Gerald Giam
Gerald Giam Yean Song | |
---|---|
严燕松 | |
Non-constituency Member of the 12th Parliament of Singapore | |
In office 16 May 2011 – 25 August 2015 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Gerald Giam Yean Song November 22, 1977 Singapore |
Citizenship | Singapore |
Political party | Workers' Party |
Gerald Giam Yean Song (simplified Chinese: 严燕松; traditional Chinese: 嚴燕松; pinyin: Yán Yàn Sōng, born 22 November 1977) is a Singaporean politician from the Workers' Party.
He was also a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) of the 12th Parliament of Singapore,[1] and was previously an editor of The Online Citizen.
Political career
Gerald first stepped into the political world in 2011 contesting as one of 5 members, of a Workers' Party team led by Eric Tan Heng Chong which included Png Eng Huat, Glenda Han Su May and Mohamed Fazli bin Talip, in the East Coast Group Representation Constituency (East Coast GRC). They contested against a team from the People's Action Party which was led by Minister Lim Swee Say together with Lee Yi Shyan, Lim Siang Keat Raymond, Modh Maliki bin Osman, and Tan Soon Neo Jessica. Although, the Workers' Party team fell short obtaining a credible 45.17% of the votes, they nevertheless were entitled to an NCMP position as third best loser in an election whereby less than 9 non-ruling party Members of Parliament (MPs) made it to parliament.
It was confirmed by Workers' Party on 13 May 2011 that Gerald from the team would be taking up the NCMP position. As a result of not being allowed to take up the NCMP seat, the WP GRC team leader and party veteran, Eric Tan quit the party.
With Gerald taking up the NCMP position together with Yee Jenn Jong, Workers' Party set a new record in the Singapore's post-independence political arena becoming the first non-ruling party to have 8 (6 MP[2] + 2 NCMP) seats in parliament.
After the 2015 General Elections, Gerald did not take up the NCMP seat at the 13th Parliament, leaving it to his other party colleagues who contested the GRC.
Gerald will be contesting Aljunied GRC in the 2020 General Elections. He replaces the former Workers' Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, who was one of the constituency's MPs since 2011 until 2020. [3]
Gerald is a member of the Workers’ Party Central Executive Council.[4]
Education and Personal Life
Gerald has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, and a Master of Science in International Political Economy, Nanyang Technological University.
He is an IT solutions architect by training, and is married with two children.[5]
References
- ^ http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1128639/1/.html Channel News Asia - Workers' Party names Yee Jenn Jong, Gerald Giam for NCMP seats (dated 13 May 2011)
- ^ http://www.elections.gov.sg/elections_results2011.html Singapore Elections Department : 2011 PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS
- ^ hermesauto (2020-06-26). "Singapore GE2020: Workers' Party confirms Aljunied GRC slate, introduces second batch of candidates". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
- ^ "Gerald Giam – The Workers' Party". www.wp.sg. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ "Gerald Giam – The Workers' Party". www.wp.sg. Retrieved 2017-12-12.