GE2025: Former MP Lee Bee Wah inspired PAP newcomer Lee Hui Ying to join politics
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SINGAPORE – A knock on the door when PAP Nee Soon GRC candidate Lee Hui Ying was 19 kick-started a volunteering journey that might lead the 35-year-old to Parliament, if the May 3 polls are in her favour.
Outside her door was Ms Lee Bee Wah, on a house visit in the Nee Soon South ward where she was the MP from 2006 until her retirement from politics in 2020.
'She was very warm and enthusiastic… she asked me 'would you like to be a volunteer in the community?',' recalled Ms Lee Hui Ying, who had just completed her A Levels at Nanyang Junior College at that time.
'My immediate answer to her was, why not? I think it was the right opportunity and it was kind of timely. It was something I wanted to explore.'
Ms Lee Hui Ying, now 35, became a mentee of the PAP veteran, a point that Ms Lee Bee Wah made at an April 29 rally at Yishun Stadium.
Ms Lee Bee Wah, who was known for her colourful character and vocal advocacy for her constituents in Parliament, also said that 'Hui Ying has a bit of Lee Bee Wah in her – (she is) a straight talker, sincere and hard-working'.
Does the younger Ms Lee agree? In an interview with The Straits Times on April 30, she said: 'I've seen how she has really touched the hearts of residents. I see her as a role model in how she has tried to go beyond the extra mile to help each and every resident. I definitely want to follow in her footsteps.'
Ms Lee Hui Ying, who plays the piano and cello and was part of the Chinese Orchestra in JC, started her volunteering journey in Nee Soon South ward by being a letter writer at Meet-the-People sessions, before serving in various grassroots organisations .
At her mentor's suggestion , she decided to join politics and informed her father of her decision in late January.
She said: 'I definitely wouldn't have imagined myself joining politics when I was 19. I am very grateful that I got to meet (Ms Lee Bee Wah) at that time, unplanned... something that I never expected. That shaped me, grew me and developed me into who I am today.'
She was also inspired by Ms Lee Bee Wah's character of not being afraid to speak up, and hopes to carry that spirit forward.
'She has always said 'dare to speak up and dare to express it'. I would like to echo that view. It's important and that's precisely why I'm stepping up. I could have remained as a volunteer, but... I decided to step into politics because I (want) to represent the views of my residents in Parliament, present their issues in Parliament and find a solution to improve their lives,' said the younger Ms Lee, who has been volunteering for more than 15 years.
PAP's Nee Soon GRC candidate Lee Hui Ying hugging former MP for the group representation constituency Lee Bee Wah (right) after the former's rally speech at Yishun Stadium on April 29.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
If elected, she wants to be a voice for seniors in Nee Soon GRC, champion a better support system for young families, and address concerns that youths have about job security.
Ms Lee Hui Ying, who is single and has an older and younger sister, spent 10 years in government communications, in ministries including the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Health (MOH). She is currently the Director of Communications at non-profit organisation Temasek Foundation.
While working at MOH during the Covid-19 pandemic, she and her colleagues had 'sleepless nights', often issuing press releases past midnight to update the media on the number of Covid-19 cases and cluster areas.
Through it all, she kept up her volunteer efforts as she believed in its impact.
What kept her going was 'getting to know people, forging friendships, engaging in real activities where it actually impacts individual residents' lives'.
Ms Lee Hui Ying is one of four political newcomers that are part of a refreshed PAP slate led by anchor Minister, Mr Shanmugam, 66. They are contesting Nee Soon GRC against a team from Red Dot United led by Mr Ravi Philemon, 56, at the upcoming polls.
Other members in the team are Mr Jackson Lam, 40, the head of a pest control and cleaning company; former nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi, 40 and Ms Goh Hanyan, 39, a former director at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.
Despite Mr Philemon's recent barb that the people of Nee Soon 'do not know' who the four new faces are, Ms Lee said: 'I'm new to politics, but certainly not new to Nee Soon. I am fortunate that I will be contesting in the place where I first started volunteering… so it is a full circle moment.'
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