapore District and President of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). Hard not to see why Singapore football is in wilderness right now.

Highest Education Qualifications

Diploma d'Ingenieur (equivalent to MSc) (E.S.I.E.E., France)

Career

1985-1986	Training Officer, French-Singapore Institute
1990-1993	Lecturer, French-Singapore Institute
1993-2006	Manager, Nanyang Polytechnic
May 2006-Present	Mayor, Central Singapore District

Candidate 4: Josephine Teo

Provides a much-needed pretty face in the PAP and wears multiple hats. One of many MPs from the NTUC factory line. Was in Suzhou during the peak of troubles in the multi-billion investment. Now CEO of Business China – a platform launched by Lee Kuan Yew to integrate Singapore in “language, economic and cultural elements” with China. Appears frequently in the media to defend the government’s labour policy but seldom argues for the rights of workers. Another first term MP who has never stood before the electorate.

Highest Education Qualifications

Master of Science (Economics) (London School of Economics)

Career

Aug 1992	Senior Officer, Economic Development Board (EDB)
Jul 1995	Assistant Head, Services (Enterprise Development); Assistant Programme Manager (Int'l Advisory Council), EDB
Mar 1996	Manager, Marketing Resources, China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (CS-SIP) Pte Ltd (On-secondment)
Mar 1998	Head, Human Resources, EDB
Oct 2002	Director, Human Resource, Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR)
Nov 2005	Director, Human Resource, NTUC-ARU
Feb 2007-Present	Alignment Director (Youth Development), NTUC-ARU
Dec 2007-Present	Alignment Director (Organisation Development), NTUC-ARU
Oct 2007-Present	Assistant Secretary-General, NTUC
Jan 2008-Present	Centric Director (Staff), NTUC-ARU
Jul 2009-Present	CEO, Business China

Board Directorships

Board Director, Business China

Other Key Appointments

Chairman, NTUC IWETF Committee Member, NTUC Industrial Relations Council;

Board Member, Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA);

Executive Secretary, Singapore Industrial Services Employees' Union;

Member, Nanyang Polytechnic Board of Governors;

Member, PAP Community Foundation Executive Committee;

Member, Board of Trustees, The Singapore University of Technology and Design;

Vice-Chairman, REACH Supervisory Panel, MCYS;

Board Member, Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC);

Vice Chairman, Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council

(Note: As you are participating in a free and open forum, you would agree to take full personal responsibility for the contents of your contribution. Defamatory statements, unsubstantiated allegations, unwarranted vulgarities, racist comments, denigration of other contributors and other posts of no relevance will be removed.)