Alexis Dang on a health scare, rallies and going up against DPM Gan

When the gates at Temasek Junior College opened ahead of WP's second rally on April 26, the party's supporters streamed into the compound with banners, inflatable hammers and loudhailers.

- Nadine Chua

Backstage, WP candidate Alexis Dang paced back and forth, quietly mouthing her script to herself as she prepared to emcee the rally.

She took copious notes as former Hougang SMC MP Png Eng Huat briefed her on the rally line-up and gave her tips on how to engage the audience.

"The first rally went well, so we need to keep that energy up," he told her.

After exchanging hugs, handshakes and pats on the back with fellow WP candidates, Ms Dang took several deep breaths before walking up on stage to greet the throng of supporters.

Ms Dang, 39, is part of the WP slate for Punggol GRC - one of the most hotly contested constituencies in the election.

The senior director at global advertising tech firm Teads gave her first rally speech at the party's Sengkang GRC rally on April 24.

I WENT THROUGH A LOT OF SOUL-SEARCHING

Her path to becoming a new WP candidate began in 2020, when she joined the party as a volunteer and started helping with house visits and Meet-the-People Sessions.

Campaign videos by the WP drew her attention, she said, because of the party's "willingness to work hard for the people, even though it is not easy".

"That resonated with me, because I think I'm definitely not somebody who likes to take the easy route, and that's the reason I'm here," she added.

For Ms Dang, a turning point came after a routine check-up in April 2024 detected high levels of tumour markers in her body.

The results meant there was a likelihood she had cancer, and a doctor she consulted said the tumour markers likely indicated late-stage cancer.

After months of scans and tests, doctors eventually found that it was a bacteria infection that caused her tumour markers to spike. She has since been cleared of the infection.