Photos by Lim Weixiang.

We've said this before — Ong Ye Kung, 45, isn't your average People's Action Party candidate.

For one thing, the candidate for Sembawang GRC was the first to lobby for online media to be invited to cover his team's candidate introductory press conference — this paved the way for all the other teams of candidates (some individuals, too) to extend invitations to various alternative media sites, and in some cases, foreign media as well.

For another, he said in his introduction video,

"The most dangerous thing is when you don't know what you don't know. So keep an open mind that in the debate you get to know that you don't know. This is one of the things that the party, PAP, has to evolve and embrace. Because if people don't see evolution within the PAP, they will seek change without the PAP. So it's important to get people's convictions going, have a robust debate and have different views contest each other".

And we haven't started talking about his background yet. The son of a Barisan Socialis MP has a career that spans both private and public sectors - He was the former Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, a former union leader (NTUC Deputy Secretary-General), and now a corporate high-flier (Director of Group Strategy at Keppel Corporation).

When PM Lee introduced Ong at the unveiling of PAP's manifesto last Saturday, he complimented Ong for his passion at his rally speeches. "If you hear him make a speech at a rally, you will hear the fire in him," PM Lee said. PM Lee also told the crowd that Ong said he is "老左的儿子" (son of an old leftist).

We found Ong so interesting this time round (doesn't hurt that he performed pretty well at his team's slick unveiling) that we wanted to meet him again, to get an update from him since he ventured into Sembawang from Aljunied GRC. Ong was the lone "survivor" (the rest retired) of the 2011 team led by ex-foreign minister George Yeo that stood and lost in the last GE.

First, we gave Ong some hard-hitting questions on the PAP:

1. What do you disagree with the PAP on?

I shared some of my thoughts on the concept of meritocracy in my introductory video. I am of the view that there is too much emphasis placed on academic qualifications achieved in the past. Meritocracy is important, but the yardstick to measure merit has to be evolved with the times. There should be more emphasis on experience. Performance based on projects done, results delivered, portfolio created, articles written, practicums gone through, overcoming setbacks...

It can no longer be based on single-dimensional regimens of merit. I was glad that when I heard MOE will now put diploma and degree graduate teachers on the same career path. That is a good move and is part of the evolution we have to go through. This concern is not something new.

2. You mentioned evolution — how do you think the PAP can evolve?

There are principles you should never change, such as zero tolerance towards corruption and the commitment to serve the nation and its people.

With diverse talent and needs, what can evolve is the way we leverage on talent, how we deploy individuals to their fullest potential throughout the system - political leaders, civil servants, grassroots leaders, and how we leverage help from partners in businesses and unions.

For example, we are at the stage where we probably need a good horticulturalist to run NParks, and a good adult education specialist to run WDA. It is increasingly difficult to put a generalist to run an organisation that requires depth and specialist expertise.

3. How would you rate the party's candidate introductions this time round as compared to in 2011?

This GE, I am cheered by the various new things that the party is trying —a better Facebook Page, an improved website, well produced introductory videos, etc. The introduction of candidates has devolved to the ground — like it or not, the party has been using lots of coffee shops for their media conferences.

What I like most is the way we honor and pay tribute to the MPs who are retiring.

There is now almost a competitive mood to try out new ideas, and this is part of the evolution.

4. What's your ideal PAP, and how far is the party now from that?

There is no ideal PAP, or any organization for that matter. If ever I agree that everything is perfect, something is seriously wrong with me.

We also asked him for his thoughts about the Workers' Party (WP).

5. Since you directly encountered them during the 2011 hustings, what's your take on the WP team in Aljunied?

I was a rookie when deployed at Aljunied in 2011. It was probably the deepest end possible.

On day one at the nomination centre, I was at the podium trying to address our supporters, but there was a sea of blue consistently jeering at me. I tried to shout but was drowned out. During the campaign, our posters got defaced. It wasn’t gracious.

These were probably the work of their die-hard supporters.

At the same time, during that nine days campaigning, I realized that some of my well educated friends who are doctors, lawyers and bankers – they are swing voters – also supported WP. It then occurred to me that they had the ability to hold on to their die-hard base while swaying the middle ground. This is how elections are won.

6. Have you ever interacted with them?

I would get to meet Mr Low Thia Khiang (Workers Party Sec-Gen), during the 7th moon dinner in Kaki Bukit. He is down to earth, unassuming and I would say, charming in his own way.

And on to our real burning questions:

7. Why are people still pronouncing your name as "Yeh Koong" even though you've said before it should be "Yee Kang"?

I was born a healthy second son, my father named me ‘second healthy’. It was just a descriptive name. In English, U-N-G is pronounced as “Ang”, but people pronounced it “Oong”. It's even translated to Tamil as "Yee Koong". I've gotten used to it since young and never bothered correcting anyone. Yeh Koong sounds more like a Thai soup.

8. We hear you did a song exchange with one of your teenage daughters — what was on your playlist for her, and what were the tunes she shared with you?

There were several tracks by 5 Seconds of Summer, a couple of Taylor Swift and Secrets by Mary Lambert, which I quite like. I created a special playlist of these teenage songs on my phone playlist.

In my playlist for her, I introduced Journey, The Eagles, Oasis, Queen. She loves "Bohemian Rhapsody".

9. What are five bands that your two daughters must know?

Eagles, U2, Oasis, Journey, and the Rolling Stones. I have not introduced the Stones to my daughters though. Step by step.

10. We ask this question to every person we’re interviewing for this GE — if you were a Singapore hawker food dish, which would you be and why?

Nasi Goreng. Must be spicy, with cut chilies.

If you leave your nasi goreng overnight and eat it a second time the next day, it tastes better.

Related articles:

PAP candidate Ong Ye Kung tackles the contentious CMIO model

PAP's Ong Ye Kung a bridge between Barisan Sosialis and his party?

Ex-Aljunied PAP candidate Ong Ye Kung explains why he is making the rounds in Sembawang

PAP candidate Ong Ye Kung is not letting his funny name, stern face stop him

Click here to go to our GE2015 microsite for the juiciest election-related news on Mothership.sg.

If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.