M'sia-born actress Sora Ma says PAP MP Koh Poh Koon helped her with S'pore citizenship application

Actress Sora Ma, originally from Malaysia, has officially become a Singapore citizen.

Ma, who rose to fame after placing in the top five of Star Search 2010, shared her citizenship journey in an Instagram post on Apr. 16.

She revealed that she hadn’t thought much about applying for citizenship until a friend suggested it might make things easier for her in the future, especially in handling her child’s affairs.

Ma gave birth to her son, Skye, on Aug. 14, 2024, and later revealed on Dec. 11, 2024, that her husband, whom she had been with for 11 years, had passed away six months prior.

"I hadn’t thought much about it before, but her words were a wake-up call for me as I was still adjusting to handling everything on my own," she wrote.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 💪🏻 Sora Ma 马艺瑄 💪🏻 (@soramayx)

Appealed to MP for help

Ma decided to reach out to Koh Poh Koon, then-Member of Parliament (MP) for Tampines Central, where she resides.

It was her first time contacting a government official, and she recalled being “truly impressed by his efficiency”, after receiving a reply within 40 minutes.

Koh invited her to attend a Meet-the-People Session (MPS) to hear her out.

Ma shared that it "warmed her heart" to witness Koh and his team working hard to assist residents with their issues.

"It was clear that they were genuinely committed to serving the people," she wrote.

Citizenship approved in around 7 months

"I’m not sure if my case was unique or if the MP’s involvement helped speed things up, but my citizenship application was approved much faster than expected," Ma wrote.

She got her "pink IC" (identity card for Singaporeans) on Jan. 22, 2025, which also happened to be her birthday.

Ma's post was, however, met with scepticism as it was uploaded one day after Parliament was dissolved in preparation for the General Election; Koh is standing for re-election on May 3.

Speaking to Mothership, Ma explained that she did not know about the dissolution at that time and was simply sharing her experience, especially after coincidentally bumping into Koh a few days prior on Apr. 13.

"Just a few days before I met Mr Koh, my baby was hospitalised. it was my first time dealing with a sick child, and I was feeling quite overwhelmed. All I could focus on then was whether his fever had gone down or if the vomiting had stopped."

Ma also noted that she had followed all required procedures, including attending activities that are part of the citizenship formalities.

Her Instagram post included photos of her at a Singapore Experiential Visit and Community Sharing Session.

"At that time, I was only about a month postpartum. I was still wearing a binder, my C-section wound hadn’t fully healed, and I was moving quite slowly," she shared.

When the tour guide noticed and asked if she wanted to finish early, she declined, as she wanted to "complete the experience together with everyone else".

Koh Poh Koon: Did not recognise Sora Ma

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Koh said he did not recognise Ma when she first came to him for help.

She was wearing a mask, and as he doesn’t watch much television, he was unaware of who she was.

After learning about her situation, he and his team helped to write a letter to the relevant authorities.

"In the end, we were able to assist her and get a good result, and we are very happy for her," he said.

Koh also stressed that he and his team treat everyone equally and try their best to provide assistance within their capabilities.

He added that he will usually check his emails daily, and happened to see Ma's email that day.

"Some problems are more complicated and may require cross-departmental coordination and more time to be alleviated, while others can achieve ideal results more quickly."

Koh is contesting Tampines GRC in GE2025 along with four other PAP members —Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the Ministry of Transport Baey Yam Keng, as well as two new faces David Neo and Charlene Chen.

Hope to contribute to society

Now that she is a Singaporean, Ma hopes to contribute to society.

She plans to make the most of her SkillsFuture credits to pick up new skills, and will be keeping up with current affairs as well.

She also expressed her gratitude to everyone who supported her in her citizenship journey.

Related articles

Top photos from soramayx/Instagram