Sad to leave Hougang, but focus is now on Tampines
Former Hougang candidate Desmond Choo is one of the new faces in the People’s Action Party’s Tampines slate. Photo: PAP
SSINGAPORE — Despite having left the Hougang ward for about eleven months, Mr Desmond Choo still has residents from the area contacting him personally for help and seeking advice.
Recounting his feelings when he was told that he would be moved to serve in Tampines, Mr Choo said he felt a “tad sad”.
“If the party wanted me to stay, I would have stayed. But I also believe that the party makes the best decisions on behalf of the residents,” he said, at a press conference introducing him as one of the candidates of the PAP team for Tampines GRC in the coming General Election.
However, he said that he has confidence in the team in Hougang now, and will continue to work hard here in Tampines.
“I am also very confident that over the years we have continued to build on the Hougang team...confident that the team will continue to do their best for the residents.”
Two causes that he would be championing in Tampines will be helping young families and the elderly.
“While we take care of the younger familes and make sure that the opportunities are there, we must also help our more elderly Changkat residents to age gracefully and purposefully. This is something we need to work on,” he said.
As the current director of the youth development unit at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and the deputy director in the industrial relations department, Mr Choo also champions causes for younger Singaporeans.
“As a younger Singaporean, you know that there in the next 50 years, while there are alot of opportunities...at the same time the journey will not be easy. I want to play my part in bringing together our younger Singaporeans to build consensus along the way through listening to them and involving them...so that whichever (the) solution, it will be built together.”
Having lost in the 2011 General Elections to Workers’ Party’s Mr Yaw Shin Leong; and to the WP’s Mr Png Eng Huat in the 2012 by-election, Mr Choo said the lessons he learnt from his days in Hougang would help him to take better care of the residents in Tampines.
“After you have gone through two setbacks, you would never take any place for granted...I decided to come into politics and the big part of it was to make a difference. The setbacks doesn’t mean that I cannot make a difference. It only means that I need to continue to work harder,” he said.
He added: “There are no shortcuts, and this is the same spirit that I will continue in: to walk with energy, be dynamic, come up with new ideas.”
One of the most important lesson he has learnt so far is to not let the setbacks get to him. “The second thing that I have learnt...(was), how do I lead a team and to make everyone better. So that every individual counts and can contribute to the community,” he said.
Mr Choo was appointed the second advisor to Changkat Grassroots Organisations (GRO) in February. He had earlier served a three and a half year stint in Hougang as a grassroot advisor before leaving the position in September last year.
Mr Choo and his wife Pamela Lee are expecting their first child in October.
Desmond Choo Pey Ching, 37
Director with youth development unit and Deputy director of industrial relations, National Trade Union Congress
Deputy executive secretary, Attractions Resorts and Entertainment Union
FACT FILE:
- Active community work for more than 10 years
- Currently the second advisor to Changkat Grassroots Organisations
- Has worked extensively in the Marsiling, Tampines East and Hougang constituencies.
Awarded the SPF Overseas Merit Scholarship in 1997 to read Economics at the University of Chicago.
HE SAID:
“As a younger Singaporean, you know that there in the next 50 years, while there are alot of opportunities...at the same time the journey will not be easy. I want to play my part in bringing together our younger Singaporeans to build consensus along the way through listening to them and involving them...so that whichever (the) solution, it will be built together.”
WARD:
Tampines Changkat
