On the final day of the hustings, she just couldn't hold it in anymore.
National Solidarity Party candidate Nicole Seah broke down during a rally at a field in Chinese Garden on Thursday night, after recalling a meeting she had with a poor female resident in MacPherson earlier in the day.
The 24-year-old, who is contesting the Marine Parade GRC, said the resident told her how she could not afford an $80 deposit that was required over and above the rent for her flat. Worse, when she sought help from grassroots leaders, she was chided for the small amount.
Pausing to compose herself, Seah told the estimated 10,000-strong crowd, "This is the kind of problem we have. We need a government who has a heart for Singaporeans."
It was the second time in a day that the advertising executive broke down. While speaking to the same resident earlier, she had also cried after listening to the mother's desperate situation.
An emotionally-charged Seah then told the audience at the rally that it was time for change.
She said, "They (the PAP) do not have the mandate of heaven but the consent of the people... We must move towards the next phase of nation building to build a future that comes in more colours than white."
After the rally, which was the final chance for NSP candidates to address voters, members in the crowd told Yahoo! Singapore that Seah had left a deep impression on them.
Ting Lee Yiaw, 48, banker, a Jurong GRC resident, said, "What she said resonated with me. She's very down-to-earth and very real. I can see that she is truly compassionate and really stands for the NSP."
Nelson Tong, 36, civil servant, also a Jurong resident, said, "It is very encouraging to see someone like her. I can really see that she is feeling it like a true Singaporean. We feel it together with her and that's what being Singaporean is all about."
Undergraduate Brandon Chen, 26, added, "We need an MP like her to give the alternative voice. Age doesn't matter, as long as people can feel that she is real."
A total of 12 other NSP candidates spoke during the rally.
They will be contesting the Marine Parade, Jurong, Chua Chu Kang and Tampines GRCs as well as the Radin Mas, Pioneer and Mountbatten SMCs.
Can her team win over sm gct?
Unlikely. Even she cried in front of the crowd, she will not be able to help much.
She need to get in to help the people. Can she and her team?
Ting Lee Yiaw, 48, banker, a Jurong GRC resident, said, "What she said resonated with me. She's very down-to-earth and very real. I can see that she is truly compassionate and really stands for the NSP."
Nelson Tong, 36, civil servant, also a Jurong resident, said, "It is very encouraging to see someone like her. I can really see that she is feeling it like a true Singaporean. We feel it together with her and that's what being Singaporean is all about."
Undergraduate Brandon Chen, 26, added, "We need an MP like her to give the alternative voice. Age doesn't matter, as long as people can feel that she is real."
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They should advised her to contest in other grc instead of head on with sm gct. Just like a ligt weight vs heavy weight boxing game. To stand a good chance to get into the parliament.
They can give solace and feel sad for her, but cannot do much if they are in no marine parade residnts.
She should contest in the grc where pple has a deep hatred for a particular mps. She might able to win. Of course nsp.