PAP new face Lee Hui Ying says ex-MP Lee Bee Wah inspired her to join politics

She started volunteering in Nee Soon South ward at 19 and was mentored by the veteran

- Deepanraj Ganesan

A knock on the door when PAP Nee Soon GRC candidate Lee Hui Ying was 19 kick-started a volunteering journey that might lead the 36-year-old to Parliament, if the May 3 polls are in her favour.

Outside her door was Ms Lee Bee Wah, on a house visit in the Nee Soon South ward, where she was the MP from 2011 until her retirement from politics in 2020.

"She was very warm and enthusiastic... She asked me, 'Would you like to be a volunteer in the community?'" recalled Ms Lee Hui Ying, who had just completed her A levels at Nanyang Junior College at that time.

"My immediate answer to her was, 'Why not?' I think it was the right opportunity and it was kind of timely. It was something I wanted to explore."

She became a mentee of the PAP veteran, a point that Ms Lee Bee Wah made at an April 29 rally at Yishun Stadium.

The 64-year-old, known for her colourful character and vocal advocacy for her constituents in Parliament, said that "Hui Ying has a bit of Lee Bee Wah in her - (she is) a straight talker, sincere and hardworking".

Does the younger Ms Lee agree? In an interview with The Straits Times on April 30, she said: "I've seen how she has really touched the hearts of residents.