Boosting spirit of volunteerism another cause for ACRES boss

SINGAPORE – He is well known for fighting for animal welfare, but Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) founder Louis Ng said he can do more than catch pythons and monkeys.

His background in activism, said the newcomer to the People’s Action Party’s Nee Soon GRC team, puts him in good stead to rally the community to do more for itself on a broader scale.

“Animal welfare is a cause I will always champion, because it’s close to my heart, but beyond that, there are other national issues, (such as) increasing the spirit of volunteerism,” said the 36-year-old who founded ACRES in 2001 while he was still attending university.

Mr Ng, who has been going on house visits in the constituency, shared that he has come across people who are keen to do their bit for society.

“I’ve found a musician who can teach music, a chef who wants to (impart) his cooking skills, a person hoping to set up a social enterprise, someone with business knowledge who wants to teach children saving habits ... and it’s all (volunteer-driven). It’s amazing,” Mr Ng said.

The first-time father also hopes to work towards raising the total fertility rate in Singapore.

Citing the Government’s recently announced plans to extend paternity leave, Mr Ng said that he hopes for more of such policies that look beyond dollars and cents to focus on the joys of parenthood.

Mr Ng’s grassroots involvement began in 2008, when he began volunteering in Nee Soon.

Since then, he has served in Chong Pang under Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, and helped out in the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward in Marine Parade GRC and in Joo Chiat.

When asked why he had decided to join the PAP instead of an opposition party, 
Mr Ng noted that a confrontational approach will not work.

“Back in our early years (in championing animal welfare), we took a combative approach, but we realised we weren’t effective in legislating policy changes or changing mindsets.

“So, I told the team to try a more different, collaborative way.”

Mr Ng shared an anecdote where a police patrol car ran over a python, and his team had the option of either berating the police officers or working together 
with them.

He added: “Likewise, the Government is open to engagement. If we’re insistent on standing in the same position, we won’t progress. But on our part, if we can engage them, it will work.”

If elected, Mr Ng said that he will make sure that the residents’ voices are heard in Parliament.

“I will always speak my mind, it’s what my dad taught me — but I will always speak up with an aim of being constructive, collaborative and finding a win-win solution,” he said.

Louis Ng, 36

Chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society

FACT FILE

- Received the Advocate of the Year award in the inaugural Singapore Advocacy Awards in 2014

- Served in Chong Pang grassroots organisation under Minister K Shanmugam from 2009 to 2014

- Married with one daughter

HE SAID:

“I believe in the importance of engaging, empowering, inspiring and mobilising people to make a positive difference in the community.”

WARD: Nee Soon GRC