SINGAPORE: The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested eight people and seized nearly 3kg of drugs worth at least S$215,000 during a two-day operation that started on Monday (Jun 22).

The drugs consisted of 2.92kg of heroin and 108g of Ice, CNB said in a news release on Wednesday. This amount is enough to feed the addiction of 1,390 heroin abusers and 60 Ice abusers for a week.

The eight men, all Singaporeans, were arrested at different locations.

CNB officers saw a group of suspected drug offenders late Monday afternoon around Wellington Circle, near Sembawang.

“Two of the suspects, a 49-year-old and a 55-year-old, had arrived in the vicinity in a van,” the agency said, adding that a white car arrived at the location shortly after the van arrived.

A person was then seen alighting the car to hand over a black package to the passenger in the van. CNB officers tailed both groups when they left the site shortly after.

The van was intercepted along Simei Avenue and officers arrested both suspects.

More than 900g of heroin was found inside the van. Another 57g of the drug was found when officers raided the 55-year-old’s Chai Chee Avenue flat, along with 53g of Ice and S$20,155 in cash.

The driver and two passengers of the white car – aged between 39 and 49 – have been arrested, CNB said. 

Two other men they met with, a 43-year-old and a 50-year-old, have also been detained.

More than 1.9kg of heroin and S$6,460 in cash were found on the 50-year-old man. Officers also raided a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat where he was seen in, and arrested a suspected drug abuser there.

The 43-year-old, together with one of the passengers of the white car, were seen heading to a fifth-floor flat in Boon Lay Drive.

CNB officers forced their way into the flat after the men refused to allow them in. Both suspects were arrested inside the flat, where 23g of heroin and 51g of Ice were found.

CNB said it is investigating the drug activities of all arrested suspects.

SINGAPORE: The People’s Action Party (PAP) on Wednesday (Jun 24) unveiled a second group of four new prospective candidates: Lawyer Hany Soh, banker Don Wee, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) director Mohd Fahmi Aliman and former civil servant Yip Hon Weng.

PAP 1st Assistant Secretary-General Heng Swee Keat said in an earlier session on Tuesday that the party headquarters was still finalising deployment plans for these candidates.

When asked why the PAP was introducing prospective candidates individually instead of at the usual constituency level, PAP vice-chairman Masagos Zulkifli said it was not a “technical” decision.

Considering the COVID-19 outbreak, this was the safest as well as the most convenient and productive way for journalists, he said.

Hany Soh Hui Bin

Lawyer Hany Soh Hui Bin, 33, is a director at MSC Law Corporation who has been volunteering with grassroots members in Bukit Panjang since 2011.

In 2014, Ms Soh set up the first Community Legal Clinic in a Residents’ Committee centre in Singapore. She provides pro bono legal advice to residents on a fortnightly basis and conducts regular law awareness talks to raise residents’ awareness on legal knowledge, particularly on the importance of estate planning.

Her focus areas include education and ensuring residents know their legal rights and avenues for seeking help.

“What I envision, and I really hope that my residents will be able to give me the mandate, that I will be able to be their voice in Parliament, to work with them during difficult times, and share their happiness with them, celebrate with them during their times of happiness,” she said.

Don Wee Boon Hong

Banker Don Wee Boon Hong, 43, is a senior vice president at the United Overseas Bank. He chairs the West Coast Citizens Consultative Committee Community Development Welfare Fund and West Coast Peak Neighbourhood Committee.

Mr Wee sits on the Institute of Mental Health’s Visitors’ Board and considers helping less privileged students and mental health patients as focus areas.

“I do hope that through politics, (it) is an extension of my volunteerism and a platform for me to raise their concerns and needs to the policymakers,” he said.

Mohd Fahmi Aliman

NTUC Administration and Research Unit director Mohd Fahmi Aliman, 48, was deputy chief executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. He has been spotted out and about in Marine Parade and has been pictured with Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Mr Mohd Fahmi is a former Singapore Armed Forces Colonel, and in 2005 was deployed for six months to Blangpidie for the Aceh Monitoring Mission. In 2012, he served in Kabul, Afghanistan for six months.

He wants to raise awareness on living healthy and staying relevant through getting new skills, he said. 

“I want to create awareness for low-wage workers and essential services workers, for them to continue training, upskill themselves, learn skills and make a better living,” he added.

Yip Hon Weng

Mr Yip Hon Weng, 43, was the former group chief of the Silver Generation Office at the Agency for Integrated Care. According to reports, he had taken part in a meeting with Silver Generation Ambassadors and Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon, an Ang Mo Kio GRC Member of Parliament.

Mr Yip was part of the team that established the Ageing Policy Office in the Ministry of Health in 2011 to drive national strategies on ageing issues.

During the “circuit breaker” period in April, he mobilised more than 500 volunteers to deliver food packs to more than 37,500 seniors who were living alone and disabled people islandwide.

