In addition, I would also like to thank our grassroots leaders and community organisations for their kind support these past months. It has been enriching working alongside all of you.

I will also miss all my Kaki Bukit PCF principals and teachers who have displayed such deep dedication and passion for the children under their care. Children of PCF Kaki Bukit, I know I have promised you that I will see you at the Sports Day and your Graduation Concert, but it looks like I can no longer fulfill that promise anymore. I hope that you can continue to grow up healthy and strong, and one day achieve all the dreams that you have shared with me.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team of dedicated Branch activists who have spent so much time with me in helping the residents here. Without you, my efforts would be limited. I was a lone stranger when I came into our PAP Branch on the first day. It is very sad to have to leave you after forging such tight camaraderie.

To everyone in Kaki Bukit, thank you for the great memories!!

I will miss you!

May our paths cross again in future."

(Note, by the way, how he didn't endorse the candidate who will replace him.)

Kahar's sudden departure is peculiar 

Kahar seems to be quite popular with the residents he had been serving.

We first saw some of the residents (featured above) at the Hari Raya grassroots dinner on Wednesday (July 29). According to Kahar's Facebook page, this group of more than 30 residents have been having exercise sessions weekly for almost a year now.

Kaki Bukit resident Mdm Jawwahil Bt Sa'ari, 61, had kindly agreed for a short interview with Mothership.sg about Kahar.

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In fact, some of the Kaki Bukit residents have written petition letters to the PAP party leaders, pleading for him to remain.

They shared the two letters with the Mothership.sg team today.

Mrs Chen, a Kaki Bukit resident in 60s, told Mothership.sg in Mandarin that she did not understand why she kept seeing a new PAP leader at Kaki Bukit.

"First, it was Faishal Ibrahim, then it was Ong Ye Kung, and now it is Kahar Hassan", she said. "I like Kahar Hassan", she added. "He is humble and he finds time to drink coffee with me."

Now, the multi-million dollar question: If Kahar is out of the running, then who will replace him? Is PAP going to field an anchor minister to wrest back Aljunied GRC from Workers' Party?

Or are the PAP shooting themselves in the foot being uncharacteristically charitable to the Worker’s Party?

After all, it really doesn’t make sense to parachute someone completely new into enemy territory, when the GE is just a few months away.