PAP's Poh Li San & Mariam Jaafar likely running for Sembawang GRC

They've also been spotted in Sembawang GRC.

Fasiha Nazren | June 28, 2020, 11:51 AM

On June 27, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung shared a tribute video to fellow incumbent member of parliament (MP) for Sembawang GRC, Khaw Boon Wan.

Khaw announced his retirement from politics on June 26 after serving 19 years in parliament.

Tribute video to Khaw features new PAP candidates

The tribute video featured Ong, incumbent MPs for Sembawang GRC Lim Wee Kiak and Vikram Nair, as well as two new People's Action Party (PAP) candidates Poh Li San and Mariam Jaafar.

It seems likely that these two new faces will join Ong, Lim and Vikram to form a 5-person team contesting for Sembawang GRC.

Here's more information on them.

Poh Li San

Image via PAP.

Poh, 45, is the Vice-President of Terminal 5 Planning, Changi East Development, Changi Airport Group.

She graduated in 1998 from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign with a double Degree in Engineering and Economics.

Poh is also a former Search and Rescue helicopter pilot with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). In 2006, Poh became the first female full-time aide-de-camp to former President of Singapore, the late S R Nathan.

In 2018, Poh joined Sembawang GRC and began volunteering actively in grassroots activities and Meet-the-People sessions. She started the annual Women Festival with Sembawang GRC's Women Executive Committees and monthly distribution of rescued vegetables and fruits initiative to rental flat residents with fellow Branch activists.

She strongly hinted that she would stand in Sembawang GRC for the upcoming election, saying that she spent a lot of time in Sembawang Air Base, and Sembawang is a special place for her, with "plenty of strong memories." She added:

"Now that I have a chance to go back to Sembawang to serve on the ground, I'm really excited to work closely with our volunteers and our residents there."

Mariam Jaafar

Image via PAP.

Mariam, 43, is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

She grew up in a one-room rental flat, but thanks to the sacrifices of her parents and the kindness shown by many people, she was able to go on to study in the U.S.

Mariam earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. She then went on to Harvard Business School, where she received her Master in Business Administration.

As the head of Women@BCG, she helps to plan initiatives that offer career development, mentorship and programs to help women excel personally and professionally.

She aims to build stronger communities and make a difference in the health and welfare of fellow Singaporeans.

Based on her Facebook page, she is often seen volunteering at Woodlands, which was previously Amrin Amin's ward in Sembawang GRC.

Sembawang succession plan in full play: Khaw

Sharing the tribute post, Khaw said that the Sembawang succession planning is now in "full play".

He shared that the Sembawang GRC team is "now complete" with a balance of "fresh faces and veterans".

He called Poh and Mariam "suitable new candidates". Khaw also talked about how PAP had plans for Amrin to serve in another part of Singapore.

Top image from PAP.