Mr Yip said he has five children aged two to 10 and often gets questions on why he has so many children.

“I have five children because I have confidence in Singapore’s future. Having a big family comes with a lot of sacrifices, but I believe the joys and rewards far outweigh the cost,” he added.

“Entering politics will come at a cost to my personal life, but I believe this is the best opportunity to contribute and make Singapore into a place where my children and one day their children can be proud of.”

SINGAPORE: The People’s Action Party (PAP) on Wednesday (Jun 24) formally introduced the first of four new candidates for the Jul 10 General Election. 

They are: Former chief executive of the People’s Association (PA) Desmond Tan, co-founder of Timbre Group Edward Chia, Keppel Offshore and Marine general manager Ivan Lim and TSMP Law Corporation associate director Nadia Ahmad Samdin. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is the assistant secretary-general of the PAP, introduced the four at a press conference on Wednesday morning. 

When asked where the four candidates would be fielded, Mr Heng said the party was finalising its deployments, and will announce details “in a few days time”. 

“Of course, we have been putting our candidates on the ground now. I noticed that the media have also been speculating as to who is going where and so on. In a few days’ time, you will know,” he said.

DESMOND TAN KOK MING

Desmond Tan Kok Ming, 50, formerly chief executive of the PA, also served as a brigadier-general with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), where he spent 28 years. 

During his time with the SAF, Mr Tan organised several National Day Parades; was deployed to Afghanistan; and was involved in coordinating the SAF’s contribution to disaster operations in the Philippines, Nepal and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. 

Married with three children aged 22, 19 and nine, Mr Tan holds a Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Victoria University of Manchester and a Nanyang Fellows MBA from the Nanyang Technological University. 

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, recently highlighted Mr Tan in his Facebook posts on grassroots matters in his constituency. 

Touching on his childhood growing up with hand-me-down books in a Bukit Ho Swee flat, Mr Tan said the kindness and generosity of his neighbours “never left” him, and he hopes to contribute towards preserving social mobility. 

“As a chief executive (of PA) we look at planning, we look at bringing programmes and support to the residents. But being a Member of Parliament, you’re actually the voice of the people, you speak up for them,” he said. 

“I want to speak up for our youth, our children, especially those from the disadvantaged families, to allow them to be able to have the same opportunities (I had) growing up in Singapore.”

EDWARD CHIA

Edward Chia, 36, is the co-founder and managing director of Timbre Group, and hopes to be an “effective voice” for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Parliament. 

He co-founded Timbre at 21, then a restaurant and bar, while pursuing his undergraduate studies at the National University of Singapore. He later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in economics and political science. 

“COVID-19 has done a big blow to many SMEs and entrepreneurs, and Timbre is no exception. So you may then ask why am I not hunkering down in my business, and instead standing to be a Member of Parliament?” said Mr Chia. 

“I’ve always believed that for individuals and businesses to succeed, society must first be successful. For a Singapore company like us to do well, Singapore must first be well.” 

Noting that SMEs have faced many challenges including high rentals, insufficient manpower and digital disruption, he said: “I go through this on a daily basis, I can truly empathise with SMEs.”

Mr Chia is currently a council member of Ngee Ann Polytechnic  and National Youth Achievement Award Council. He was also the co-chair of the Youth Action Plan. 

Mr Chia has been tipped to be fielded in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, where he has been seen with MP Liang Eng Hwa. 

NADIA AHMAD SAMDIN

Lawyer Nadia Ahmad Samdin, 30, is an associate director at TSMP Law Corporation. 

Ms Nadia, who was previously a current affairs producer with CNA, also serves as a Panel Adviser at the Youth Courts, and as a befriender to young women in reformative training.

She is also active in grassroots in the Cheng San-Seletar ward of Ang Mo Kio GRC. 

Noting that the economic and social challenges caused by COVID-19 are “really unprecedented”, Ms Nadia said: “What is also really important is how we react to this rate of change, mentally, and emotionally. But I’m confident in my generation, and I hope to be a voice for my generation. 

“We value sustainability, and not just sustainability in the traditional sense, but also thinking about sustainable economic growth, that is, equitable, first and foremost, while preserving the environment and upholding the values of Singapore. I hope to be given the opportunity to represent these voices and both of the young and old.” 

IVAN LIM SHAW CHUAN

Keppel Offshore and Marine general manager Ivan Lim Shaw Chuan, 42, is married with four children. 

He joined Keppel Shipyard after finishing his GCE O-Levels, and was awarded a scholarship by the company to pursue a diploma in marine engineering at Singapore Polytechnic. He went on to pursue a degree in marine engineering at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. 

Mr Lim has been volunteering at the Henderson-Dawson ward in Tanjong Pagar GRC over the past year. 

“I chose to serve with PAP because the PAP values and attributes are close to my heart. In particular, being compassionate, and also being self reliant on the ground. I’m concerned about elderly residents and children who require social assistance, especially those with special needs,” he said.