Pap replaces Sengkang branch chair to lead efforts in reclaiming GRC from Workers’ Party

SINGAPORE: On Thursday (Oct 26), the ruling party of the Singapore People’s Action Party (PAP) unveiled the appointment of a new branch chair within the opposition-led Sengkang Group Representation Constituency.

Commencing from November 1, Mr Marcus Loh will assume leadership of the Sengkang East division, taking over from Mr Ling Weihong.

Mr Ling, who was introduced in March 2022 as part of a refreshed PAP slate, will be reassigned within the party structure.

Joining Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat (Sengkang Central), Ms Theodora Lai Xi Yi (Sengkang North), and former Senior Minister of State Lam Pin Min (Sengkang West), Mr Loh forms part of a team that aims to reclaim the GRC from the Workers’ Party during the upcoming General Election.

Dr Lam remains the sole survivor from the PAP’s Sengkang lineup in the previous 2020 polls, where the party was ultimately defeated by a Workers’ Party slate featuring Ms He Ting Ru, Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Mr Louis Chua, and Ms Raeesah Khan, who subsequently resigned following an incident of falsehood in parliament.

During the announcement, the PAP highlighted Mr Loh’s extensive involvement as a party activist since 2015, serving on the council of its policy forum and also as a member of its Southeast District’s executive committee.

Presently aged 40, Mr Loh serves as the director and head of strategic communication, public affairs, and corporate marketing at a Singaporean digital transformation services firm. His professional background includes working at Temus, a startup predominantly owned by state investor Temasek, as per his LinkedIn profile.

The PAP described Mr Loh as a strong advocate for a meritocratic society that places value on diverse talents and offers opportunities for redemption.

Furthermore, he is actively engaged in the Industry Advisory Committee at the Singapore University of Social Sciences’ School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences, as well as the Singapore Management University Alumni Philanthropy Council.

On Thursday, Mr. Loh affirmed the news on Facebook, expressing his humility in taking up the significant responsibility of Sengkang East chairperson.

“I am determined to roll up my sleeves and build on our Party’s record of service for Sengkang residents over many years through the sincere efforts of the chairpersons and activists before me.”

“As one PAP team, we will continue to work hard to earn the trust of every resident, win the mandate to represent your aspirations and build a future for Singapore with bigger hearts, broader minds and bolder spirits.”

Mr Loh was elected president of the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore in 2019 and is a fellow at the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s Company of Good initiative.

Mr Loh holds a degree in communication from Edith Cowan University, as well as master’s degrees in science from the University of Ireland and Singapore Management University. Additionally, he completed an executive program in public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Following the restructuring of the PAP’s Sengkang GRC team last year, political analysts suggested that the new members would have more time to establish connections with the community before the forthcoming elections, giving residents the opportunity to assess them against the incumbent Workers’ Party candidates.

The Workers’ Party’s triumph in 2020 marked Sengkang as the second GRC to be controlled by an opposition party, following Aljunied, which the Workers’ Party has held since 2011.

The defeated PAP team in Sengkang included labour chief Ng Chee Meng and former Senior Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin.

Singapore’s next General Election must be conducted by 2025.