Newcomer Cheryl Chan is PAP's candidate for Fengshan SMC

SINGAPORE – The People’s Action Party (PAP) today (Aug 27) revealed that newcomer Cheryl Chan will be contesting in the newly-created Fengshan Single Member Constituency (SMC).

If elected, Ms Chan, 38, will be taking over the reins from former transport minister Raymond Lim.

The SMC was under East Coast GRC before it was carved out as an single seat in the latest boundary review. Mr Lim, who retired from the Cabinet in 2011, announced on Aug 15 that he will not be contesting in the coming elections.

Asked how she feels about being a new face in a single seat and facing a potentially tough fight, Ms Chan, head of secondary industries (corporate strategy & market intelligence) with The Linde Group (Gas & Engineering), said her groundwork was not done overnight.

She has been volunteering in Fengshan since 2005, and is well aware of the issues that affect them. She is "ready for the challenge", she said during a press conference this morning.

Ms Chan, who was previously a Fengshan resident, has served on several committees and also supported the Meet-The-People sessions and house visits among others.

Mr Lim Swee Say, the anchor minister for the PAP’s East Coast GRC team which was also unveiled today, said he feels Ms Chan is the best candidate out of five of them, because she has been deeply engaged with residents for a decade.

The other three candidates for East Coast GRC are: Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry and National Development) Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State (Defence and National Development) Dr Maliki Osman and Ms Jessica Tan.

He has deep confidence in her, or he wouldn't have placed her in the single seat, said Mr Lim.