SINGAPORE — From humble beginnings, he worked his way up to eventually helm the real-estate investment trust arm of one of Singapore’s biggest hospitality companies.

While juggling the roles of a chief executive officer and Member of Parliament will be a challenge, Mr Chong Kee Hiong believes he will be able to manage.

Two years of grassroots work on the ground at Bishan East, attending meetings during week nights and community events during weekends, has given him “ a good feel” of how to balance the workload.

“And I’m quite accustomed to being busy,” said Mr Chong, who plans to keep his job as CEO of OUE Hospitality REIT Management, if elected.

Born in 1966, Mr Chong grew up in a two-room Singapore Improvement Trust flat along Kim Keat Avenue. The youngest of 11 siblings, he slept on the sofa with his parents in the living room. Five of his brothers slept in one bedroom, while his five sisters and grandmother squeezed in the other.

“We were not a well-to-do family, but we had enough. I think we were quite content with the simple living,” said Mr Chong. The family took turns to help out their father, who ran a shoe shop at Bendeemer Market.

Mr Chong did well enough in school to receive bursaries and scholarships from clan associations and private organisations, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from the National University of Singapore.

His home is now a landed property in Bishan East, where he has been living for the last 10 years. For the last two years, he has been volunteering as vice-chairman of Bishan East Citizens’ Consultative Committee, and regularly holds informal chat sessions with Bishan residents while having his meals in the neighbourhood.

The 49-year-old admitted it was a “big decision” to run for elections, and had discussed it with his family. “We might lose our privacy, but if you have the means and the heart to help others, then we should do it.”

Asked if he is too far removed from the ground as CEO, he said: “The hospitality industry is all about people from all walks of life. Through these interactions, I’ve learnt to understand and relate to the different needs of individuals.”

PAP'S NEW FACES FOR BISHAN-TOA PAYOH GRC

Chong Kee Hiong, 49

Chief Executive Officer of OUE Hospitality REIT Management

• Currently the Chairman of NTUC Foodfare, a social enterprise that helps working people and their families

• Married with four children aged between 9 and 17 years old

• Involved in grassroots activities in Bishan East for past two years

HE SAID: “One thing I have a conviction about - and it gets stronger everyday - is to look out for residents. Every household comprises of different (demographics), be it elderly parents, or young families, but they each come with different challenges and aspirations. We need to be on the ground to help them to the best of our ability.”

Saktiandi Bin Supaat, 42

Executive Vice President and Head of FX Research at Maybank

• Previously at Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from 1999 to 2010

• Married with three children aged 5, 8 and 12 years

• Helped out at Meet the People Sessions at Kolam Ayer from 2008 to 2012

HE SAID: “Going on house visits helped me see that there are residents out there who have fallen through the cracks. These are vulnerable families, like single mothers with young children to fend for... It’s our job to help them out and tide them through difficult times.”

Chee Hong Tat, 41

Former second permanent secretary with the Ministry of Trade and Industry

• With the Civil Service for 17 years, and has worked in the Home Affairs, Finance, Transport and Education ministries

• Principal Private Secretary to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew in 2008

• Father of four children aged between 4 and 15 years old

• A resident in the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, he was involved in grassroots activities in Marine Parade GRC for the past two years

HE SAID: “Going into politics is not an easy decision… I eventually managed to persuade my wife to support my decision because I explained to her that we are at a very critical juncture of our nation’s development and this is the time when we need people who can contribute to step forward.”