With her predecessor having spent about 14 years as Member of Parliament for her ward, Madam Rahayu Mahzam knows she has big shoes to fill.
Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob was elected into Jurong GRC in 2001, but will move to stand in the newly-constituted Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the coming General Election. Mdm Rahayu, who will take over the Bukit Batok East ward overseen by Mdm Halimah if elected, began volunteering there only recently.
“Mdm Halimah has put in a lot of hard work … and the results clearly show in the residents’ faces … They clearly adore her. It’s inspired me to maintain her high standards,” said Mdm Rahayu, 35.
As a lawyer specialising in family law and civil litigation, she has come across many disadvantaged families — a segment of society she is striving to get more help for.
“For instance, divorcing families whose problems are compounded … They don’t just face financial difficulties, but also issues with housing, and having to cope with the children,” said Mdm Rahayu at the press conference yesterday introducing the People’s Action Party’s candidates for Jurong GRC.
She added: “I’ve also seen families where both parents are incarcerated and the grandparents have to take care of the children. These are special cases and there’s always room to improve policies in this aspect.”
Mdm Rahayu has sat on the board of the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association, volunteered in legal clinics organised by Muslim Converts’ Association (Darul Arqam), and helped mentor youths as a volunteer probation officer with the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
Asked what legislative issues she would champion, she cited the Family Justice Act and Women’s Charter as laws she felt has room for improvement.
When she was approached to enter politics, her husband, who works in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, asked: “What can you do in politics that you’re not already doing now?” The question, Mdm Rahayu revealed, made her pause.
But the prospect of a bigger platform to make changes “on a larger scale” called out to her. “And because I’m with a party that has the mechanisms already in place and … a strong track record … I’m able to reach out and do more (for the community),” she said. TOH EE MING
FACT FILE: Rahayu Mahzam, 35, Partner at the law firm of Heng, Leong & Srinivasan
• Formerly a deputy registrar of the Syariah Court from 2013 to 2015
• Sits on the National Library Board, the Malay Language Council and the National Youth Fund Advisory Committee.
• Graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2003 with a Bachelor of Laws
SHE SAID: “I am passionate to help these disadvantaged families. I feel that it is important to have strong and holistic support for these families so that they can overcome their difficulties.”
Source: www.todayonline.com
