SINGAPORE — Despite his humble beginnings growing up in a three-room HDB flat while his father juggled two jobs as a technician and taxi driver, Mr Amrin Amin worked his way up to become a corporate lawyer with Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP.

The 36-year-old newcomer was officially introduced today (Aug 14) as one of the five-man People’s Action Party (PAP) team contesting in Sembawang Group Representation Constituency in the coming General Election. “I worked hard, but even with the hard work, I would not have all these opportunities, if not for the Singapore ecosystem. There (are) very few places in this world today, where a minority and a person with (an) ordinary background can have so many good opportunities,” said Mr Amrin, the second of four siblings, at the press conference held at the SWAMI Home for the elderly in Sembawang.

Today, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said while Mr Amrin may be new to politics, he has been involved in community work for many years. Since 2004, Mr Amrin has been active in grassroots work, such as helping out with the Meet-the-People sessions in Chong Pang. Having “received so much from society”, Mr Amrin said it is important for him to pay it forward, adding that he hopes to see more Singaporeans come forward to serve the country.

Social mobility is also a cause that is “deeply personal” to him, said Mr Amrin. “I hope that I can play a part in making sure the future generation has the same, if not better opportunities.”

While the Government has introduced schemes to improve social mobility, he said it will not be enough as it involves a continuing process where Singaporeans will have to keep working hard at it. He also intends to play a role in “managing diversity”.

“We have to understand that whatever causes you champion, you cannot lose sight of the big picture. There are certain things that don’t change, the realities of us being a small country, multiracial — these are things that are good right now, but we should not take it for granted.”

Amrin Amin, 36
Partner at Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP

FACTFILE:
• Involved in grassroots work since 2004, starting in Chong Pang, Marsiling and most recently in Woodlands. Was Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam’s legislative assistant from 2004 to 2006. 
• Served the boards of Nanyang Polytechnic, National Council of Problem Gambling, REACH, bursary and scholarship body Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Memorial Scholarship Fund Board and the Association of Muslim Professionals’ Ready for School programme. 
• Studied in Dunman Secondary School and Tampines Junior College before reading law at the National University of Singapore. He also received a Islamic Religious Council of Singapore scholarship to further his law studies at Columbia University in New York. 

HE SAID: “I worked hard, but even with the hard work, I would not have all these opportunities if not for the Singapore ecosystem. There (are) very few places in this world today, where a minority and a person with an ordinary background can have so many good opportunities. I’m a Singaporean Malay-Muslim and I’m very proud to be one.”

WARD: Sembawang GRC