SINGAPORE – The People’s Action Party (PAP) finally quelled speculations on its much-anticipated lineup to challenge the Workers’ Party in Aljunied GRC today (Aug 28), unveiling veteran MP Yeo Guat Kwang and four of its branch chairs in the constituency as its candidates.

The all-male slate comprises chief executive of Shenton Insurance Victor Lye, 53, from its Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch; head of commercial litigation at Rajah & Tann K Muralidharan Pillai, 47, from Paya Lebar; executive director in Standard Chartered Private Bank Chua Eng Leong, 44, from Eunos; and former head of student management in Spectra Secondary Shamsul Kamar, 43, from Kaki Bukit.

There has been much discussion on how the PAP would confront an unprecedented task of reclaiming a GRC. Until earlier this week, former party chairman and Cabinet minister Lim Boon Heng had even been thought to be possibly making a return to politics after retiring four years ago.

Former deputy director with SMRT Kahar Hassan was also tipped to be a candidate there after working the ground there for 16 months, but was replaced just this month as branch chairman by Mr Shamsul.

Mr Yeo, who entered politics in 1997, was also bandied about as a potential candidate in the territory taken down by the Workers’ Party’s A-team in 2011, after his redeployment from Ang Mo Kio GRC was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Aug 15.

Today, it was confirmed that he would replace Ms Chan Hui Yuh, 38, who is branch chairman for Serangoon, after she asked not to contest because she wanted to have more time for her young children.

The presentation of the slate completes the PAP’s candidate introductions that started on Aug 12.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Mr Lim described the candidates as "men of courage", pointing out that it takes courage for anyone to come forward and stand for elections in an opposition-held territory, especially when some of them had initially faced hostility from some residents. The WP has maintained that its sitting MPs would defend their wards, both in Aljunied as well as the Hougang and Punggol East SMCs.

As to why Ms Chan is not standing, Mr Lim said she is a young mum with two young children and it is not easy for her to continue at this pace. The party will not put family relations at risk so they heeded her appeal to not stand at this time, he added.

The PAP said their slate of candidates have been active on the ground.

Mr Yeo was a former Aljunied GRC MP. Mr Muralidharan, who was appointed branch chairman for PAP Paya Lebar in May 2012, has been actively involved in grassroots organisations over the past 15 years, while Mr Lye volunteered in Aljunied GRC with Mr Yeo in 1999 before joining PAP in 2001.

Mr Chua also joined PAP shortly after the 2001 elections and has held positions such as Assistant Treasurer of the PAP Community Foundation in Tampines. Mr Shamsul served as the Secretary of the Kaki Bukit Citizens Consultative Committee's (CCC) Development Welfare Fund in 2009 before beginning to serve in Nee Soon CCC in 2011.

Asked to address perceptions that this was a suicide team against a "heavyweight" team, Mr Lye said residents should judge how much they are willing to sacrifice for residents and how much they care. 

They will be co-anchoring the team as each member has different strengths, said Mr Lye.