Not going into Parliament, but there're still ways to serve: SDA's Desmond Lim on not succumbing to hate

When I text Desmond Lim to request an interview a day or two after the General Election, I'm surprised at his reply:

"I'm only available on weekends or after office hours."

We end up agreeing to meet for lunch. He confirms, over beef stew (his order) and fried rice (mine), that he's fully back at work.

I mention my surprise that he didn't take a break after the gruelling campaign period. "I've already taken 10 days of leave [for the campaign]," he says.

Lim, in his day job as a principal engineer, dons a dark blue collared shirt and black pants.

It's a far cry from the neon-green he used to wear as secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA).

They of course had a bit of a style shift this election.

Despite his slightly more formal air at the start, it doesn't take long for the amiable, earnest man I saw interact with residents at walkabouts to emerge.

Not fly-by-night

The SDA initially drew criticism from netizens who accused them of being a "fly-by-night party".

For sure, their activities are less well-documented than that of several bigger parties (Lim readily agrees that their social media game needs work).

But he argued that his party had been working the ground, even if they weren't particularly loud about it.

"I'm from the old era," he quips.

"The people that I'm serving benefit from my actions, I think that's good enough. I never thought I had to show to the world that I'm doing this or that. That is not my style."

SDA has contested in the Pasir Ris area since 2006. Over the years, they've conducted events like bringing a medical team to Ubin to provide residents with free check-ups, and organising community outings for seniors.

Where netizens doubted him, his residents saw his sincerity.

SDA lost to the incumbent People's Action Party, but garnered a respectable 32.34 per cent of the vote.

No small feat in an election year where voters, seeking safe harbour, largely eschewed small parties, and a full 27 candidates lost their deposits.

Taken seriously

Even so, Lim knows that not everybody will take him seriously.

His interviews have drawn criticism for his command of English. Even with his improved electoral showing: "Some will say it's cos of Indranee [Rajah], some say if Workers' Party come, you will get zero per cent," he says with a shrug.

"But to me, I see that there is some improvement in my support level.....I'm very appreciative that more residents have given me their recognition and their votes."

Lim is no stranger to criticism. 2011 was a "dark year" for him, he recalls.

He lost his deposit, his wife was condemned by her colleagues and fell into depression, and his critics went to his company and demanded that they fire him.

When he talks about how his wife went through a miscarriage at the same time, he chokes up and we have to call for a break.

"Sorry, sorry, every time I talk about this..." he trails off.

Politics isn't an easy path. But Lim, after all these years, is still here.

The challenges he's had to go through have also lent him a more philosophical perspective. Where other opposition parties reacted to their losses with despair, even anger, Lim was seen punching the air in celebration.

"Of course, when we contest, we want to win. But if you can't win, then life has to go on," he tells me.

"There's always a way to help people. It's not just that you have to go into Parliament to be an elected MP to benefit the people.

Seeing I'm not able to enter into Parliament, it doesn't mean that I have to wait until I enter then I start to help people...To me even if I cannot serve them in Parliament, I still can serve the people through my charity."

No shortcuts

With the election behind, Lim already has some ideas on what he wants to do.

Buoyed by the party's relative success, he hopes to begin recruiting high-calibre candidates.

He also intends to work on improving the party's social media game, although it's clear he's not sure where to start.

"People make fun of our logo," he says good-naturedly. When the party first started, they chose the logo for good reason; but times change, and he's open to refreshing it.

I ask if he knows about his popularity on social media, where he's (quite unwittingly, it seems) won over thousands of Singaporeans with his earnest, no-nonsense "uncle" demeanour.

"I don't know. But when you are at the uncle stage, you have to be uncle, right?" he says, a touch bashfully. "Only my son told me recently that there's a change [on social media], before the election people ridiculed me, mocking me about my online rally in 2013, and my command of English.

And now it seems that there are people who know what I'm doing. And I thank them for recognising and giving me the support."

He's also met up with Desmond Tan from the PAP and exchanged numbers.

He hopes to refer his residents who need help to Tan, since he is an elected MP who can help represent them in Parliament.

"It's not because I want to score political points. That's not important," he says. "What's important is can the problem be solved....I don't know, maybe I'm too naive, but as a politician I think it's about helping people."

No-nonsense

Lim has never done the thing where he introduces himself, in the name of relatability, as a father and a husband.

But through his words and actions — the way he still tears up over a decade on about his wife's suffering, the way he speaks with pride about his son — it's pretty evident.

And if I may add a third descriptor: Lim is also a steward.

As natural as he is in front of the camera, he doesn't seem to have any aspirations for the limelight. He doesn't want to front videos; he prefers to work quietly in the backend, speaking to residents and helping them solve their problems.

If he could, he'd step back from the party's leadership entirely and let a younger person take over the reins. "I'm more suitable as a grassroots leader," he admits.

One thing he repeats several times over the course of our interview is that there are "no shortcuts".

It's why he took 10 days' worth of precious leave to traipse through the blazing heat, knocking on doors, facing down residents' bemusement and rejection and even scorn.

Will Lim ever get into Parliament? Maybe, maybe not. But that's not what's most important to him.

What is important is serving the community. Doing his best to make things a little better. To make someone's life a little less difficult.

For all his self-deprecating remarks about his English, he explains it, quite succinctly:

"We are all Singaporeans, we are all there for the good of Singapore, a better Singapore."

Lim might or might not get into Parliament. But Singapore is a little better for his efforts.

If that doesn't deserve a joyful fist-pump, what does?

SDA is selling its election posters for charity. All proceeds will go to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. If you're interested in contributing, please refer to Lim's Facebook post here for more information. 

Top image by Koh Wen-en for Mothership