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Tag: Melvin Yong

  • Melvin Yong Replaces Lui Tuck Yew In PAP’s Moulmein-Kallang GRC Team

    Melvin Yong Replaces Lui Tuck Yew In PAP’s Moulmein-Kallang GRC Team

    Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Sunday introduced senior police officer Melvin Yong as the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate who will be contesting in his place in Moulmein at the coming general election.

    This even as he bade farewell to residents after he had announced earlier this week that he was leaving politics after serving the ward – which is now under Moulmein-Kallang GRC – since 2006.

    Mr Lui played on his surname and Mr Yong’s Chinese name, Yi Cai, when making the introduction. He said: “Last time, it was ‘Lui lai liao, (Hokkien for ‘Money is coming’), now it’s ‘Cai lai liao’.” Cai is Mandarin for fortune.

    Mr Yong is expected to join the PAP team for Tanjong Pagar GRC, which takes in Moulmein when the electoral boundary changes kick in at the next polls.

    The other members of the five-member GRC team are Labour Chief Chan Chun Sing, Senior Minister of State for Education and Law Indranee Rajah, backbencher Chia Shi-Lu and former public servant Joan Pereira – another new face.

    All were at the walkabout at Pek Kio market where Mr Yong was unveiled, except Dr Chia who was at another grassroots event.

    Today is the Assistant Commissioner of Police’s official last day of work in the force after he put in his papers for early retirement.

    Mr Chan said Mr Yong is no stranger to Tanjong Pagar GRC because parts of constituency came under his watch when he was commander of Clementi Police Division from 2010 to 2014. The 43-year-old was also Head Investigation at the station, which is effectively the No. 2 man at the division, between 2004 and 2006.

    “A formal announcement about the team will be made next week, but nonetheless we are happy that (Mr Yong) is here to join us and re-acquaint himself with Tanjong Pagar issues,” added Mr Chan at the sidelines of the walkabout on Sunday.

    PAP activists later surprised Mr Lui with a cake at the walkabout to celebrate his 54th birthday. Mr Lui joked that he felt like he was 108, “because the last nine years, you got to multiply it by seven.”

    Ms Indranee said she and her colleagues will miss Mr Lui, but told him: “We will build on the good work you have done.”

    Despite his upcoming retirement, Mr Lui said he will continue to visit residents as a private citizen. “Every time before I go for events, I would pray that I continue to see them, that they remain in good health,” he said. “I will continue to do the same after I leave.”

    Looking ahead, he said that his focus will be on helping Mr Chan and Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim – a fellow MP at Moulmein-Kallang GRC and now Jalan Besar GRC – lead their teams to victory at the next polls. And if the new candidate needs his help, “I will support him in any way,” he added.

    However, longtime residents of Mr Lui’s ward like Madam Koh Kwee Soh says the former Navy Chief will be missed. “Mr Lui is the best minister and MP,” said the 85-year-old retiree. “I am very sad he is leaving, he has done so much for me.”

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • SPF: Senior Police Officer Melvin Yong Retiring on 16 Aug

    SPF: Senior Police Officer Melvin Yong Retiring on 16 Aug

    Senior police officer Melvin Yong will be retiring from the force next week, adding to speculation that he may be fielded by the People’s Action Party (PAP) as a candidate at the coming general election.

    A police spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the 43-year-old Assistant Commissioner’s (AC) last day of work is August 16.

    Mr Yong declined to comment on his post-retirement plans but said Thursday that he had “the privilege of serving constituents both as a police officer, as well as a grassroots volunteer for many years and found it richly rewarding”. He added: “I plan to continue doing so even after I retire from the force.”

    The Straits Times understands that the PAP will introduce him sometime next week as a candidate for Tanjong Pagar GRC alongside Labour Chief Chan Chun Sing, Senior Minister of State for Education and Law Indranee Rajah, backbencher Chia Shi-Lu and another new face, former public servant Joan Pereira.

    The five-member GRC was previously helmed by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew until he died in March this year.

    If Mr Yong is indeed fielded at the upcoming polls, he may be the first police officer to trade his blue uniform for the party’s white garb since Singapore’s independence.

    Former police officers who are now in politics include Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How, labour MP Patrick Tay and Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim.

    However, unlike Mr Yong, these MPs had moved on from law enforcement to positions in government, the private sector or labour movement, before entering politics.

    NTUC deputy director Desmond Choo, who was fielded in WP-held Hougang single-member constituency in 2011 and the 2012 by-election, is also an ex-cop. He is widely expected to be fielded by the PAP in Tampines GRC.

    Mr Yong, who is currently director of the police’s Public Affairs Department (PAD), will leave the force after 20 years in service. He was commander of Clementi Police Division from 2010 to 2014.

    He has held key appointments such as deputy director for Planning & Organisation as well as director for Administration & Finance. He was also concurrently deputy director for Operations between November 2013 and June last year.

    A police spokesman said Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Tan Hung Hooi, who is currently director for Manpower, will cover the duties of director PAD.

    “The Singapore Police Force (SPF) thanks AC Melvin Yong for his leadership and many contributions during his service,” said the spokesman.

    National Crime Prevention Council chairman Tan Kian Hoon, who has known Mr Yong since 2002, said Mr Yong was always able to hold “various appointments concurrently and yet do well in all of them, despite the constraint in time”.

    “Apart from his clear and methodical thinking, he has the EQ to motivate and garner the support of those working with him, be they his work colleagues or fellow volunteers,” added Mr Tan.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com