After GE2025, Mr Foo Cexiang took over the stewardship of Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru. As we come up to the 6-month mark of his first term, we checked in with him to see how he feels so far about being a first-time MP.

 

Mr Foo fondly recalls: “I will always cherish the very warm welcome I received from my residents. But even more than that, I greatly appreciate their candidness and willingness to share their ideas and feedback on how to improve their neighbourhoods.”

 

Biggest change in terms of work

 

Some aspects of work has remained the same for Mr Foo. During his many years as a civil servant, he has also worked hard on finding solutions to issues in the community.

“The key difference for me is the opportunity to attend lots of community events and interact with the people I serve. Sharing light-hearted and sometimes profound moments with them is an aspect of the job that brings me real joy.”

 

 

Doing some quick mental arithmetic, Mr Foo tells us: “I average about 6 events every weekend, with up to 12 events on certain weekends. It’s a packed schedule, but I really enjoy it; I try to spend at least an hour to 90 minutes at each event.”

 

Being a devoted family man, Mr Foo also ensures he sets aside at least half a day of every weekend to spend with his wife and kids.

 

What he plans for his first term

 

“I want to implement policies and initiatives that can reach people from different segments of the community – getting them more engaged and involved and of course, improving their lives and neighbourhoods,” Mr Foo answered immediately.

 

Elaborating further, he says, “For example, we want to set up more active-ageing centres that offer activities to engage seniors – encouraging them to be more active and healthy. Separately, we want to open flexible spaces that youths can run themselves – taking ownership and shaping them with their energy and creativity.”

 

 

Naturally, basic needs are not neglected. “Based on our own studies and residents’ feedback, we will be installing infrastructure like linkways and lifts to make our town safe and more accessible – especially for the more vulnerable members of our society.

 

I’m also encouraging more residents to play their role in ensuring the cleanliness and upkeep of our estates. The Town Council will certainly need to do their job well but residents have an important role as well, such as treating shared infrastructure respectfully and discarding trash properly. We also want to encourage residents to recycle more so we can do our part to meet our national sustainability goals.”

 

Mr Foo also wants to highlight the area’s rich history and heritage, encouraging more residents and visitors alike to embrace this key part of our local culture.

 

Of the many programmes on his mind, Mr Foo is especially passionate about reinvigorating local markets and food centres. “I’m working closely with merchant associations and the Town Council to find ways to encourage footfall. This will incentivise vendors to open for longer hours, which will in turn attract more visitors, and start a positive spiral. We have three such marketplaces in our division – 112 Bukit Merah Market & Food Centre, Tanjong Pagar Plaza, and Tiong Bahru Market.”

 

 

Memorable resident encounters

 

Mr Foo has met many interesting residents with colourful stories over the last few months.

 

Two individuals who stand out in his mind are a fellow collector with a home full of vinyls, who’s also an avid photographer and cyclist; and an opera singer who’s over 80 years young.

 

Adorable pets and kids are always a highlight during house visits; as are residents who come up to thank him and his team. “We all appreciate it, of course. For me personally, I feel I’m just doing my job and I’m constantly focused on the next problem to solve. I encounter so many – from simple ones like spalling concrete to complicated ones like employment challenges and crowded homes. Each one affects me deeply and drives me to find a solution.”

 

How he tackles problems

 

“Once I fully understand an issue, I will reach out to all the relevant stakeholders, then chair a meeting with their representatives. I strongly believe this is the best way to provide comprehensive help to those who need it.”

 

 

Has he found any great neighbourhood gems in his constituency?

 

This was the first question to give Mr Foo pause. With some reluctance and apologies to his residents who may have preferred to gatekeep them, he gushes about his favourite spots: “Yan Kit Playfield has a very nice feel, with a good mix of open spaces, greenery, exercise facilities and a lawn bowl field.

 

The Giving Garden at Kim Tian West doesn’t just provide a bountiful harvest of vegetables to nearby residents, but is also a creative space and community hub where residents can create artwork from recycled materials.

 

I love the lush environment and amphitheatre at Spottiswoode Park – especially at sunset – as well as the cafes and shops at Everton Park.

 

As you can see, we have plenty of great public spaces. But if you do visit, please take care of our environment or I may get an earful from my residents!”

 

What he does in his free time

 

Family and work keeps Mr Foo busy. When he has some personal time, he likes to watch football. “I don’t support any particular team, but my favourite player is hands-down Roberto Baggio from Italy.

 

 

I’ve also built a fairly serious collection of entertainment memorabilia. These include ‘80s and ‘90s Hong Kong movie posters, some of which are signed by the likes of Jackie Chan, Andy Lau and Stephen Chow; as well as vinyls by Chinese artistes like Tsai Chin.

 

 

I might work with our grassroots committees to find a way to share my collection at one of our events … but no promises on that front!”

 

We are very grateful to Mr Foo for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak with us.

 

If you’d like to get to know him even better, be sure to follow him on Facebook or Instagram. He posts regularly on a diverse range of subjects, and will respond personally to any comments or requests.