Likely Sengkang GRC PAP candidate Marcus Loh announces he has stepped down

The People Action Party's (PAP) Marcus Loh, a prospective Sengkang GRC candidate, has stepped down as branch chairman of the Sengkang East branch.

In Loh's place, long-time community volunteer Bernadette Giam was appointed by the PAP to take up the branch chairperson position with effect from Jan. 23, 2025.

Stepping back to focus on keeping well for family: Loh

Loh, who would have likely stood as a Sengkang GRC candidate for the upcoming General Election (GE) alongside fellow branch chairs Lam Pin Min, Elmie Nekmat and Theodora Lai, announced he was stepping aside in a Jan. 23 Facebook post.

Loh wrote that it is "indeed with a heavy heart" that he requested to step down as branch chairman.

"Serving the residents of Sengkang East over the past 1.5 years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I’ll always treasure the journey - every piece of feedback that inspired me to do better, as well as the memorable moments in making a difference for our community," Loh wrote.

After thanking his fellow branch chairs and Sengkang East volunteers, Loh added:

"The role carries immense responsibilities, and I’ve made the difficult decision to step back to focus on keeping well for my family."

Former Member of Parliament (MP) Lam, who heads PAP's Sengkang team, acknowledged Loh's contributions in a Facebook post on the same day.

Lam said Loh had been "an invaluable member" of his team, adding that he "left a lasting impact and positive impression on the comrades and residents he has worked and interacted with".

"We acknowledge the time and commitment as branch chairs can be demanding and often place a significant toll on our lives and we understand and respect Marcus’ request to step down as branch chairman," Lam wrote.

Who is the new face?

PAP announced on its website that Giam was taking over Loh as branch chairperson of the PAP Sengkang East branch, as of Jan. 23.

PAP said Loh would assist in seeing through the transition, and that he "continues to serve elsewhere in the party".

Giam is a community volunteer of over 10 years who champions women empowerment through initiatives supporting young working women, according to an annex on the website.

She also served on the Women’s Register of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) from 2016 to 2022.

Giam also helmed an outreach across Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC to bring together preschools for community and intergenerational bonding.

Giam is presently a corporate planning director at Creative Eateries, a local food and beverage company, where she manages strategic initiatives and business development.

The company's portfolio includes brands such as Bangkok Jam, Suki-Ya, and Siam Kitchen.

Not the first time

This is not the first time the branch chairperson of Sengkang East has changed.

Loh himself took over in November 2023 from ex-chair Ling Wei Hong, who was unveiled in 2022 as a fresh face together with Nekmat and Lai.

PAP also announced then that Ling would be redeployed within the party.

Top image from Marcus Loh/Facebook & PAP website