10 dating app questions for Sembawang GRC candidate Poh Li San

Swipe right to select your MP.

Julia Yeo | July 05, 2020, 10:30 AM

In some aspects, electing a Member of Parliament is like going through the process of dating — you want someone who has similar values and goals, and you get plenty of big promises at the start.

You also check his or her "family background" (political party in this instance) and assess whether they have made plans for you in the future.

And if the General Election (GE) candidate catches your eye, you "swipe right" with your polling card and a ballot box on Polling Day.

Unlike dating though, once your Member of Parliament (MP) has been elected, you're pretty much stuck with them for the next five years, for better or for worse.

And so in that spirit, we posed new Sembawang GRC PAP candidate Poh Li San 10 questions culled from dating apps, so you can decide whether to swipe left or right on her as your next MP.

10 dating app profile questions with Poh Li San

1) If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

"Chai Tow Kway (fried carrot cake). Black one, spicy with lots of egg. I used to have it for breakfast every Sunday morning — there was a particular stall above Bedok market that I really liked...unfortunately it's closed already. I used to live in a HDB flat in Bedok, so I'd walk there and buy it every Sunday."

And the best carrot cake in Sinagapore? That would be her current favourite: Carrot cake from Kampong Carrot Cake at Tiong Bahru Market.

2) If you were stuck on a deserted island with only one item, what would that item be?

"My running shoes. Running is my passion, and at least there'll be something to keep me sane. I could probably run and go for a swim, and then repeat that the next morning. (laughs)"

Poh wasn't always this sporty and svelte. She revealed that she used to be "pretty chubby" growing up and sheepishly acknowledged that she was "a bit of a couch potato" until she was 13.

What sparked the change? Surprisingly, it was a Reader's Digest article on the benefits of running marathons. From then on, she began running, and never looked back.

Poh running during her walkabout in Sembawang GRC. Image courtesy of Poh Li San

"I've also tried out other sports like badminton and taekwondo," she added.

However, running remains her favourite sport as it gives her a sense of peace and serenity.

3) Name one person who really inspired you in your life?

"It's got to be Mr. S R Nathan. I've learnt so much from him in my four years working for him (as an aide-de-camp), it was a blessing to have that opportunity."

Photo courtesy of Poh Li San via PSD

The late S R Nathan, the sixth president of Singapore, was very strict with his staff, including Poh.

He would spot careless mistakes in briefs prepared by them, and circle the errors before tossing the briefs back for corrections, she recalled.

"He taught us to be really serious and careful, and to have pride in our work," Poh said.

"Despite his strict ways, he's actually a really caring person. He would remember the birthdays of his friends, and he really took great care of us whenever we travelled with him," she shared.

One of the most memorable moments that Poh had with S R Nathan was during the National Day Parade in 2008.

"We were marching before him during the parade inspection. It was drizzling, and the SOP (standard operating procedure) for the SAF organising committee was to prepare a camouflaged raincoat for him.

So when we asked him whether he wanted to wear it, he said: "How can I put that on when everybody else is in the rain?"

One of the most important lessons she learnt from him was to never forget her roots and remember what is most important to her, by observing how he lived his life.

"Whenever he's at home, we would see him just in his singlet and sarong, sitting in his rocking chair," she recalled.

Despite his successes, she shared that he never forgot what was the most important thing to him - his family.

4) What do you look for in a partner?

"Someone who can bring out the best in me."

In this aspect, Poh said that she is very grateful to her father, a Chinese teacher for giving her the space and freedom to explore and make her own decisions in life, leading to a series of unconventional but exciting career choices.

Her father was one of the reasons why she had the confidence to venture and try out various careers, she said, from flying helicopters to working in the private sector, and now as a politician.

"My dad was a little worried when I said I wanted to join the Air Force, as there weren't many women doing that at the time, but he didn't stop me from doing what I wanted to do," said Poh.

Poh took a pretty unconventional career path in her twenty-odd years of work.

After receiving the SAF Merit (Women) Overseas Scholarship in 1994, she studied engineering in university, and trained with the Air Force to become a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot after completing her studies.

Photo via President's Challenge

In 2006, she became the first female aide-de-camp to former president S R Nathan, and left the SAF in 2010 to work at Changi Airport Group.

