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Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pink Dot returns to Singapore's Hong Lim Park with call for inclusion and hope for future generations
SINGAPORE, June 29 — Thousands gathered at Hong Lim Park in Singapore yesterday for the 17th edition of Pink Dot, celebrating LGBTQ love and pushing for greater inclusion in Singapore society. Despite an afternoon downpour, the weather cleared just in time for the rally. Under the theme 'Different Stories, Same Love', attendees picnicked, caught up with friends, and shared stories of progress and continuing challenges. This is the third Pink Dot since the repeal of Section 377A in 2022. Among those present were PAP MPs Alex Yeo and Ng Shi Xuan. Yeo told Channel News Asia (CNA) he was 'very happy' to be at the rally to engage with the LGBTQ community, adding: 'They are part of the Singaporean community, very important part of our community... And so therefore we are very happy to be here.' Ng said the event had helped 'create more awareness surrounding topics of inclusivity'. Workers' Party MPs Louis Chua and He Ting Ru also attended but declined media interviews. Many attendees spoke of feeling safer and more welcome in recent years. Ann, who attended for the fourth time, said, 'I know a lot of people who exist very separately from issues that are happening in the queer community. Showing up just helps people remember that there is a community here.' Meanwhile, Benjamin Lee, who has been with his male partner for 25 years, added: 'We had to be more prudent 25 years ago, but we're more open now.' Some brought their children to show support. Gladys, who came with her husband and son, said: 'I always believed in freedom to love and to show support towards friends and family. These are the lessons I want to teach my son.' Others acknowledged that societal attitudes are still catching up. 'I think Singapore is still conservative. It still takes time for the older generation to get used to us,' said Diana. 'The inertia, the resistance, is a normal state of mind. But if you close yourself up from the onset, the only person who loses out is you.' A key feature this year was a time capsule containing nearly 70 personal items from the LGBTQ community — to be opened in 2050. Organisers hope it will inspire future generations. 'She is the hope,' said Cally Cheung of her daughter, whom she is raising with her wife, Ching Sia. 'Just looking at her and thinking about how we are raising her, she is the hope for us.' As the crowd lit up the park with pink lights to end the night, Pink Dot spokesman Clement Tan reminded those present. 'Pink Dot here exists today because we can prove that what was impossible is possible... 'We long for a future in which our relationships with one another are validated and recognised and celebrated,' he reportedly said.
Malay Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Pink Dot returns to Singapore's Hong Lim Park with call for inclusion and hope for future generations
SINGAPORE, June 29 — Thousands gathered at Hong Lim Park in Singapore yesterday for the 17th edition of Pink Dot, celebrating LGBTQ love and pushing for greater inclusion in Singapore society. Despite an afternoon downpour, the weather cleared just in time for the rally. Under the theme 'Different Stories, Same Love', attendees picnicked, caught up with friends, and shared stories of progress and continuing challenges. This is the third Pink Dot since the repeal of Section 377A in 2022. Among those present were PAP MPs Alex Yeo and Ng Shi Xuan. Yeo told Channel News Asia (CNA) he was 'very happy' to be at the rally to engage with the LGBTQ community, adding: 'They are part of the Singaporean community, very important part of our community... And so therefore we are very happy to be here.' Ng said the event had helped 'create more awareness surrounding topics of inclusivity'. Workers' Party MPs Louis Chua and He Ting Ru also attended but declined media interviews. Many attendees spoke of feeling safer and more welcome in recent years. Ann, who attended for the fourth time, said, 'I know a lot of people who exist very separately from issues that are happening in the queer community. Showing up just helps people remember that there is a community here.' Meanwhile, Benjamin Lee, who has been with his male partner for 25 years, added: 'We had to be more prudent 25 years ago, but we're more open now.' Some brought their children to show support. Gladys, who came with her husband and son, said: 'I always believed in freedom to love and to show support towards friends and family. These are the lessons I want to teach my son.' Others acknowledged that societal attitudes are still catching up. 'I think Singapore is still conservative. It still takes time for the older generation to get used to us,' said Diana. 'The inertia, the resistance, is a normal state of mind. But if you close yourself up from the onset, the only person who loses out is you.' A key feature this year was a time capsule containing nearly 70 personal items from the LGBTQ community — to be opened in 2050. Organisers hope it will inspire future generations. 'She is the hope,' said Cally Cheung of her daughter, whom she is raising with her wife, Ching Sia. 'Just looking at her and thinking about how we are raising her, she is the hope for us.' As the crowd lit up the park with pink lights to end the night, Pink Dot spokesman Clement Tan reminded those present. 'Pink Dot here exists today because we can prove that what was impossible is possible... 'We long for a future in which our relationships with one another are validated and recognised and celebrated,' he reportedly said.
