Most Singaporeans would remember him as the host of popular television game show “The Pyramid Game”, and Mr Darryl David, 45, believes the skills which he had picked up as a media personality would be useful in serving residents should he be elected as part of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team.
In all, Mr David spent 22 years in the media and communications industry, and the experience of working as a team under pressure would stand him in good stead in the political arena, he said. So, too, would the interpersonal skills that he had acquired, he added.
Mr David was among the new candidates introduced by Mr Lee today (Aug 15) at a press conference. “I have spent time understanding (residents), trying to understand the issues they’re dealing with… working with grassroots leaders. And I believe that through what I’ve learnt… I have built up a series of experiences that will allow me to help and contribute to the community and society at large,” he said.
The formal introduction of Mr David as a People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate makes him the first well-known ex-media personality here to enter the political fray. Nevertheless, he was also quick to point out his experience as deputy director at the School of Design in Temasek Polytechnic, and his involvement in grassroots activities and several national committees.
Mr David started community work as a district councillor with the North-East Community Development Council in 2009. Over the past two and a half years, he has been active in Sengkang West, Kebun Bahru and Ang Mo Kio-Hougang. He will be succeeding Mr Yeo Guat Kwang in the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang division. Mr Yeo will be redeployed to another GRC.
Apart from English, Mr David is able to converse in Mandarin and Hokkien as well. This has helped him establish rapport with residents, especially the elderly, and understand the issues they are facing, he said. “As an educator, I’ve learnt that it’s only through patience and empathy that you’re able to realise the potential of the student because every student learns differently. So likewise when you deal with residents and their problems, you have to appreciate that every problem is unique to every resident,” he added.
If elected, Mr David, the father or two children aged four and seven, said he would champion issues related to childcare and the ageing population. Adding that he has seen first-hand the quality and calibre of polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students, described himself as a “big supporter” for skills-based education – and this was something that he hoped to push for at the national level, he said.
Source: www.todayonline.com
