PAP new faces Syed Harun & Hazlina Abdul Halim attend Minister's Hari Raya Get-Together with PAP MPs

Former NMP Syed Harun Alhabsyi and former chief executive officer (CEO) of Make-A-Wish Singapore, Hazlina Abdul Halim, were spotted in attendance with PAP MPs at the annual Minister's Hari Raya Get-Together on Apr. 4.

The event was hosted by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli and attended by many Malay/Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs).

While neither have confirmed that they're running in the election, Harun, 39, and Hazlina, 40, have been seen walking the ground with the People's Action Party (PAP) in Nee Soon GRC and Marine Parade GRC, respectively.

Annual Hari Raya event

The two new faces were seen interacting with attendees and taking photos at the event.

Other politicians Mothership spotted at the event included East Coast GRC MP Maliki Osman, Nee Soon GRC MP Faishal Ibrahim, Jurong GRC MP Rahayu Mahzam, Marine Parade GRC MP Fahmi Aliman, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad, Jalan Besar GRC MP Wan Rizal and Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Nadia Ahmad Samdin.

The annual event holds great significance for the Malay-Muslim community and focuses on celebrating past milestones, highlighting outstanding individuals, and charting key initiatives for the year and beyond.

Who are Syed Harun and Hazlina Abdul Halim?

Syed Harun Alhabsyi was appointed as a Nominated MP (NMP) in July 2023 but resigned on Feb. 14, with about a year left on his term.

In March, Harun was seen on the ground with Nee Soon GRC MPs, and appeared at Nee Soon GRC events multiple times.

Speaking to the media at a previous Hari Raya engagement, Harun did not confirm or deny rumours that he would be contesting in the election.

Instead, Harun said he was "putting (himself) forward to be able to serve in whatever capacity that's possible in the future and I look forward to continuing my service for the country."

Hazlina Abdul Halim, currently a director of Mendaki, was touted as one of the potential new faces for PAP in late-2024 by The Straits Times.

She has been one of the more prominent volunteers for MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling.

After MacPherson was subsumed into the future Marine Parade-Braddell Heights, Hazlina was still seen with many members of the current Marine Parade GRC as recently as Mar. 22.

S$2 million raised for Gaza in recent fundraiser

Addressing about 500 attendees at a ballroom at Pan Pacific Singapore, including community leaders, religious teachers and community partners, Masagos said in his speech that the Aid for Gaza initiative, a fundraiser for Gaza, has raised S$2 million over the last few weeks.

The campaign, a collaboration between M³@Towns and the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF), was started one week before Ramadan.

It is RLAF's fourth fundraising campaign for Gaza.

Masagos shared that the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore "is in a position of strength" and that it has "much to offer to other communities beyond our borders".

One such initiative is the International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS), which provides a platform to discuss initiatives for minority Muslim communities in Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The third edition of ICCOS will be held by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) in 2026, noted Masagos.

Masagos concluded his speech by encouraging the Malay-Muslim community to build on its strong foundations and be bold in their aspirations.

"Above all, let us never lose our greatest strength – our unity – that allows us to thrive in a multi-racial, multi-religious society, and to contribute meaningfully beyond our shores," he said.

"Thank you, and Selamat Hari Raya!"

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Top image by Daniel Seow