The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) officially introduced its third group of new candidates for the coming General Election (GE) today (Aug. 15). The unveiling was held at the PAP Punggol South Branch ward.

The candidates joining Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's six-member Ang Mo Kio GRC team are colorectal surgeon Koh Poh Koon, Darryl David and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Gan Thiam Poh.

They will join the existing team that consist of Assistant NTUC Secretary-General Ang Hin Kee and academic Intan Mokhtar.

The PAP candidates for Sengkang West SMC and Hougang SMC were also unveiled, with Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min defending his Sengkang West seat and new candidate Lee Hong Chuang contesting in Workers' Party-held Hougang SMC.

The two retiring MPs are Inderjit Singh and Seng Han Thong, while Yeo Guat Kwang will be fielded in another constituency.

PM told the media that the next GE is about Singapore's future and the preparation of the next generation of leaders to take over his team.

Here are 5 observations on why we will associate the PAP Ang Mo Kio GRC team with just PM Lee:

1. PM Lee's years of experience in parliament (31 years, 7 terms) is more than twice the amount of years of the other five Ang Mo Kio GRC candidates combined (14 years, 3 terms).

PM Lee: Entered politics in 1984, 7 terms as an MP (31 years in politics)

Ang Hin Kee (Ang Mo Kio GRC): Entered politics in 2011, 1 term as an MP (4 years in politics)

Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio GRC): Entered politics in 2011, 1 term as an MP (4 years in politics)

Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC): Entered politics in 2011, 1 term as an MP (4 years in politics)

Koh Poh Koon: Entered politics in 2013, 0 term as an MP (2 years in politics)

Darryl David: Entered politics in 2015, 0 term as an MP (0 years in politics)

2. PM Lee brought the whole team close to the OB markers of PAP's dominance. 

Why PAP Punggol South Branch? PM Lee explains that "three parts of it (Gan Thiam Poh's Pasir Ris-Punggol ward) will be coming to Ang Mo Kio GRC in the next General Election" and that it's "a convenient place which is near all three of the constituencies introduced on the same day"

But what you didn't know is that Punggol South Branch is the closest branch to enemy territory.

In fact, it was just across the road where one has to #RepentGE2015.

Here is photographic evidence of how close PM Lee's team was to Aljunied GRC, where town council sinking funds go bye bye.

3. PM Lee had a trick under his sleeve when he sprang a surprise during the announcement of the retirement of Ang Mo Kio GRC MPs.

We heard about Inderjit Singh's retirement on Facebook on Jul 24.

But with the addition of two new candidates and one Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP, we expected the retirement of three veteran MPs - Inderjit, Seng Han Thong and Yeo Guat Kwang.

So it was a surprise to learn that Yeo would not be retiring yet.

Yeo told the media that he does not know where he will be fielded but added that he will "serve with a sincere heart" where he goes.

How about Fengshan SMC?

Afterall, Yeo was part of the Aljunied GRC team that defeated WP in 2006 before he joined the Ang Mo Kio GRC. And the Fengshan SMC is the closest ward to Aljunied GRC.

With Joo Chiat MP Charles Chong returning to Punggol East SMC to contest in a WP-held seat, PAP has devised a new returning veterans suicide strategy.

Maybe it will be second time lucky for the two "heng ah" politicians in 2011 - Yeo escaped the Aljunied GRC defeat when he joined PM's GRC, while Chong won by 388 votes in Joo Chiat.

4. PM Lee has two Ang Mo Kio GRC proteges - ex-Pyramid Game host Darryl David and Lee Hong Chuang.

Darryl, 44, is an Indian-Chinese who can speak English, Mandarin, and Hokkien.

The deputy director at Temasek Polytechnic's School of Design is in fact a "very old Teck Ghee resident", according to PM Lee. PM Lee said that Darryl "lived in the first Ang Mo Kio flat (Blk 306) in Teck Ghee when Ang Mo Kio new town was beginning to be rebuilt".

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Guess he can host the Pyramid Game in Mandarin!

Lee Hong Chuang, a serial volunteer for more than 26 years, can speak English, Chinese, Hainaese and Hokkien.

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In fact, Lee was asked to join the Teck Ghee (PM's ward) Youth Executive Committee in 1991 as a programme secretary.

5. The venue of PAP's unveiling of candidates and the manner of its implementation is so PAP and PM Lee:

Check out how the different GRC teams are interpreting PAP Organising Secretary Ng Eng Hen's brief so far:

i) "Heartland" message: Ng said that PAP "wanted to do (this unveiling) in the heartlands to put across the message that elections are about choosing MPs who can take care of your town".

GRCs' interpretation:

First, it was the Toa Payoh hawker centre for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC candidates. Then it was Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home for the Sembawang GRC candidates.

Now it is as PAP as it goes at the very neat and air-conditioned PAP Punggol South Branch.

ii) Dignified exit by retiring MPs, with introductions by retiring MPs: Ng told the media that unlike in previous years, where new candidates were introduced by ministers, the new faces may also be introduced by the retiring MPs whom they will take over.

GRCs' interpretation:

First, it was a collective bow, with introductions of new candidates by the retiring MPs in Bishan-Toa Payoh. Then it was a bow by the retiring MP (Ellen Lee) in Sembawang GRC, with introductions by new candidates by the anchor Minister (National Development Minister Khaw).

Today, it is an appreciative acknowledgement of the retiring MPs' contributions, with introductions of the new candidates by the anchor Minister (PM Lee).

No bows and no frills, just a sincere word of thanks by PM Lee.

One last thing....

The PAP HQ at New Upper Changi Road was the site for the introduction of new candidates' in the past.

With senior PAP leaders (mostly Ministers) introducing the new candidates, a strong national narrative could emerge because the core group of leaders were speaking with one voice.

While the approach of introducing a whole slate of candidates is a good one, one wonders about the distraction caused by the venue selection and the potential tricky comments made by retiring MPs. #justsaying

Related articles:

5 observations from how the savvy Sembawang PAP team introduced their boyband

5 moments from the unveiling of Bishan-Toa Payoh PAP candidates that got us scratching our heads

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