She described the switch from the military to working in the private sector as extremely tough, as she spent the first one to two years adapting and learning the ropes. However, Poh wasn't one to give up in the face of adversity.

"I was about 35 years old at the time. I told myself that it was still a great chance to learn the ropes and told myself to be humble and learn as much as possible," she said.

5) What causes are you most passionate about?

"Healthy and active living, and empowering other women."

One of the reasons that Poh decided to run as a candidate was to help encourage and promote healthy and active living among residents, and to help residents take better care of themselves.

Poh with a resident sharing her lontong herbs. Image courtesy of Poh Li San

"It's probably the best gift to have, to be healthy," she emphasised.

Poh is also been deeply passionate about women taking up more leadership roles at the workplace, especially in traditionally male-dominated industries.

"I hope that I can become a role model for young women to try out different things," she said.

She went on to explain that she wanted women not to be afraid to be unconventional, and not be deterred by societal barriers to take on careers in the engineering and technology sector.

Sadly, this problem is not unique in Singapore.

"Back when I studied engineering in university in the United States, female students made up only around five per cent of the cohort", she said.

"Many women in Singapore are highly educated. We need more women to step up and take on these roles, to fill the shortage that we're facing in these sectors."

Probing her a little further about her somewhat unconventional image, Poh laughed, saying that she was aware that her qualities are pretty different from many other female MPs and candidates.

"I seem like a complete antithesis to the traditional image of a female MP — married with children, with a good career and all. But I think, if you want women to check all these boxes before being able to be a politician, you're not going to get many people. It's really difficult," she admitted.

However, she believes that despite not fitting the conventional bill, she can contribute in other ways.

"I think the most important thing for me is to stay authentic to myself, do what I enjoy, and what I believe is most important and impactful to society," Poh said.

6) What do you think is your best quality?

"Hmm..probably my patience."

Poh takes an almost zen-like approach to things around her.

She acquired this state of mind after a search and rescue trip to Aceh in 2004 after it was decimated by a tsunami. Seeing the sheer scale of destruction and loss of lives taught her to live and let live.

"When we're angry, we could end up saying wrong things and unintentionally hurt others," she shared. "It's better not to get fixated over the small things."

7) What did you want to become when you grew up?

"A hairdresser (laughs). I thought it was really interesting how you could cut someone's hair and then make them look different."

This curiosity went on to nurture her interest in engineering, said Poh who used to pick apart everything at home with a toolkit, including the home telephone, alarm clock, and even the toilet system.

"I was really curious about how things worked, and just really enjoyed experimenting with things," she laughed.

Poh with a parrot. Image courtesy of Poh Li San

8) Where is your favourite place to backpack?

"Probably Mongolia. I went there for a camping trip, and it was an out-of-the-world experience."

Fun fact: Poh did not shower for 13 days while backpacking in Mongolia. She also nearly got lost in the Gobi Desert.

Despite that, the trip was one of her most memorable ones.

"I really enjoyed those years when I was still young and fearless," she laughed, adding that she would probably be a lot more cautious now, considering her age.

When asked what advice she would give to young people today, she said:

"Your value system is the most important thing to you — that's your North Star in life. Your skill set and knowledge may be overridden someday, but your values and principles will guide you for life."

She added that young people should keep exploring, and keep trying things that matter to them.

"Be prepared to try things and fail, but it's okay, as long as it's something that matters to you. Take ownership and responsibility for what you do, and don't be afraid to push for your cause, and to be a champion and trailblazer for it."

9) What qualities in a person do you find most attractive?

"A person who's generous and giving"

The most generous and giving person in her life was her paternal grandmother.

"Despite being very poor, she still gave a lot of what she had to others," Poh shared.

"I used to hear from her friends and my father that she had to give two of her youngest children away because she couldn't afford to bring them up.

However, when someone unrelated to her had a daughter that they couldn't afford to bring up, they gave her to my grandmother. She took care and brought up the adopted daughter," she said in an emotional moment.

"That, to me, was the ultimate act of generosity. Giving away your own children because you couldn't afford to take care of them, but later taking in somebody else's child."

10) Describe yourself in three words.

Surprisingly, this was the only question which stumped her a little, as she took her time to ponder it.

"Sporty...resilient, I guess?"

She struggled to come up with the last word, but we already had the answer: Unconventional.

Top image via PAP