Ex-CEO of SingPost S'pore spotted with Sembawang GRC MPs at Woodlands Ramadan bazaar

Shahrin Abdol Salam, the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Singapore Post's local operations, was spotted at the launch of Bazar Raya Utara @ Woodlands, an annual Ramadan bazaar, on Feb. 23, 2025.

According to photos posted by Woodlands Community on its Facebook page, Shahrin was seen sitting in the audience behind Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Ong Ye Kung.

Ong, who is also Minister for Health, was joined at the event by his three other MPs of the GRC, Vikram Nair, Lim Wee Kiak, and Mariam Jaafar.

The remaining member of the Sembawang GRC team, Poh Li San, was absent because she was on a work engagement overseas.

Together, the four MPs launched this year's bazaar, which features 92 stalls along Woodlands Avenue 6 and 7, as well as the street light-up, reported The Straits Times.

Resigned in Feb. 2025 'to pursue opportunities outside SingPost'

On Feb. 3, SingPost announced that Shahrin had resigned "to pursue opportunities outside the company".

In a statement, Shahrin added that he had decided to step away from his role "to focus on a new chapter in his career".

However, he declined to comment when approached by the media at the Feb. 23 event.

According to SingPost, Shahrin has over 25 years of experience in areas such as operations management, strategic planning, asset management, and business development.

He also held various senior leadership positions, including managing director of SMRT's Thomson East Coast Line and senior vice president of strategic relations at SMRT Corporation.

At the same time, Shahrin is an active grassroots leader in the West Coast GRC and received the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) in 2019 for his work in the GRC.

He is also reportedly a district representative at the People's Action Party (PAP) Malay Affairs Bureau.

Potential candidate for GE2025?

At the Feb. 23 event, Ong was asked whether Shahrin's presence suggested that he might be fielded as a candidate for the General Election (GE) 2025, which must be held by November, reported ST.

In response, the minister said: "The fact that I did not introduce him on stage means I don't know."

Ong also asked the public "not to speculate" when pressed, pointing out that Shahrin has made "quite a lot" of appearances in the GRC previously.

The minister shared that he regarded Shahrin as a "very old friend", adding they have worked together since Ong's tenure at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

'At least 1 new member' expected to join PAP team for Sembawang GRC

When asked about potential changes to the PAP team at Sembawang GRC, Ong told the media that he expected "at least one new member" to join the team for the upcoming GE, reported ST.

Although the minister does not know the new member's identity as of Feb. 23, he said he is "as eager to find out" who he or she is.

"And when I know, I will quickly introduce him or her," added Ong.

As for the reason behind the personnel change, the minister said it was part of PAP's tradition to "refresh [its] candidates" for every GE, adding:

"[In every election], we try to refresh a quarter to a third of all our candidates. [...] So, this being a five-person [GRC], I must expect one or even two persons will change up."

Regardless of the new member's identity, Ong said they will be "supported", "integrated quickly", and be shown how to serve the residents so that they can hit the ground running "from day one".

Ready for GE2025

Ong added that he has been ready for the upcoming GE since 2024 and hopes to continue contesting in Sembawang GRC, reported ST.

He shared that his role is to lead the PAP team at the GRC and persuade the constituents to "continue to work together" with them. He also said that he hopes that he can continue to stay in the constituency.

In GE2020, the PAP team for Sembawang GRC, helmed by Ong, won with 67.29 per cent of the votes.

Top images via Woodlands Community/Facebook & SingPost