The People's Action Party (PAP) has introduced a new candidate who will be contesting at Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC), following the withdrawal of Ivan Lim from the upcoming election.

This candidate, formally introduced by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a doorstop at 241 Bukit Batok East Ave 5 on June 29, is Xie Yao Quan. 

Tharman is the anchor minister for Jurong GRC, and will be returning to helm the team this year, he will be joined by Tan Wu Meng, Rahayu Mahzam and new candidate Shawn Huang Wei Zong.

Speculation was previously rife that Xie could be the latest PAP candidate added to the slate, after he posted photos of his interactions with Jurong residents to his Facebook page.

Background

The 35-year-old Xie is currently the head of healthcare redesign at Alexandra Hospital.

During the pandemic, he has also been leading the hospital's Covid-19 operations in a Community Care Facility and other areas.

Prior to working in the healthcare industry, Xie spent five years in the private sector working with an investment company.

The previous six years he spent in the Singapore Armed Forces.

Xie has been volunteering in the community since 2015, during which he introduced several initiatives to support lower-income families in Jurong.

He is also a board member of the SG Enable, an agency aimed at helping people with disabilities.

Xie is also a member of the Merdeka Generation Communications and Engagement Taskforce, which reaches out to those in the Merdeka Generation to help them understand the benefits of the Merdeka Generation Package.

Xie said he is passionate about keeping healthcare affordable and accessible, and supporting the underprivileged.

Xie, who is currently married, graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Master's in Engineering Management.

Top photo by Jason Fan