Inderjit highlights potential successor's youth, SME passion
Henry Kwek and MP Inderjit Singh at a Meet-the-People Session on July 29 2015. Photo: Jason Quah
SINGAPORE — Retiring People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament (MP) Inderjit Singh today (July 30) talked up the calibre of his likely successor, saying Mr Henry Kwek has “very good plans” that will be beneficial to his Kebun Baru ward and the country, if he is fielded there and elected.
Speaking to TODAY at his Meet-the-People Session tonight — his first since he announced he would be stepping down — Mr Singh highlighted Mr Kwek’s compassion towards people and his passion in areas such as youth and helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“He’s quite passionate about some things, including helping SMEs like I have been, and I’m glad there’s someone who will be able to play that role,” said Mr Singh. “He’s got very good plans if he becomes an MP that I think will do good for the constituency and for Singapore.”
Mr Kwek, 39, is the executive director of private investment and trading company Foodtraco Supplies, which used to be a food company that ran supermarkets. He holds the vice-chair position of Kebun Baru Citizens’ Consultative Committee, but continues to help out in the Chong Pang ward, where he has been working under Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam for some years.
Mr Singh said he hopes that Mr Kwek can stand in the constituency, but added that the PAP chief, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, holds the final say on which candidates to field. “I’ve been in the party for many years, I know that at the last minute, there can be many changes.”
Still, Mr Singh noted, some Kebun Baru residents recognise Mr Kwek now because he has “exposed him more than any other candidates” that have shadowed him — former television personality Darryl David was understudying him for a year before Mr Kwek.
While it was mostly business-as-usual at the Meet-the-People Session yesterday, one resident broke down during her meeting with Mr Singh.
Long-time Ang Mo Kio resident Harcharn Kaur, 58, said Mr Singh has always been helpful, whether it is with helping her waive her hospital bills or offering her food rations. “He’s a very good MP, he’s got a very good heart. He treats everybody the same ... I’m going to miss him,” she said.
