PARLIAMENTARY PURSUITS

Retiree's 'secret' autograph book holds over 90 MP signatures

- Shawn Hoo

Madam Soh Siew Geok, 72, is perhaps Singapore's most avid attendee of Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS). The Yishun resident has ventured as far as Jurong and Marine Parade to meet various Members of Parliament — but not exactly to seek out help on municipal or personal issues.

Instead, the affable retiree takes a bus to MPS across the island to collect the autographs of the country's political representatives as a hobby. Since 2015, she has acquired more than 90 signatures from active stalwarts like Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, and retired politicians such as Mr Lim Swee Say.

"It all started in 2015, when I bought the SG50 commemorative notes in Tampines and bumped into some MPs after my purchase. I thought it would be a good idea to get their signatures," she tells The Sunday Times in Mandarin, though admitting that she has forgotten who those MPs were.