CNA
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Thousands show up in support of LGBTQ community at annual Pink Dot rally
SINGAPORE: Heavy rainfall on Saturday (Jun 28) afternoon halted just in time as the 17th edition of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rally Pink Dot began. Thousands of supporters brought Hong Lim Park to life with bold outfits in different hues of pink. They lounged on picnic mats, reconnected with old friends and made new ones, while children ran around with balloons in hand and pet dogs trotted alongside their owners. This year's theme, "Different Stories, Same Love", aims to celebrate love in all its forms as the LGBTQ community comes together to share hopes for a more inclusive future. This is the third year of Pink Dot since Section 377A, a decades-old law criminalising gay sex, was repealed in November 2022. Two Members of Parliament (MPs) from the People's Action Party (PAP) were spotted visiting booths and engaging with committee members from Pink Dot. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, MP for Potong Pasir SMC Alex Yeo said he was 'very happy' to be at the rally to engage and listen to the concerns of the LGBTQ community. 'They are part of the Singaporean community, very important part of our community, our overall social compact in our community. And so therefore we are very happy to be here,' Mr Yeo said. MP for Sembawang GRC Ng Shi Xuan said Pink Dot has deepened understanding and created more awareness surrounding topics of inclusivity. 'Conversations will help us to understand each other better. And conversations means two-way right? You talk and you listen. So that's very important,' Mr Ng said. Workers' Party MPs for Sengkang GRC Louis Chua and He Ting Ru were also seen at the rally, but declined to speak to the media. STRONGER ACCEPTANCE, BUT STILL WAYS TO GO Members of the LGBTQ community told CNA they felt more accepted in recent years, with some saying they no longer shy away from attending the rally. Ms Ann, who attended Pink Dot for the fourth time, said she used to feel scared and would only walk outside of Hong Lim Park, but has gained the courage to show up in recent years. 'I know a lot of people who exist very separately from issues that are happening in the queer community,' she said. 'Showing up just helps people remember that there is a community here.' Mr Benjamin Lee, who has been with his male partner for 25 years, said he feels that Singaporeans are more accepting towards the gay community compared to more than two decades ago. 'We had to be more prudent 25 years ago, but we're more open now,' the 53-year-old said. Accompanied by her husband and five-year-old son, 35-year-old Ms Gladys said they attended the rally on Saturday to spend 'family time' together. 'I always believed in freedom to love and to show support towards friends and family. These are the lessons I want to teach my son.' However, others said that more acceptance of the LGBTQ community is needed. Ms Diana said Singapore is a lot more tolerant, which is a "good step forward". "(But) I think Singapore is still conservative. It still takes time for the older generation to get used to us," she said. Ms Diana added: "The inertia, the resistance, is a normal state of mind. But if you close yourself up from the onset, the only person who loses out is you." For Ms Cally Cheung and Ms Ching Sia, two women who are raising a daughter together, having her at Pink Dot with them gives them hope for a future where their family will be legally accepted. 'Someone recently asked me, 'What is the hope for the future?' She is the hope. Just looking at her and thinking about how we are raising her, she is the hope for us,' Ms Cheung said. 'It's a privilege to be able to raise a child and to be able to have a family. And we don't take that privilege lightly,' Ms Sia added. A big part of this year's rally is also aimed at sending a message to Singaporeans of the future, 'to let them know that we are thinking about them, that we are fighting for a future where they can feel more free and more equal and more included than our own community today', said Pink Dot spokesperson Clement Tan. This message was showcased in the form of a time capsule at Hong Lim Park, where almost 70 objects ranging from jewellery to clothing items were placed inside and sealed until 2050. The night ended with attendees holding up pink lights as they enjoyed a performance on stage. 'Pink Dot here exists today because we can prove that what was impossible is possible. In 25 years' time, who knows what may change," said Mr Tan.
