SINGAPORE — A potential WP candidate expected to fill the empty seat in Sengkang GRC has assured residents in Raeesah Khan's former ward of Compassvale that he will work to address lift issues in the estate.
In an Instagram post on April 1, Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, a senior property manager at Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC), said he will work closely with the WP MPs in Sengkang GRC to identify and address the root causes of these lift problems.
Sharing photos of his house visits, he said Compassvale residents flagged these concerns about lifts, which "are a crucial mode of vertical transport in Singapore, especially for the elderly".
The public promise to Sengkang GRC's residents is the strongest indication yet that Abdul Muhaimin, 35, could be fielded in the four-member constituency at the upcoming general election.
Citing his experience in managing lifts in a town council for nearly a decade since August 2015, Abdul Muhaimin said he understands what it takes to keep lifts running safely and reliably.
He said: "Asking the right questions, listening closely, and pushing for fixes — that's how we lift Sengkang GRC up, together".
Abdul Muhaimin is no stranger to Compassvale as he has been helping out at monthly Meet-The-People Sessions in the ward under the mentorship of Aljunied GRC MP Faisal Manap.
Faisal — WP's vice-chairman — has been advising the Sengkang team after Khan admitted to lying to Parliament and resigned from her post in December 2021. Following her departure, the Compassvale ward was split among her remaining teammates, He Ting Ru, Louis Chua and Associate ProfessorJamus Lim.
While the WP has not formally unveiled Abdul Muhaimin as a candidate, a Facebook page identifying him as a politician was set up on April 1 shortly after an Instagram account that publicised his groundwork.
This comes after the Elections Department confirmed on March 27 that Sengkang GRC will need at least one candidate from the Malay community.
He has been seen at community events involving the Sengkang MPs since 2023, with his involvement in walkabouts and house visits featuring more prominently in 2025.
On March 8, WP chief Pritam Singh posted a photo of Abdul Muhaimin with He, Prof Lim and Chua outside Masjid Al-Mawaddah in Compassvale Bow, referring to the group as "Team Sengkang GRC".
Most recently, he has been photographed greeting and serving residents with the Sengkang MPs at the constituency's mass break-fast celebration and a Hari Raya Puasa visit to Al-Mawaddah. He was also spotted interacting with residents at a March 29 townhall meeting by Sengkang MPs for their constituents to discuss national and local issues.
According to Muhaimin's social media profiles, he studied at Tampines Junior College and was appointed as a platoon commander during his national service in the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
After graduating from Nanyang Technological University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2015, he joined the town council as an assistant lift manager.
Less than three years later, in 2018, he was tasked with managing other projects on top of his lift portfolio.
For the financial years of 2021 to 2023, AHTC was among 14 of Singapore's town councils that received top ratings from the Government for estate cleanliness, estate maintenance, lift performance and service and conservancy charges (S&CC) arrears management.
To score the top rating for lift performance, town councils must ensure that there are fewer than two lift faults per 10 lifts per month, and less than one hour of downtime per lift each month.
Sengkang Town Council also hit the top banding for all areas for the financial years of 2021 and 2022, except for S&CC arrears management, for which it was marked down.
This improved the next financial year, making it the first time that all town councils scored full marks since the Government started issuing reports on town council management in 2010.
The Straits Times has contacted WP for further comment.
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
