Goh Meng Seng: The Army Officer‑turned‑Politician Eyes MacPherson
Who’s Goh Meng Seng?
Goh Meng Seng (50) is the secretary‑general of the People’s Power Party (PPP). The same guy who once led troops in the Army is now aiming to bring his “operational skills” straight into the political arena.
Why the MacPherson Saga?
- Goh’s latest post on Facebook shows a neat map of the MacPherson neighbourhood and a caption that reads, “Finally put my Operational Skills learned from Army as Officer into good use…”
- He confirmed that he’ll be running for the single‑member constituency (SMC), facing off against the People’s Action Party (PAP)’s seasoned MP, Tin Pei Ling.
- MacPherson has a history of contested elections – Tin won 65.6% of the vote in 2015, beating two rivals.
The Opposition Landscape
PPP has also announced plans for Radin Mas and MacPherson, two seats where other opposition parties have stepped back.
- On Tuesday, PPP said it would field candidates in both areas.
- By Wednesday, the party decided to “take a step back” in Radin Mas to allow the Reform Party to take a lead there.
Switched Gears: From NSP to PPP
Back in 2011, Goh was the secretary‑general of the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and even held a rally in MacPherson that same year. After the election, he left NSP and founded PPP with a mission to give voters more choices and keep the race free from three‑cornered fights.
Current Status of MacPherson
MacPherson was merged into Marine Parade GRC in 1991 but returned to SMC status in the 2015 election. Now the seat is up for grabs again, and Goh believes it’s high time “MacPherson gets the attention it deserves.”
What’s Next?
The PPP will release more details about Goh’s campaign strategy later today. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on how this veteran soldier‑turned-politician plans to challenge the incumbent in a neighborhood that’s seen its share of political drama.
