Animal activist Louis Ng may be fielded in Nee Soon

SINGAPORE — Each candidate contesting a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) must bring strengths to the team, and if animal activist Louis Ng was part of his team standing in Nee Soon GRC, his experience in activism and the grassroots would come in useful, says Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam.

Speaking to TODAY last night at a Meet-the-People Session at Chong Pang ward, Mr Shanmugam, however, would not confirm whether Mr Ng would indeed contest in the five-man GRC in the upcoming elections.

“If Louis was part of the team, he will bring, as you can tell, his rich experience as an activist, as someone who has advocated a variety of causes including animal rights causes,” said Mr Shanmugam, who is the People’s Action Party’s anchor minister for Nee Soon GRC and also Minister for Law.

Mr Ng, 37, the founder of wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), has been helping out in the grassroots in Chong Pang ward since 2008, and was also present at last night’s Meet-the-People Session.

He announced his joining the PAP in October last year, when he started helping out at the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward in the Marine Parade GRC.

Recent speculation that he could stand in Joo Chiat SMC has fizzled out after it emerged that current Moulmein-Kallang GRC Member of Parliament Edwin Tong would contest there instead.

And with Mr Ng helping out at Chong Pang again, word has it he could be fielded in the ward.

“He has experience in dealing with people, engaging people and doing things for people. That spirit and that idealism will be brought for the benefit of residents,” said Mr Shanmugam.

“All his life he has trained to be that, so he brings that, if he is part of the team,” he added.

When asked about the PAP’s prospects at the upcoming polls, given that this is the first time all constituencies would be contested, Mr Shanmugam replied that it is not a matter of how many seats are contested, but a matter of who can best serve the residents.

“Who are the five, and can they run your town council? Will they be honest, or will they take your money?” he said, adding that voters would be most concerned about whether or not candidates can deliver their promises.

“Second, you are also selecting them to go into Parliament to form as part of the Government. Do you want them to be part of the Government?” Celene Tan