Ong also pre-emptively spoke about his 2011 electoral defeat:

"What have I learnt from 2011? There are big lessons and there are smaller lessons. The big lesson, I think Minister Khaw has mentioned, is that we never take things for granted. Today's population and how people feel towards politics, I think it's different from the past.

Nothing can be taken for granted. I don't think people want total dominance, so therefore Ministers can lose their seats. So if you are prepared to come into politics and try to do something for residents, understand that there is the situation. Do it with your heart and soul, do it with your eyes open. That I think is the biggest lesson. If you face a defeat, if you face a loss, never let one loss become a defeat. Never let one setback become a failure. And do your best, always overcome it."

Corporate lawyer Amrin Amin, 36, also had a good soundbite during his introduction, "I had an ordinary life but was blessed to have extraordinary people around me".

3. Minister Khaw offered a new vision for Sembawang 

Minister Khaw told the media that the team will "focus on doing what is right, doing what is needed for the residents".

He also spoke about good politics, emphasising good values such as "character, honesty, integrity".

Interestingly, he only made reference to the $620 million in "political donations" made to Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in his comments about politics and character — he also left out the petty politicking of throwing shade or making snide remarks about what opposition parties are doing around the rest of the island, even respectably noting the National Solidarity Party's interest in contesting the GRC.

More importantly, Khaw's team also set up various exhibition boards along the corridors outside the venue for the residents' town hall session that gave the attendees and media an idea of what the public and residents can expect to see in Sembawang in the near future, such as improved amenities and better facilities, including a new swimming complex and a polyclinic. These were also played out on TV screens:

All this was regrettably non-existent in the Bishan-Toa Payoh PAP introduction.

4. No awkward bows or tributes by the team to the retiring MP

Compare this

To this:

Much more sensible, we say. They learn fast, thankfully.

5. But what's up with the rehearsed viewing of the koi fish?

It was quite a "caption-this" moment — they were walking toward the press conference venue, and all of a sudden, Ong stopped, and pointed...

at these:

"Do you think the otters might manage to find these guys?"

And just like that — photo op:

Let's see how the party introduces the rest of their folks in the coming weeks. We'll be there if we can!

Top photo by Lim Weixiang.

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