The past three days saw the People’s Action Party (PAP) introduce new faces to contest in the upcoming General Election.
Two of the potential candidates unveiled are from the Labour Movement – Mohd Fahmi Aliman, Director of the NTUC Operations and Mobilisation Division Secretariat, and Gan Siow Huang, Deputy CEO of NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute).
Mr Fahmi was with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Deputy Chief Executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) before he joined NTUC in April this year.
Meanwhile, Ms Gan was Singapore’s first woman general in the SAF with a career spanning 27 years. She joined e2i in April 2020.
At a PAP press conference on 24 June 2020, Mr Fahmi said the welfare of low-wage workers in essential services is close to his heart.
He added: “I want to create awareness for low-wage workers, essential services workers, for them to continue training, upskill themselves to earn a better living. So coming from NTUC, I hope to become the conduit for my residents to learn new skills, understand the trainings available to them, and provide opportunities for them to plan ahead and do new things. I want to be the voice of low-wage workers.”
As e2i Deputy CEO, Ms Gan works with the Government and unions to put together policies to help workers with their employment and employability.
She was introduced at a PAP press conference on 26 June 2020.
Ms Gan said that the Labour Movement’s mission resonates with her.
"I know the importance of bread and butter issues and the importance of having a job, to be able to protect one's lives, and their families … I hope that people will give me a chance. Don't look at me as just another general. Look at me for who I am,” she said.
The PAP has not revealed the constituencies Mr Fahmi and Ms Gan will contest.
Nomination Day will be held on 30 June 2020, while Singapore will go to the polls on 10 July 2020.
