PAP introduces its third batch of new candidates for GE 2020

DEPUTY Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has unveiled the third batch of new People's Action Party (PAP) candidates for the General Election. All four came from a modest family background but have made a mark in contributing to society in areas like healthcare, care for senior Singaporeans and Singapore's digitisation efforts. The four are:

• Ng Ling Ling, a 48-year-old former public servant who's been named Woman of the Year by Her World magazine in 2018 for her work as former managing director of Community Chest. A PAP press statement said social causes have always been her passion. After six years in banking, Ms Ng made a career switch to social and public services. "She attributes her humble childhood and upbringing as inspiration to pursue her passion," according to the press statement.

On her move to enter politics, Ms Ng said that after spending one-and-a-half years in grassroots work, she came to realise that there's a need for people like her to serve and help create the next big leap for Singapore.

• Tan See Leng, a medical healthcare practitioner with more than 30 years' of practice. The 56-year-old, who was trained as a family physician, was the group chief executive and managing director of IHH Healthcare - the world's second-largest listed hospital group by market capitalisation.

His junior college and university education were supported by scholarship and bursary, as well as his earnings as a private tutor. After graduation, his family fell into "dire" financial hardship. The experience moulded and taught him skills which later proved invaluable when he started a clinic. The clinic has grown into one of Singapore's largest private primary healthcare groups. Dr Tan said he hopes to play a part in shaping a better future for Singapore. In particular, he wants to help business startups in accessing the various government help schemes.

• Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, a partner in the law firm Dentons Rodyk & Davidson. The 39-year-old has been drawn to community service and contributes beyond "the scope of his legal practice", according to the PAP press statement.

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A father of three, Mr Zhulkarnai has for the past decade conducted free legal clinics and done pro bono work as an assigned solicitor with the Legal Aid Bureau. He believes this is how he can do his part to help the underprivileged in getting access to justice.

• Tan Kiat How has been in the civil service for nearly 20 years before he quit to go into politics. His last job in the public sector was chief executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority, which is responsible for building up Singapore's connectivity infrastructure.

Mr Tan said his grandmother was the motivation for him to accept the role to set up the Pioneer Generation Office, now known as the Silver Generation Office. He wanted to repay the gratitude to the Pioneer Generation who went through tremendous hardships to build Singapore to what it is today, according to the PAP press statement. Mr Tan wants to do more to keep Singapore going, and to pass on a fair and just system to the next generation.

For more of our Singapore GE2020 coverage, go to bt.sg/ge2020