Serving with a heart: PAP's Jackson Lam on volunteering in Nee Soon & working with Shanmugam

When Minister K Shanmugam invited People's Action Party's (PAP) new face Jackson Lam to join politics, Lam, 40 had already been helping out at Chong Pang Grassroots Organisation for more than a decade.

"[Shanmugam] thought I would be suitable to take up this role. I've been serving in the community for over 12 years," Lam said in a sit-down interview with Mothership.

It was the same spirit of service that convinced Lam to enter politics.

"Taking up this role will enable me [to] help as many residents as possible," he said, elaborating that he'll be able to train and guide activists on the ground to help more residents in need.

PAP branch chairman in Hougang

Lam was appointed as PAP branch chairman in the Hougang division from Oct. 17, 2023.

"For the first three months (of assuming the role), I think it's not very easy," Lam said.

He gave two reasons for the bumpy start— firstly, Hougang SMC is an opposition-held ward, and secondly, not many people there knew who he was, at first.

"So I spent a lot of time on the ground, understanding the residents, and making friends with them," said Lam.

He was so committed to serving the residents that he decided to run his own business to have more time on the ground.

The dedication eventually pays off— "Over time, I think they are okay with me, and they will look for me whenever they have any issue."

Lam recalled one resident who wrote him a card, saying she would miss him and was sad that he was leaving.

Marshall Lim

Lam also praised the PAP candidate in Hougang, Marshall Lim, who replaced Lam as branch chairman.

He first got to know Lim when he was a volunteer in Chong Pang.

"I think he's very passionate, he's very hard-working," Lam said, adding that he has a "never-say-die attitude."

"I think he will work hard on the ground, and I hope the residents of Hougang will give him a chance," Lam said.

A precious morning routine

But volunteering (and being in politics) doesn't come without challenges.

Lam, who is married and a father to twin boys, said that he finds it hard to spend time with his kids at times.

"At night, when I reach home, normally they'll be sleeping," Lam said.

But at times, the boys would wake past midnight, "and they'll run into my room and suddenly sit beside me [and] they'll hug me," Lam said.

In the morning, Lam would help the boys get ready for school.

"Every morning, that 15 minutes sending them to school are very important and precious to me," Lam said.

It was in that small pocket of time that the 40-year-old would find out more about his boys' daily lives.

"I'll spend time talking to them, see how [they are] doing in school, what are their daily activities like?"

Weekends are a little better, with Lam finding time to bring his kids to the playground or playing table tennis.

The precious routine is something that Lam will try to keep even if he's elected as a Member of Parliament (MP).

Moving to a GRC

This general election, Lam will be fielded in Nee Soon GRC, a five-member constituency.

He is among the four new faces that will be fielded in Nee Soon GRC. The other three are Goh Hanyan, Syed Harun Alhabsyi, and Lee Hui Ying.

Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam, anchor minister for Nee Soon GRC, will be helming the team.

Reflecting on the move from an SMC to a GRC, Lam said that he feels there is "not much difference" because he is still "serving the community" in both instances.

But of course, being in the GRC would mean that you have to "check whatever decision you're making with other team members".

"In the GRC, we normally look for the anchor minister, and he or she will make the decision."

"He's like a father to me too"

Lam first met Nee Soon's anchor minister Shanmugam in 2011.

"My first impression of him is someone not to be messed with," Lam said.

"But over the years, having worked with him for so many issues [and] serving under him for the past 12 years, he's actually a very nice person.

He's friendly. He's like a mentor. He's like a father to me too. He will never scold anyone. He will never raise his voice."

Big shoes to fill

When asked about replacing four incumbent MPs in the constituency, especially Louis Ng, who was a big part of the residents' lives, Lam said Ng had left behind a big pair of shoes to fill.

Ng had served in Nee Soon GRC for 10 years, building a reputation as an outspoken parliamentarian and a hard-working MP on the ground.

Lam will be directly replacing Ng in his ward, if elected.

He thanked Ng for everything he had done for the residents, and pledged to "continue to walk the ground, to understand the residents' needs, their concerns, and what they really want, and I'll bring them to Parliament."

He added that he will also try to understand the residents' needs in the area of infrastructure, study upcoming developments, and help to implement them on the ground.

"I will speak up for residents, their needs, their concerns in Parliament. This is what I what I will achieve, and I want to achieve."

When asked about PAP's opposition in Nee Soon, a Red Dot United (RDU) team led by secretary-general Ravi Philemon, Lam said he wanted to thank RDU for coming to Nee Soon and giving the residents a chance to choose which party would serve them better and understand their concerns.

"But for me, the most important thing is getting to know more residents and what are their concerns on the ground," Lam said.

Spending time to meet more residents & understand needs

"In this election, I think I will spend my time meeting more residents [and] understanding their needs," said Lam.

Having served as a volunteer for 12 years, Lam had many fond memories of helping residents, but one incident particularly stood out— when he was working "hand-in-hand" with delivery riders.

Lam said he had discussions with delivery riders where he listened to their concerns and their feedback before taking them up to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

Ultimately, LTA took up one of their suggestions and implemented a new cycling path.

"The delivery riders are quite happy because it assisted them in their daily delivery jobs," said Lam.

"I love helping people"

"There's one part in me that will never change. I love helping people," Lam answered when asked what he values about volunteering.

"Given the chance, I hope to assist as many people as possible, and I also discussed this role with Minister [Shanmugam] when he invited me to join politics. I thought I could do more [in] this position."

And finally, to all the Nee Soon voters: "I'm a Nee Soon boy. I grew up here with my family and friends, and now I'm still living here. I'll continue to serve because this is where I belong. Nee Soon is our home."

Top image via Mothership