CNA
24-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
At 35, he is an SME boss running to be a PAP MP for Sembawang GRC, with a nudge from Tin Pei Ling
Mr Ng Shi Xuan was by his father's bedside when he realised that the man who raised him was not going to make it. His father, fiercely independent and rarely one to ask for anything, suddenly made an unusual request: he wanted to see his youngest brother, who lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mr Ng, an optimist who had been holding on to the hope that his father would recover from his illness, knew then that it was not going to happen. The man who had been at the forefront of the family business was slipping away and Mr Ng's world was not going to be the same again. He was recounting this to me when he was thinking about how he had it in him to step up and shoulder responsibility when needed. He believes that this was shaped by his father who had worked hard to provide for the family throughout the years. That same instinct is now guiding Mr Ng into politics. At 35, he is just a bit older than me, yet he is already one of the younger potential candidates whom the People's Action Party (PAP) has introduced for this General Election. He is part of a five-member team contesting Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), led by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. On this team, he is the youngest. Speaking of his father, then aged 64, Mr Ng said that his health deteriorated rapidly within three months after doctors discovered a ruptured intestine. Barely a year before, his father had still been overseeing day-to-day operations at the family's industrial battery business, Powermark Battery & Hardware Trading. When he breathed his last on Dec 29, 2018 – just a day after his wife's birthday – there was no formal handover or final advice on how to run the family business. Around that time, Mr Ng was working at Enterprise Singapore and he was preparing to relocate to Beijing in China for a new posting. The government agency supports Singapore enterprises in innovation, growth and international expansion. However, his mother turned to him and asked him to stay, to step up and carry on the family business. Considering how that request meant a big change in the trajectory of his career, I asked if he ever felt like it held him back. Mr Ng did not pause for a moment. His answer came clearly and firmly: 'It was a call of duty. I was duty-bound. When my mum asked, I didn't hesitate. It was the right thing to do.' Now preparing for possibly one of the biggest transitions of his life – a move into politics – Mr Ng also believes that this is the right thing to do. As the boss of his family business, a small- and medium-size enterprise (SME), he stands apart from the typical PAP candidate, many of whom may have polished curricula vitae and stellar credentials. However, that does not mean that he is any less ready to serve. If anything, he believes that his experience in business and working to empower youth could offer a fresh perspective on what the ground needs right now. HIS PARENTS' LOVE LANGUAGE Mr Ng grew up in a household where affection came not through words but through consistent actions. In that sense, he never questioned his father's dedication. His father worked tirelessly doing odd jobs before founding Powermark Battery & Hardware Trading. 'Although my father didn't spend a lot of time with us, he was truly a family man. That's the best way I can describe him.' Mr Ng has an older brother, 41, who oversees the daily operations of the family business, while he focuses on business development. They have a younger sister, 30, who is a lawyer. 'My father poured all his time and energy into making sure we were fed, clothed and well taken care of,' he added. His mother was equally devoted at home. Mr Ng said that her love language was acts of service. She cooked for the family daily and still helps with the family business today. When he said this, I realised that I had already met her, back when I first stepped into the nondescript warehouse tucked away in Ubi's industrial area for our interview. She was a kindly, petite woman who had offered me a drink and invited me to wait for Mr Ng in the air-conditioned room upstairs of the warehouse. And of his sister, Mr Ng said that she had been active doing volunteer work since her school days. After he graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics, when he began to reflect on what mattered beyond business and profits, it was his sister who suggested that he spend time volunteering at community clubs. This led him to spend time at the nearest one to their home in the MacPherson estate in 2015, where he was quickly appointed treasurer of the MacPherson Youth Network – a group of volunteers dedicated to serving the community with a focus on youth. The group was one of many sub-committees under the community club. Since then, he has been deeply involved in grassroots work, even forming strong ties with former MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling, who encouraged his leadership. 