The People’s Action Party (PAP) will field three new faces alongside former senior minister of state Lam Pin Min in Sengkang GRC for the upcoming General Election, in a bid to reclaim the constituency from the Workers’ Party (WP).
Speaking at a press conference on April 13, Dr Lam, 56, said the new team brings “experienced leadership, renewed energy and a steadfast commitment to Sengkang’s progress”.
Joining him are private equity principal Theodora Lai, 39; Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, 43; and food and beverage director Bernadette Giam, 38. All four are currently branch chairpersons in Sengkang.
The WP won the newly formed GRC in 2020 with 52.12% of the vote, marking a historic upset for the PAP team led by then-minister Ng Chee Meng.
Dr Lam, who previously helmed Sengkang West, said the new slate is a product of post-2020 introspection. The team is younger – averaging 43 years old – and includes two working mothers.
Ms Lai and Prof Elmie have been active on the ground since taking over party branches in 2022. Mrs Giam, who was appointed only in January 2024, has been walking the ground daily, balancing outreach with raising her young children.
Dr Lam said the new line-up reflects a deliberate shift to focus on candidates with “the right heart and passion” rather than political weight. He also pushed back against the assumption that opposition-held wards benefit from a “two-party” advantage, warning that lack of coordination could dilute effectiveness.
The new candidates bring diverse experiences: Prof Elmie serves on media and language councils; Ms Lai chaired the PAP Policy Forum and was a founding member of the Young Women’s Leadership Connection; and Mrs Giam has led outreach projects under the PAP Women’s Wing.
The WP has yet to reveal its line-up, though Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, a senior town council manager, is expected to join its team to fill the seat left by Raeesah Khan’s resignation in 2021.
