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This week, Mr Teo Ser Luck added two more hats to the many he already has: political hand-holder and chauffeur.
He has introduced the PAP candidate for Punggol East Koh Poh Koon to grassroots volunteers, accompanied the doctor on walk-abouts and to a football match, and driven him to meetings.
Also playing a visible role is Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, who entered politics unchallenged in 2011 when his Tanjong Pagar GRC team had a walkover.
This by-election, sources say, is to “blood” the former army chief and key member of the PAP's fourth-generation leadership into the combative nature of hustings.
Such help and advice from office-holders is necessary at this early stage, given Dr Koh's unfamiliarity with politics and the residents of Punggol East.
But one hopes that sooner rather than later, Dr Koh steps out on his own and guards against giving the impression he is being coddled.
If history is a guide, PAP bigwigs are also wont to lend their support when campaigns in single-seats kick into higher gear.
At last year's Hougang by-election, though PAP candidate Desmond Choo said he was his own man, PAP leaders poured into the opposition stronghold, and weighed in several times with their views on the battle.
In the 2006 GE, then-Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, in a bid to help Sitoh Yin Pin in his fight against incumbent Chiam See Tong, dangled an $80 million upgrading package to Potong Pasir voters.
But this was spurned by residents, who rewarded Mr Chiam with a bigger winning margin than the previous polls.
At the next election, Mr Sitoh asked big names from the PAP to stay away from the contest, and won the seat after two unsuccessful bids.
Mr Sitoh's example is instructive.
Yesterday, Dr Koh welcomed the help from the PAP machinery but insisted that he would set the tone of the campaign and front it.
“We all need guidance, I make no pretense that I’m a veteran in this,” he said.
“And although the PAP headquarters want to provide... support, I think they also understand that at the end of the day the people are electing me, not electing them.”
His biggest disadvantage is that he is a totally new face politically, compared to the other possible candidates.
He will need to build rapport with residents, let them hear his thoughts on issues, listen to their concerns and show empathy.
The opposition is however expected to campaign largely on big-picture issues, and point out just where the ruling party has failed the electorate in recent years.
It will be interesting to see how Dr Koh responds on these policy matters, especially on healthcare, given his medical background.
If the "Son of Punggol" shows he can do a decent job responding to residents' local needs, and hold his own on national topics against opposition candidates without overt help from PAP office-holders, it will go some way to convincing - and impressing - swing voters.
That key middle ground of about 40 per cent of the electorate will be keen to size up just how the political greenhorn, who became a PAP member weeks ago, measures up against the opposition and whether he can emerge from this baptism of fire proud that he fought on his terms.
He has introduced the PAP candidate for Punggol East Koh Poh Koon to grassroots volunteers, accompanied the doctor on walk-abouts and to a football match, and driven him to meetings.
Also playing a visible role is Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, who entered politics unchallenged in 2011 when his Tanjong Pagar GRC team had a walkover.
This by-election, sources say, is to “blood” the former army chief and key member of the PAP's fourth-generation leadership into the combative nature of hustings.
Such help and advice from office-holders is necessary at this early stage, given Dr Koh's unfamiliarity with politics and the residents of Punggol East.
But one hopes that sooner rather than later, Dr Koh steps out on his own and guards against giving the impression he is being coddled.
If history is a guide, PAP bigwigs are also wont to lend their support when campaigns in single-seats kick into higher gear.
At last year's Hougang by-election, though PAP candidate Desmond Choo said he was his own man, PAP leaders poured into the opposition stronghold, and weighed in several times with their views on the battle.
In the 2006 GE, then-Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, in a bid to help Sitoh Yin Pin in his fight against incumbent Chiam See Tong, dangled an $80 million upgrading package to Potong Pasir voters.
But this was spurned by residents, who rewarded Mr Chiam with a bigger winning margin than the previous polls.
At the next election, Mr Sitoh asked big names from the PAP to stay away from the contest, and won the seat after two unsuccessful bids.
Mr Sitoh's example is instructive.
Yesterday, Dr Koh welcomed the help from the PAP machinery but insisted that he would set the tone of the campaign and front it.
“We all need guidance, I make no pretense that I’m a veteran in this,” he said.
“And although the PAP headquarters want to provide... support, I think they also understand that at the end of the day the people are electing me, not electing them.”
His biggest disadvantage is that he is a totally new face politically, compared to the other possible candidates.
He will need to build rapport with residents, let them hear his thoughts on issues, listen to their concerns and show empathy.
The opposition is however expected to campaign largely on big-picture issues, and point out just where the ruling party has failed the electorate in recent years.
It will be interesting to see how Dr Koh responds on these policy matters, especially on healthcare, given his medical background.
If the "Son of Punggol" shows he can do a decent job responding to residents' local needs, and hold his own on national topics against opposition candidates without overt help from PAP office-holders, it will go some way to convincing - and impressing - swing voters.
That key middle ground of about 40 per cent of the electorate will be keen to size up just how the political greenhorn, who became a PAP member weeks ago, measures up against the opposition and whether he can emerge from this baptism of fire proud that he fought on his terms.