'She gave me a lot of autonomy. That's why I could run so many youth events and new projects on the ground.' Mr Ng said that his concerns about the youth have also led him to take a stand against vaping, which he sees as a growing health threat, particularly among teenagers. In 2023, Mr Ng and his team of volunteers from the MacPherson Youth Network co-launched the anti-vaping pilot programme called Drop It, Stop It. In less than two weeks, the initiative saw 42 electronic vaporisers surrendered, mostly by people around 18 years old. 'The vape issue was raised by some of the social agencies we work with and they told us the children were either selling vapes, helping to peddle them or vaping themselves,' he said. 'They came to us asking, 'Can you do anything? Is there something we should be doing?' Because obviously, when a syndicate reaches their kids, it becomes very real. Their question was: How can we protect our youth?' He added, 'If the issue is already here, then we have to make a stand that we're against such vices.' During his time in public service with Enterprise Singapore, he spent years focused on helping Singapore businesses grow. He believes that his experience in both the private and public sectors would be useful when he needs to speak up for SMEs, which he sees as under-represented. 'It's definitely good to have more private-sector candidates stepping forward, because we have skin in the game. We're fully invested in Singapore. Our businesses are here and we're very hands-on people,' he said. 'Take Gabriel and myself, for example. He moves things and I design batteries. We're on the ground solving real problems every day. 'Especially at a time like this, when the business climate is so turbulent, it's important to bring in more perspectives from the private sector,' he said, referring to Mr Gabriel Lam, chief operating officer of Shalom International Movers, who is also part of Sembawang GRC's line-up. Looking into the future, which will encompass keeping an eye on the young, Mr Ng wants to be a bridge between the government and the next generation. 'It's really about nurturing the next generation and helping them maximise their potential. With fewer children being born nowadays, every child must thrive.' Pointing to Singapore's declining birth rate, he stressed that the nation can no longer rely solely on population numbers to ensure its well-being. In the past, when families had a larger number of children, it was enough for the broader population to thrive, but that is no longer the case, he added. This makes the health and well-being of the younger generation even more important to him, especially as a father of three young children, all of whom are under six years old. In his household, he encourages his children to be more engaged with books and conversations with people, rather than spending too much time on gadgets. Having been on a vegetarian diet throughout his life, he said: 'Although my wife is not a vegetarian, she believes that a plant-based diet is an important part of sustainable living. As a result, we are raising our children as vegetarians as well.' A WORD ABOUT BALANCING PRIORITIES When it comes to the kind of MP he hopes to be, Mr Ng envisions himself as an approachable guy. He does not have a particular MP who is a role model, but there was a piece of advice from former Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Edward Chia that he had not forgotten. Mr Chia, who joined politics in 2020, was the co-founder and managing director of the Timbre Group, a Singapore food-and-beverage, music and events firm. Mr Ng recalled: 'We were having a chat about how to balance business, family and politics. That's when he said something that really stuck with me. 'You chose this life. Your business partner didn't, your family didn't'." Mr Chia's words were a reminder that as a father, he would need to balance well his growing business, family life and role in parliament. I then asked what had ultimately led him to want to take on all these responsibilities now. Mr Ng was quick to credit his supportive wife Marie Luo, 36, a preschool principal and former civil servant. She understood the weight and purpose of public service and has been his steadfast supporter from the start, he said. 'When I told her ... she said, 'Yes, you have to do it. If your ideas are accepted and you believe you can enrich the conversation, then go ahead',' he added. Even now, Mr Ng is still coming to terms with the fact that he has stepped into the political sphere. His candidacy was confirmed on Nomination Day this Wednesday (Apr 23). When he first started volunteering with the MacPherson Youth Network and working alongside Ms Tin as a grassroots volunteer, entering politics wasn't on his mind at all. And his decision to stand for election this time didn't come from a single 'eureka' moment. 'It happened gradually. People started talking to me and they saw that I was serious. I didn't dismiss their ideas. I listened, took their feedback seriously and worked on it. 'And when something good came out of it, they'd tell me I was doing a good job,' he said, referring to the success of the anti-vaping campaign, for example. He added, 'If you look at me on paper, I'm not your typical PAP candidate. I'm not a high-ranking civil servant or military leader.
Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Ong Ye Kung unveils PAP's Sembawang GRC slate in video, including two new faces
(Clockwise from top left) The video featured anchor minister Ong Ye Kung, new candidates, Mr Ng Shi Xuan and Mr Gabriel Lam, incumbent MPs Mariam Jaafar and Vikram Nair. PHOTOS: AZMI ATHNI, GIN TAY, ST FILE Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - Health Minister Ong Ye Kung took to social media on April 21 to unveil the PAP team in Sembawang GRC, including two new faces. A video uploaded on his Facebook page, captioned '5 individuals, 1 team. A Sembawang for Everyone', featured the anchor minister with incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar, along with two new candidates, Mr Gabriel Lam and Mr Ng Shi Xuan. But Mr Ong did not say explicitly that this would be the team contesting the constituency. In late March, Mr Lam, chief operating officer of moving company Shalom International Movers, and Mr Ng, director of battery company Powermark Battery and Hardware, were introduced by Mr Ong as likely candidates in the GRC at the launch of a community initiative to help seniors in Bukit Canberra. Sembawang GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak was not present in the video. On April 13, Mr Ong paid tribute to Dr Lim at a constituency event, but stopped short of saying that the four-term MP would be retiring. In a Facebook post earlier in April, Dr Lim had called on residents to support his potential replacement. He wrote, 'It is my honour to serve our residents along with members of Canberra zone 6 residents' network, and going forward I hope the members will extend support to second adviser, Mr Ng Shi Xuan.' Mr Ng, 35, served as the vice-chairman of the MacPherson Youth Network, and has been a grassroots volunteer in MacPherson for 10 years. He was previously a public servant and was last at trade agency Enterprise Singapore, helping Singapore companies to grow their business overseas. 'You don't know me, but I fight hard for the community,' said Mr Ng in the video, which showed him playing football and interacting with residents. In the one-minute clip, Mr Lam, 42, said: 'I push hard to uplift the lives of others.' Mr Lam's family moved to Sembawang in 1988, when the GRC was formed, and he attended primary school in the area. In late March, Mr Ong introduced the new candidates as a 'dynamic duo' who are bosses of small and medium-sized enterprises that operate in competitive industries. Both men were later spotted with the incumbent Sembawang GRC candidates at community events, including the constituency's health carnival on April 20, and on April 6, when Mr Ong announced new developments in the GRC. Closing the video, Mr Ong said: 'It takes time to truly know someone, through their actions, not words. Let's do this together, shall we?' Incumbent MP for the Sembawang West ward Poh Li San, who is expected to contest the newly carved out Sembawang West SMC, was not featured in the video. If she is fielded, Ms Poh will go up against Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan at the polls. A three-way fight is shaping up at Sembawang GRC with SDP and the National Solidarity Party (NSP) throwing their hats in the ring. During the 2020 General Election, the PAP won Sembawang GRC against the NSP with 67.29 per cent of the vote. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
