Service with full effort, full heart

WHO: Xie Yao Quan, MP for Jurong GRC and chairman of Jurong-Clementi Town Council. He entered politics in July 2020 and is the head of healthcare redesign in Alexandra Hospital.

WHERE: Coffee United Coffeeshop at Blk 496, Jurong West Street 41.

ON THE MENU: Rojak from Hoover Rojak, $5 Kopi-C Gao Siu Dai, $1.30

Jurong is a familiar stomping ground for newly-minted Member of Parliament, Mr Xie Yao Quan. He had been years, mostly in Jurong Spring constituency before he stood for election in nearby Jurong Central. Both constituencies are part of Jurong GRC. When he was activated at a late hour to join the Jurong GRC team of candidates for GE2020, Mr Xie was more than ready to step up.

While the transition from volunteer to candidate to MP was compressed, he had been preparing for it. “So it was not a complete surprise,” said Mr Xie, recalling the lead-up to polling day on July 10, 2020.

“I felt a strong sense of responsibility to the team. I had to make sure I could present myself fully as a choice for residents to consider and not let the team and activists down,” he said.

His day job sees him looking into innovative practices and service provision for the healthcare system as the population ages. as it gives him an even stronger ground-up look at issues faced by Singaporeans.

MP Xie Yao Quan, Jurong Central (Jurong GRC)

Tell us about yourself?

At Alexandra Hospital, my work is focused on finding new ways to meet the healthcare needs of our ageing population. I also led the hospital’s Covid-19 operations in a major Community Care Facility at the height of the pandemic. Before this, I spent five years in the private sector with an investment company and earlier, six years with the Singapore Armed Forces.

What are three traits that best represent you?

Curious, daring, servant-leader.

Why did you decide to join politics?

I believe an MP’s role is to bring together like-minded partners to serve and benefit the local community. This is how politics in Singapore must continue to be – a thriving democracy of deeds. Ultimately, it is about galvanising and serving alongside fellow Singaporeans, and to step forward and be counted.

How has the ground experience been so far?

It has reinforced my belief that the focus should always be on the residents. Understand all their circumstances, feel their fears, concerns and hopes, and journey with them.

What are the areas that you would like to pay attention to?

Keep healthcare accessible, affordable and of quality for Singaporeans and offer holistic support for lower-income families and vulnerable individuals.

Topics discussed

Support for lower income families

In Jurong Spring where I was volunteering, we have been partnering non-profit organisation Heartwarmers since 2018 to offer a discounted grocery shopping programme called “100 = 50” for 200 families. For $50, you can buy $100 worth of groceries at a monthly pop-up supermarket. I hope to replicate it in Jurong Central. Jurong Central has a tuition and mentorship programme for 50 students from low-income families. We work with Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre and Providence Care Centre to help them academically. Our volunteers mentor and provide them with enrichment programmes such as robotics.

Priority areas for Jurong Central

Seniors

My mum lives on her own. As her child and caregiver, I look at her needs and extrapolate what seniors need. At the policy level, we are doing a lot for seniors, so it is about piecing everything together within the community to make sure we have a coherent platform so that any senior who needs support, can get it. It includes activities to keep them active, like digital know-how, exercises or gardening. Residents above 65 years old comprise 18 per cent of the population in my ward, above the national average of 15 per cent.

Children and education

I want to focus on those from lower- income families to see how we can give them opportunities to be the best they can be.

Jobs

This is especially important in the current climate, how we can complement national level services with opportunities in the community.

When I manage to help residents, it keeps me going.

- Mr Xie Yao Quan, MP for Jurong GRC and chairman of Jurong-Clementi Town Council.

Youths

I want to engage them on issues they care about, for instance, mental health, sustainability and social equality. One way is to identify people who have ideas, give them a platform and work with them. We want more youths to come on board in the coming months.

Listening to residents’ needs

Mr Xie with volunteers and partnering parents on a programme in Jurong Central to help uplift families in his community.

I have a resident who missed the criteria for the Covid-19 Support Grant by just one percentage point. So I suggested in Parliament to pro-rate the grant and fine-tune it to benefit more people impacted by the economic recession. The grant’s criteria is at least a loss of 30 per cent salary for three consecutive months. But a 20 per cent reduction on a $5,000-a month salary will translate to an income loss of $1,000 a month. If the policy can be adjusted, any amount will help these middleincome earners who have financial commitments.

Then there was a couple who approached me for help to give up their new flat which they had booked. This was because his wife came down with an unexpected health condition which forced her to stop work. We worked with them to withdraw their flat booking, get back their down payment and instead, booked a resale flat near her parents. So grateful was the couple that their problem was resolved quickly that the husband said to me: ‘I have been given help and now I want to help you and others’.

When I manage to help residents, it keeps me going.