Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat will lead the PAP team in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC that will field two fresh faces at the coming polls on May 3.
Apart from Mr Chee, the team will include Mr Saktiandi Supaat. Both the PAP candidates contested the constituency in the last two elections.
It will also include political newbies Elysa Chen and Cai Yinzhou, who were introduced at a PAP press briefing on April 18 at its Toa Payoh West-Thomson branch.
The PAP team, which will be up against the Singapore People's Party (SPP) in Bishan-Toa Payoh, will be without Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is stepping down after standing in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in the last five elections.
Dr Ng said he will not be contesting the upcoming election, and will step off the political stage after a parliamentary career of nearly 24 years.
He said: "Leadership succession is a cardinal strength and virtue for the PAP... Incumbent MPs and ministers who could have continued for more years stepped down to make way for new candidates like myself.
"It is time for me to do the same."
He added that he had informed Prime Minister Lawrence Wong some months back that it was time for him to step down to "continue that virtuous tradition, to make room for renewal and regeneration".
Mr Chong Kee Hiong, who was fielded in the 2015 and 2020 general elections, will also be stepping down.
Mr Chee, who is the new anchor minister for the GRC, thanked both Dr Ng and Mr Chong.
He said: "I have learnt much from Dr Ng, and I am very grateful for his guidance and mentorship since I entered politics in 2015. I am very honoured to be given this opportunity to take over from Dr Ng as the anchor... It is a very big pair of shoes to fill, but I will do my best."
On April 18, Ms Gan Siow Huang was also confirmed as the PAP candidate for the nearby Marymount single seat.
Ms Gan, who is Minister of State for Education and Manpower, will be up against PSP candidate Jeffrey Khoo, who was confirmed as the opposition party's candidate for the single seat on April 17.
Mr Chee said the team will work together to serve residents in the HDB and private estates in the group representation constituency and single-member constituency, and that there will be no changes to the internal boundaries if they are elected.
Mr Saktiandi will continue in Toa Payoh East, while Mr Chee will look after Toa Payoh West-Thomson. Ms Chen will take over in Bishan East-Sin Ming, and Mr Cai will take over from Dr Ng in Toa Payoh Central.
Mr Chee said: "As a team, we will continue to rejuvenate our town and improve the infrastructure and living environment for our residents so that this can be a good home for all our residents of all ages.
"My team and I will continue to listen closely to your feedback and suggestions, and we will work with our partners to implement these ideas and achieve good outcomes for all of you. In this turbulent and uncertain global environment, you can count on the PAP team to deliver for you."
In the 2020 election, the PAP team in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC won 67.23 per cent of the vote against a team from SPP.
At the briefing, Mr Chee also welcomed Ms Chen and Mr Cai to the team.
"They are both individuals with their hearts in the right place, and the conviction to serve, and I am confident they can make meaningful contributions to our community with their experience and their expertise," he said.
Mr Cai, 35, is executive director of the Chinatown Heritage Centre, which aims to raise awareness of the history of early Chinatown and the lives of early pioneers. He is also the director of Citizen Adventures, a ground-up organisation that conducts learning journeys to spark conversations on social issues.
Earlier in his career, he was an eldercare professional managing active ageing centres and working with partners to build environments to help seniors stay active and healthy.
Mr Cai, who also spoke in Teochew, said caregiving is an issue close to his heart. He is concerned about caring for caregivers, and involving family members, social service agencies as well as volunteers and neighbours in providing support.
"I hope to implement some of these ideas... As we prepare for the effects of an ageing population, I will speak up for the support of caregivers, (and for) not just seniors, but also adults and children with disabilities or special needs," the father of two said.
Ms Chen, 41, was a crime reporter with Singapore Press Holdings from 2007 to 2011. She later became a General Paper lecturer at Hwa Chong Institution.
She also started volunteering as a tutor with charity CampusImpact, where she was appointed executive director in 2018.
She is a district councillor on the Social Support Standing Committee at the North West Community Development Council and has supported policies for those who fall through the social safety nets.
Ms Chen is married with a two-year-old child. She said: "The rising cost of living has affected every single one of us. I will ensure that our residents are aware of and can access government and community resources."
She was introduced as part of the Bishan-Toa Payoh team on April 13, alongside Mr Kawal Pal Singh, managing partner at law firm Tito Isaac & Co.
But on April 15, Mr Kawal ruled himself out of running in the election, saying he wanted to focus on balancing his professional commitments and time for his young family.
When asked about Mr Kawal being replaced, Mr Chee said: "Mr Kawal has explained his reasons for not standing in the election. So, we respect his decision, and we thank him for his continued support and contributions to the party."
Regarding Marymount SMC, Ms Gan said she has done her best for the past five years.
"I have walked the ground, getting to know residents, helping the vulnerable residents, building the team, and also in creating a new Marymount identity," she said.
"We have put in a lot of hard work to turn ideas into action. In the last five years, we have introduced new community programmes and upgraded common infrastructure to make Marymount more inclusive and accessible.
"Going forward, we know that our nation faces real economic and social challenges. I hope to have the opportunity to continue to walk alongside Marymount residents and fellow Singaporeans."
In her election debut in 2020 in Marymount, Ms Gan won 55.04 per cent of the vote against former PSP candidate Ang Yong Guan, who garnered 44.96 per cent of the vote share.
Mr Chee said Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, being a mature estate, has a higher proportion of seniors than the national average. So, one of the key priorities of the team is to provide a safe and accessible environment for them.
"A lot of work has been put in to rejuvenate our estate, to improve the infrastructure and facilities, to make our town senior-friendly," he said.
But the town also has new Build-To-Order flats with young families moving in, and the team wants to put in place initiatives catering to all ages.
He also touched on initiatives such as new bus services, sheltered linkways and lifts at overhead bridges for residents.
