Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC Cheng Li Hui recently shared a rather touching story about how she went above and beyond for one of her residents.
Met Tan during house visit
Cheng first met Tan, a resident, during a house visit in 2017.
Tan was frail and old. However, she insisted that she was fine and that she had income from her children and from renting out rooms.
However, Cheng sensed that there was more to Tan than it seemed.
"There was a sadness I couldn’t quite fathom but she assured me all was fine. I did not take any photo and just held her hand through the closed grille."
When Cheng visited again in November 2019, Tan appeared much happier, and revealed that she was excited to see her son, who would be released from prison soon.
Photo from Cheng Li Hui / FB
Last wish to see her son
One month later, Tan showed up at Cheng's Meet-The-People's (MPS) session. Her son, who had been incarcerated for 20 years, did not get released, she revealed sadly.
Cheng told Tan that she would "fight" for Tan's son to serve home detention instead, so that Tan would have her son by her side in her last days.
Cheng wrote that although some residents request testimonies from their MPs, the MPs are unable to oblige. This case was different though.
"I witnessed how much strength it gave her and I could strongly attest to the need for her son to be with her."
Cheng managed to fulfil Tan's last wish. The elderly woman eventually passed away during the recent election period with her son by her side at the hospital.
"Almost felt like destiny"
In a subsequent email from Tan's niece to Cheng following the elderly woman's passing, it was revealed that Tan was originally headed to another MPS conducted by a different MP.
The niece, who had accompanied Tan on that day, shared that they had waited over two hours for their turn during the session, only to later find out that the MP was not present.
They then headed over to Cheng's MPS.
Tan's niece said that they were "profoundly gladdened" to find out that Cheng remembered Tan and her son.
Tan had even kept a photo of Cheng from a house visit in 2015, in her living room. In the email, Tan had told her niece to send Cheng her deepest thanks for securing the conditional release of her son.
In her Facebook post, Cheng wrote that, upon reading the email, the entire set of circumstances "felt like destiny".
"Some residents want their MP to be estate manager, some to be eloquent advocates for certain causes, some to take care of them, we wear many hats.
I am the quiet type but I’m usually very cheery and I believe in my work, my party and how our leaders have their hearts in the right place."
Cheng then concluded by saying that she would continue working hard with house visits to her residents.
You can read her full post here.