Marymount Single Member Constituency (SMC) will witness a two-way contest in the upcoming General Election as the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) go head-to-head once again. On April 23, nomination papers were successfully filed at Methodist Girls’ School, confirming that PAP’s Gan Siow Huang will be defending her seat against PSP’s Jeffrey Khoo.
Gan Siow Huang, 50, is the Minister of State for Education and Manpower. She brings with her a pioneering background in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), having joined in 1993 and later becoming the first female Brigadier-General in 2015. She made her political debut in 2020, when she was elected as Member of Parliament for Marymount SMC.
Her opponent, Jeffrey Khoo, 56, is the CEO of a regional risk consulting firm and has served in leadership positions within the National University of Singapore Society for the past 15 years. He previously contested in West Coast GRC under the PSP banner during the 2020 General Election. That contest proved to be one of the tightest races in the country, with PAP winning narrowly by just 51.69% of the vote.
After filing their nomination papers, both candidates addressed their supporters.
Gan Siow Huang, reflecting on her first term, said she was deeply touched by the trust residents had placed in her in 2020. She shared that her approach has always been to listen closely to residents and act decisively on their concerns. Highlighting improvements made in the constituency over the last five years, she described her leadership style as collaborative and community-focused.
“Since then, I've made it my duty not just to listen, but to take action and to deliver with love. My team and I, together with you, have turned ideas into action,” she said.
Reinforcing her close connection to the ward, she added, “I know the ward, I know the ground. Majulah Singapura, Majulah PAP.”
On the PSP side, Jeffrey Khoo made a strong case for change and increased diversity in Parliament. Emphasising the need to prioritise Singaporeans amid current challenges, he called for more alternative voices to be represented.
“I will not just listen to you but stand with you, and speak for you. Let me serve you,” he said. “Your vote is your voice, and this is how change happens: One person, one decision, one vote.”
He concluded his speech with a rallying cry: “The moment is now. Vote for change, vote for progress for all, vote PSP.”
Marymount SMC was formed ahead of the 2020 General Election, carved out from Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. In that election, Gan Siow Huang secured the seat for PAP with 55.04% of the vote, defeating PSP’s Ang Yong Guan. While not a landslide, it was a clear win in a new SMC that the ruling party has since worked to consolidate.
This time, the contest features a familiar PAP face who has built her profile both nationally and locally, versus a PSP candidate who brings private sector expertise and a push for parliamentary diversity.
With the nation heading to the polls on May 3 for the 14th General Election, all eyes will be on constituencies like Marymount, where a swing of just a few percentage points could change the outcome. While the PAP is hoping to retain its hold on the ward through familiarity and track record, the PSP is banking on growing public appetite for alternative voices in Parliament.
As the campaign progresses, both parties are expected to actively engage residents on the ground, with door-to-door visits, walkabouts, and evening rallies. The battle for Marymount SMC is shaping up to be one of the closely watched single-seat races in this election cycle.
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