The People’s Action Party (PAP) has appointed a new branch chairperson for the Hougang division.

Jackson Lam Weiliang took over from outgoing branch chairperson Lee Hong Chuang on Oct. 17, 2023, to become the constituency's PAP representative and branch chairman in the division.

Lee contested unsuccessfully twice as a candidate for Hougang SMC.

Lam's appointment signals he is likely to run in the next general election in the Hougang single-member constituency, which is currently held by the Workers' Party.

Hougang SMC's Member of Parliament is Dennis Tan.

The next general election is due by Nov. 23, 2025.

Dedicated to volunteerism

According to his profile on the PAP website, Lam has been helping out at Chong Pang's grassroots organisations for more than seven years and was the branch secretary for PAP's Chong Pang division (Nee Soon GRC) for almost six years.

During his time there, he organised community building and resident engagement events.

Most recently, he was also appointed treasurer of the Singapore Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Federation.

Lam's passion for caring for seniors and underprivileged youths is derived from his personal circumstances.

After his father passed away from cancer and his mother remarried, Lam was largely cared for by his grandmother.

"Staying with different relatives and experiencing hardships during his turbulent teenage years has moulded his resilient character," the short profile on the party website read.

"This formed his belief that all youths can be given opportunities in life to do well and do good."

The business management graduate got his honours degree from the University of Bedfordshire in 2013.

He is presently an assistant director of the operations and mobilisation division at National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

He is also a principal industrial relations officer at the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU).

Background

Lee, 53, was first introduced as a candidate for Hougang SMC in 2015.

By that time, he had been volunteering for more than 26 years.

WP's Png Eng Huat got 57.69 per cent of the votes that year, while Lee had 42.31 per cent.

Lee then ran again in 2020 and got 38.81 per cent of the votes, while WP's Dennis Tan had 61.19 per cent.

Top photo via PAP