‘My MP became PM’: Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC residents rejoice as PM Lawrence Wong joins them after Istana ceremony
Standing at the fringes was 21-year-old Republic Polytechnic student Bernice Hing, who spoke of her meeting with Mr Wong almost six years ago.
She remembered being worried and panicking at a meet-the-people session, before Mr Wong sat her down and told her to relax — though she declined to reveal why she was there at the session to consult with him as MP.
“He told me straight up what my options were (to the matter I presented to him) and consoled me that everything would be all right,” Ms Hing recalled.
“He was calm and collected, and was willing to help everyone including me when I was still a teenager. That left a lasting impression … if I need help again, I’ll head to (Mr Wong’s) meet-the-people session.”
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE
Like Mr Qayyum, Mr Lim Zhan Yang, 26, also a grassroots leader of Yew Tee Youth Network, which organises community events, was there to show his support for Mr Wong.
Even though both he and Mr Qayyum work with MP Alex Yam closely because the network’s activities are organised within Mr Yam’s ward, their brushes with Mr Wong left a lasting mark on them, they said.
When Mr Lim met Mr Wong during a Budget 2024 session, for instance, Mr Lim said that the finance minister’s words had struck a chord with him.
“For Gen Zers like me, being truthful, candid and willing to have a conversation is what we want for a Prime Minister, and that is who Mr Lawrence Wong is,” he said.
“I hope in the future, he’ll continue engaging us and talk about topics (that we) youth care about like climate change, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and others) and more.”
When the residents had a music event for the GRC last year, Mr Wong supported the event and was excited for the line-up of performing artistes, including singer Benjamin Kheng. For Mr Qayyum, the new Prime Minister is someone “chill”.
As for Ms Hing, Mr Wong’s inaugural speech as Prime Minister stood out for her when he acknowledged the more complex international landscape — which meant new challenges that he will have to face. However, she is confident that he would be able to do so.
“If PM Wong remains true to himself and continues to keep Singapore together as promised, I’m sure we’ll be able to strive in this more complex international environment,” she added.
Several residents attending the watch party held similar views as Ms Hing as they recounted past encounters with their MP.
For 75-year-old retiree Chow Wui Nian, Mr Wong’s premiership has renewed his belief that Singapore will continue being a liveable place for his children and family to thrive.
“This is (the young people’s) Prime Minister, he is our future. I’m here to see history happen and hope that he’ll continue improving and growing Singapore for our next generation,” he said in Mandarin.
This article was originally published in TODAY.
