New mum Tin Pei Ling to stand in MacPherson

SINGAPORE — A day after revealing the likely line-up for his Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday confirmed that incumbent Marine Parade GRC Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling will stand for the coming General Election (GE) in her MacPherson single-seat ward, which has been carved out from the GRC.

Making the announcement on Facebook hours after Ms Tin gave birth to a boy, Mr Goh wrote: “Lest she is anxious, I passed the message from the (People’s Action) Party that she will be fielded in MacPherson in the coming GE. I advised her to rest and not worry about the date of the GE.”

Ms Tin will not be attending the National Day Parade on Sunday, Mr Goh said, but there “will be time” for her to turn up on Nomination Day and campaign thereafter for the GE.

Ms Tin announced on Facebook at 10.08am that she had given birth to a “healthy baby boy” — her first child. Congratulations quickly poured in for her and her husband Ng How Yue, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Law, and she thanked supporters for their well wishes.

There has been keen interest from the Opposition — namely the Workers’ Party and the National Solidarity Party — in the MacPherson Single Member Constituency.

The PAP is set to unveil its probable slates for various constituencies after National Day. Nevertheless, on Tuesday, Mr Goh said the likely slate for Marine Parade GRC comprises himself, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef, Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Edwin Tong. However, Mr Goh indicated that he was still contemplating whether to retire from politics.

He said he would announce his decision on Aug 14 at the GRC’s National Day dinner.