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High-flier tipped for PAP slate
President's Scholar set to boost party's line-up of women candidates
By Cassandra Chew & Li Xueying
Ms Sim Ann, 36, was introduced as a possible candidate by MPs representing Holland-Bukit Timah GRC to some PAP activists there on Sunday, according to party sources, and is said to be a potential office-holder. -- ZAOBAO FILE PHOTO
THE People's Action Party (PAP) has beefed up its line-up of new women candidates for the coming polls by adding President's Scholar and high-flying civil servant Sim Ann, 36, to its slate.
The mother of two was appointed principal private secretary-designate to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on March 7.
She was previously a senior director at the National Population and Talent Division and before that, a director at IE Singapore.
MPs representing Holland-Bukit Timah GRC introduced her as a possible candidate to a dozen PAP activists there on Sunday, party sources said.
She was also present at a new media strategy meeting for the GRC, held on Monday in MP Liang Eng Hwa's Zhenghua ward.
Ms Sim has been a grassroots volunteer since 2002.
She began volunteering in Dr Wang Kai Yuen's Bukit Timah single-member constituency, which later came under Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon when the single seat was absorbed into Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.
Mrs Yu-Foo, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports and an MP since 1988, is expected to retire at the next polls.
Ms Sim may be fielded in her place. Like Mrs Yu-Foo, Ms Sim is effectively bilingual.
She comes from a family of high achievers. Her mother is author and retired Chinese documentary producer Choo Lian Liang, 63. Her father is retired physics lecturer Sim Hock Kee, 70. Her brother Sim Kai, 31, is also a President's Scholar. Her sister Sim Min, 34, was awarded a Monetary Authority of Singapore scholarship.
During last year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted a book written by Ms Sim's mother, titled Chasing The Rainbow.
Speaking in Mandarin about new immigrants, he said the memoir, which documents the struggles of four generations of Ms Choo's family, moved him.
Ms Choo's father arrived here from Guangdong in 1940, but was banished to China for being pro-communist a decade later. His family then returned to China, but after his death in 1959, they came back to Singapore.
It is understood that Ms Sim has not tendered her resignation yet. When she does, she will typically have to serve at least one month's notice, or make restitution in lieu of not serving notice.
She declined comment when contacted by The Straits Times on whether she is a potential PAP candidate.
Sources said she is a relatively recent addition to the PAP line-up for this general election, to address an apparent deficit of women this time around.
The list of 24 new faces culled by The Straits Times in recent weeks - but not confirmed by the party - included only three women, the smallest number since the 1997 crop.
They are Ms Foo Mee Har, 45, Standard Chartered's global head of premium banking; Ms Intan Azura Mokhtar, 34, a National Institute of Education lecturer; and Ms Low Yen Ling, 36, who has resigned as the Economic Development Board's director of professional services.
Besides Ms Sim, there are two other President's Scholars in the PAP's likely line-up of new faces.
They are Dr Chia Shi-Lu, 40, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital, and Major-General Chan Chun Sing, 41, who steps down as Chief of Army on Friday.
With party elders saying that the fourth generation of leaders will emerge from this slate of candidates, sources have described Ms Sim as a potential office-holder.
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President's Scholar set to boost party's line-up of women candidates
By Cassandra Chew & Li Xueying
Ms Sim Ann, 36, was introduced as a possible candidate by MPs representing Holland-Bukit Timah GRC to some PAP activists there on Sunday, according to party sources, and is said to be a potential office-holder. -- ZAOBAO FILE PHOTO
THE People's Action Party (PAP) has beefed up its line-up of new women candidates for the coming polls by adding President's Scholar and high-flying civil servant Sim Ann, 36, to its slate.
The mother of two was appointed principal private secretary-designate to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on March 7.
She was previously a senior director at the National Population and Talent Division and before that, a director at IE Singapore.
MPs representing Holland-Bukit Timah GRC introduced her as a possible candidate to a dozen PAP activists there on Sunday, party sources said.
She was also present at a new media strategy meeting for the GRC, held on Monday in MP Liang Eng Hwa's Zhenghua ward.
Ms Sim has been a grassroots volunteer since 2002.
She began volunteering in Dr Wang Kai Yuen's Bukit Timah single-member constituency, which later came under Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon when the single seat was absorbed into Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.
Mrs Yu-Foo, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports and an MP since 1988, is expected to retire at the next polls.
Ms Sim may be fielded in her place. Like Mrs Yu-Foo, Ms Sim is effectively bilingual.
She comes from a family of high achievers. Her mother is author and retired Chinese documentary producer Choo Lian Liang, 63. Her father is retired physics lecturer Sim Hock Kee, 70. Her brother Sim Kai, 31, is also a President's Scholar. Her sister Sim Min, 34, was awarded a Monetary Authority of Singapore scholarship.
During last year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted a book written by Ms Sim's mother, titled Chasing The Rainbow.
Speaking in Mandarin about new immigrants, he said the memoir, which documents the struggles of four generations of Ms Choo's family, moved him.
Ms Choo's father arrived here from Guangdong in 1940, but was banished to China for being pro-communist a decade later. His family then returned to China, but after his death in 1959, they came back to Singapore.
It is understood that Ms Sim has not tendered her resignation yet. When she does, she will typically have to serve at least one month's notice, or make restitution in lieu of not serving notice.
She declined comment when contacted by The Straits Times on whether she is a potential PAP candidate.
Sources said she is a relatively recent addition to the PAP line-up for this general election, to address an apparent deficit of women this time around.
The list of 24 new faces culled by The Straits Times in recent weeks - but not confirmed by the party - included only three women, the smallest number since the 1997 crop.
They are Ms Foo Mee Har, 45, Standard Chartered's global head of premium banking; Ms Intan Azura Mokhtar, 34, a National Institute of Education lecturer; and Ms Low Yen Ling, 36, who has resigned as the Economic Development Board's director of professional services.
Besides Ms Sim, there are two other President's Scholars in the PAP's likely line-up of new faces.
They are Dr Chia Shi-Lu, 40, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital, and Major-General Chan Chun Sing, 41, who steps down as Chief of Army on Friday.
With party elders saying that the fourth generation of leaders will emerge from this slate of candidates, sources have described Ms Sim as a potential office-holder.
[email protected]
[email protected]
