Tan Wu Meng, 40, seems like your typical People's Action Party (PAP) candidate - he is a super high-achiever and an oncology doctor.

A Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Junior College alumnus, Tan graduated with Distinctions in Medicine and Pathology from Cambridge University. And just in case, the doctor also has a PhD at the UK Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology.

But that's not a bad thing, isn't it?

In a General Election (GE) when everyone is trying to outdo each other in terms of how a "heartlander" he/she is, we forgot that we still need MPs who have the smarts and the street smarts.

And then there is Tan Wu Meng.

A champion debater from Cambridge Unversity in 2003, Tan loves discussing about ideas and writing.

We first spoke to Tan about contributing commentaries to Mothership.sg a year back. He was a regular contributor to TODAY and he was game to try out a new platform that was perceived by many to be less mainstream.

Anyway, Tan had been too busy to contribute to Mothership.sg now, so we caught up with him again to talk about his life before politics, how he is a Star Trek fan, and his favourite local food.

1. First thing's first for non-medical folk, what is oncology? Can you share with us what you do on a daily basis?

When people hear the word “oncologist” they wonder what is that, simi si “oncologist”? I look after cancer patients; meeting them, taking care of them. Those whom we can cure, we try to cure. Those with incurable illnesses, we seek to comfort.

I remembered one of the very first cancer patients I looked after. He was very ill with incurable cancer. Still quite young, about forty, and his wife was pregnant.

No one expects to get a terminal illness in their forties. His dream was to live until he could see his child born. But his cancer was very aggressive, and we didn’t know whether he would get there. We tried so hard, from houseman to senior specialists.

Despite his pain, he put on a brave front. One day we were on hospital rounds and he said, "Can you [the doctors] all come round? I want to take a photo." He took a photo with us, his medical team.

Eventually, we managed to get him home. He spent his last few days at home and he was able to see his child.

His child was born one day, he held the child the next day and the following day he was gone.

About a month later, each of the doctors got a posthumous thank you card from him. He had actually written these cards before he died. A little printout of that photo with a message.

It was a very emotional moment. I cried.

I'm reminded that Medicine isn’t always about the medication, or the technology; it’s about the people.

And it is also a reminder that even in the most terrible situations, even in the darkest moments of someone’s life, even when you think that there’s very little you can do... Just by being there, by connecting with someone, you can try to lighten their burden.

2. How do you think you can also apply some of what you’ve learnt to helping fellow Singaporeans and residents as well?

It's a lot about listening. Listening to know your patients, growing to understand them and trying to help them.

Sometimes, there can be a question behind the question. When a patient asks a doctor “Is there any new treatment available?” for an incurable cancer, the deeper question is, “Am I going to be in pain?” So it’s about trying your best to listen, to understand what the concerns are, the story behind the question.

It's also about saying "I’m going to walk with you for that journey". I think oncology is one of those specialties when the journey with the patient is really “Till Death do we part”. It's a journey, and it can be quite emotional.

Sometimes I see a patient and I feel sad with the patient. But I think there's no shame in letting those emotions show.

3. As a Jurong GRC candidate for the People's Action Party (PAP), can you share with us your affinity for this place (Jurong)?