A Singapore at crossroads prompted him to join politics

SINGAPORE – With the Republic at the crossroads — facing a future that is both promising yet full of challenges — Mr Henry Kwek, executive director of private investment and trading company Foodtraco Supplies, decided it was time for him to enter politics.

Unveiled as one of the five People’s Action Party candidates for the Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team today (Aug 26), Mr Kwek, 39, said he “grew up politically conscious, but not involved”.

And when Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam asked him to join politics, Mr Kwek, who has been involved in grassroots activities since 2010, said he thought “long and hard” before agreeing.

“Why? Because I feel that Singapore is at the crossroads. On one hand, we are going into the future with resources that our founding generation can only dream of ... On the other hand, we face a lot of significant challenges, everybody is aware that we have an ageing population and we know what it means. There is also a lot of uncertainty in the world, especially on the economic front,” he added.

One area he feels strongly about is how the global economy impacts on jobs and businesses here, much like Mr Inderjit Singh, who had often spoken out about the impact of economic restructuring, foreign labour curbs, among other things, on small businesses.

Mr Kwek will be replacing Mr Singh in his Kebun Baru ward, which will become part of Nee Soon GRC under the redrawn electoral boundaries.

Mr Kwek said: “If the situation continues to deteriorate, we must step in quite quickly, like the way we did, because jobs are at risk. One possible way we can do that, if the situation merits it, is to do what we have done in the past — which is to launch a cost-cutting committee.”

When asked if he will be taking on Mr Singh’s role of speaking up for small and medium enterprises on the national stage, Mr Kwek said given his background in business, he would like to look into issues concerning not just SMEs, but the general business community, too.

Business issues aside, Mr Kwek, who had worked as a volunteer at a Kaki Bukit prison school, is a firm believer in an inclusive society.

“....We should make sure that people who start behind the starting line in society are given all the help they can to lead the full life that they can,” he said.

Henry Kwek, 39

Executive director of investment, trading and management consulting company Foodtraco Supplies

FACT FILE

- Previously the branch secretary in Chong Pang and currently serves in the grassroots of both Chong Pang and Kebun Baru constituencies

- Worked in global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co and the Singapore Economic Development Board

- Involved in youth and civil engagements, and works closely with Ground-Up Initiative

- Studied in Chinese High and Victoria Junior College. Holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, and Master of Science in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University

HE SAID:

“I grew up politically conscious but not involved… Several years ago, (Mr Shanmugam) asked me to join politics — two times, if I’m not wrong. I thought long and hard about this decision, and I finally decided to say yes. Why? Because I feel that Singapore is at the crossroads.”

WARD: Nee Soon GRC