Tin Pei Ling

Always, always. Yeah, so it's either you're on the ground in parliament or on emails. So it's really super, super stretchy in that sense. But I think it's fulfilling. It's fulfilling. Yeah.

Always, always. Yeah, so it's either you're on the ground in parliament or on emails. So it's really super, super stretchy in that sense. But I think it's fulfilling. It's fulfilling. Yeah.

The fact that the political party, in this case, our ruling party, PAP, decided to field me. I was in my 20s and I was a female and that they decided to field me in the election to show that they are progressive enough to create opportunities and that space for someone young and a young female to rise up and be a representative for the people because it is an important role.

The fact that the political party, in this case, our ruling party, PAP, decided to field me. I was in my 20s and I was a female and that they decided to field me in the election to show that they are progressive enough to create opportunities and that space for someone young and a young female to rise up and be a representative for the people because it is an important role.

responsibility when you are elected as a parliamentarian. So I think that's one. At that point in time, it's also managing certain preconceived notions or stereotypes that people may have of certain gender and age. So to me, the big challenge that I faced was age. That was only my 20s.

responsibility when you are elected as a parliamentarian. So I think that's one. At that point in time, it's also managing certain preconceived notions or stereotypes that people may have of certain gender and age. So to me, the big challenge that I faced was age. That was only my 20s.

And even though I already had seven years of grassroots experience by then, I guess track record wise, people still do not have a clear grasp of what I have to offer. Bam, I'm young, I'm new. And I think a lot of people will be thinking, who are you? Do you really understand my problems? Are you able to, you know, solve it even if you do understand?

And even though I already had seven years of grassroots experience by then, I guess track record wise, people still do not have a clear grasp of what I have to offer. Bam, I'm young, I'm new. And I think a lot of people will be thinking, who are you? Do you really understand my problems? Are you able to, you know, solve it even if you do understand?

And some also felt that I was riding on the coattail of former prime minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, his emeritus. So there were all these criticisms. And I think this was the main doubt about me. So online, anything that I post on my own social media, I get thousands of responses. Not so nice comments. And then on other platforms, other online forums, etc.

And some also felt that I was riding on the coattail of former prime minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, his emeritus. So there were all these criticisms. And I think this was the main doubt about me. So online, anything that I post on my own social media, I get thousands of responses. Not so nice comments. And then on other platforms, other online forums, etc.

And there are people who will fabricate stories about me. For example, they said that I have this boyfriend and I dumped him because he was fat. All sorts of things. Well, you're actually married at that point.

And there are people who will fabricate stories about me. For example, they said that I have this boyfriend and I dumped him because he was fat. All sorts of things. Well, you're actually married at that point.

yeah and all these things were like so untrue and various things right it was very overwhelming absolutely overwhelming i remember every day i'll go home and cry at the end of the day the next morning i have to like okay i have to focus again go down to the constituency go listen to the residents constituents understand their problems try to help them so and so and this every day and let's just repeat for quite some time was under quite a lot of stress

yeah and all these things were like so untrue and various things right it was very overwhelming absolutely overwhelming i remember every day i'll go home and cry at the end of the day the next morning i have to like okay i have to focus again go down to the constituency go listen to the residents constituents understand their problems try to help them so and so and this every day and let's just repeat for quite some time was under quite a lot of stress

Then in terms of gender, actually less so, but I did have a handful, a very small number of more mature men, like we call them uncles. And then they actually asked me, you're a woman. what do you know of the problems we men face? So I got those comments before, but I don't think they were meant to be mean, but it was genuinely like, do you really understand me?

Then in terms of gender, actually less so, but I did have a handful, a very small number of more mature men, like we call them uncles. And then they actually asked me, you're a woman. what do you know of the problems we men face? So I got those comments before, but I don't think they were meant to be mean, but it was genuinely like, do you really understand me?

Fast forward, I would say that in the end, there's no shortcut to addressing these concerns that constituents have or that people have of me back then. It was really through constant engagement, listening, understanding, Working alongside them, trying to help them over time, building up trust, building up chemistry, showing my sincerity and my work through real actions, I think is the main thing.

Fast forward, I would say that in the end, there's no shortcut to addressing these concerns that constituents have or that people have of me back then. It was really through constant engagement, listening, understanding, Working alongside them, trying to help them over time, building up trust, building up chemistry, showing my sincerity and my work through real actions, I think is the main thing.

critical success factor in that sense that helped to convince them that, hey, you can trust me. I'm here for you. And I think that's also the main reason why we have managed to forge bonds over the years.

critical success factor in that sense that helped to convince them that, hey, you can trust me. I'm here for you. And I think that's also the main reason why we have managed to forge bonds over the years.