Chan Chun Sing thanks Indranee for 24 years of contribution in Tanjong Pagar, promises to take care of her 'Huncles'

After serving Tanjong Pagar residents for 24 years, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah is deployed to lead the People's Action Party team in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC for the 2025 General Election.

After nominations closed at noon on Apr. 23, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing officially introduced his new Tanjong Pagar "team of seven".

Joining him, the Tanjong Pagar GRC team consists of Rachel Ong, Joan Pereira, Minister of State Alvin Tan and new face Foo Cexiang.

Foo was a surprise addition to the team as he was spotted at Punggol GRC events prior to Nomination Day.

There were also Eric Chua, PAP's candidate for Queenstown SMC, and Melvin Yong, PAP's candidate for Radin Mas SMC.

Like a family

Chan assured residents of Queenstown SMC and Radin Mas SMC that the Tanjong Pagar GRC team will support Chua and Yong "like a family".

"All of us will take care of everyone together as a team of seven, and that has always been what we have been doing," Chan said.

Yong added that the Tanjong Pagar Town Council is actually located in Radin Mas and he has been the town council chairman for a decade.

He echoed that the team will continue to work together as a team, should they get elected.

Indranee the "big sister" who served Tanjong Pagar residents for 24 years

At the introduction session, Chan thanked Indranee for being a "big sister" who guided the MPs when they first joined and contributed greatly to the constituency.

Chan remembers Indranee for having "all kinds of good ideas" and is someone who's fun to discuss things with. She's also described as having contributed useful, constructive suggestions that helped to improve areas beyond the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru division.

One of the interesting programmes that is unique to Tanjong Pagar is the H.U.N.C.L.E wellness programme that was launched in Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru division about a year ago.

"H.U.N.C.L.E" refers to "Healthy Uncles who Network, drink Coffee, Learn and Exercise".

The programme aims to promote health, camaraderie, and vitality among men aged 50 and above.

Chan promised that the team will take care of the "Huncles" and quipped that Pasir-Ris Changi may soon have their own "H.U.N.C.L.E" programme as well, should Indranee and her team get elected.

To refresh is to cherish: Foo

In his introduction, Foo also started off by thanking Indranee for having a long conversation with him, sharing with him on what to look out for.

"Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru really has a special place in her heart and she told me to take extra special care for all the residents here," Foo said.

Foo acknowledged that he had spent quite some time in Punggol in the past few weeks leading up to the Nomination Day.

Having said that, he shared that he had also attended a few community events or gone to different areas of Singapore, including Tanjong Pagar, without media scrutiny.

"There were occasions where you were around, I was behind the camera, but that was a time for me to meet the residents on a more personal level," Foo said.

He also said that he's part of PAP's effort to refresh its slate of MPs.

To him, to refresh also means to cherish what's good, what's working, and to cherish all the residents.

The 40-year-old former director at the Ministry of Transport hopes to support seniors living in Tanjong Pagar and to create more activities and programmes for young families.

He said that he will spend the next couple of days understanding the needs of Tanjong Pagar residents, especially those in the Tiong Bahru division, so that he can represent them properly.

He added that he will be rooting for his comrades in Punggol.

Top image: Zheng Zhangxin