Nicole Seah
Encyclopedia
Nicole Rebecca Seah Xue Ling is a Singapore
an politician. She was a National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidate for the Marine Parade GRC
in the 2011 Singaporean general election. At age 24 she was the youngest female candidate standing in the election and immediately became a target of media attention, which became increasingly pronounced as her speeches began to go viral on YouTube. During the election, she was described as the most popular Singaporean politician on Facebook
, having over 100000 "likes" on the website and outranking the second most popular Singaporean politician, Singapore's former Minister Mentor
Lee Kuan Yew
.
, Tanjong Katong Secondary School
and Victoria Junior College
. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science
(Hons) degree from the National University of Singapore
(NUS), where she was part of the University Scholars' Programme. She works as an executive at Starcom MediaVest Group, a brand communications company.
Seah has been involved in community activities and volunteering since secondary school. Her interest in politics was sparked by a meeting with a destitute woman, who - despite having a roof over her head - had no money for food, and was completely dependent on handouts from charity. While at NUS, she was the managing editor of an online publication called the Campus Observer.
Before the 2011 General Elections, Ms. Seah was involved with the Reform Party (Singapore)
since 2009, but left in early February 2011 along with many other party members. She was invited to join the NSP by Goh Meng Seng
, then the NSP's secretary-general.
in the 2011 Singaporean general election on 21 April 2011. This was the first time an opposition party had contested this GRC since 1992. This was several weeks after the PAP announced that their five-person team contesting Marine Parade GRC would include 27-year old Tin Pei Ling
, leading to immediate media attention to the contest of two young women, both contesting parliament seats for the first time. Tin had been facing online criticism since her candidature was announced, and - partially in response to Tin's positioning - Seah's popularity has grown tremendously, according to the Asia Sentinel's Jon Russell, who added that "her popularity [is] testament to many choosing her as their preferred 'youth' candidate in the election". Her popularity has been referred to as "rockstar"-like by the Straits Times.
People have commented that Seah appears to upstage other members of the NSP and of her constituency team. On April 27, former Prime Minister and Seah's GRC opponent Goh Chok Tong
complained that "I look at NSP and they appear to have only one person in charge and the four men are leaving it to the young lady to campaign and say all the things". The party is also referred to as the "Nicole Seah Party". Seah responded, "The NSP is all about teamwork. There are many different areas that everyone can contribute and that's how we synergise and bring our talents together to the table."
Despite national popularity, her team captured only 43.35% of the vote and did not manage to wrest Marine Parade GRC from the ruling party team in the 2011 election. Nevertheless, this was seen as sufficiently threatening to the ruling party, even to the state press. The state press had to interview Goh Chok Tong on the reasons behind his team's "weak results," since traditionally the ruling party has expected a higher victory margin than its 56.65%, i.e. closer to the last contested election in 1992
where the PAP team under Goh Chok Tong had won 72.9% of the vote.
On Cooling off day, Nicole Seah announced she would be lodging a police report against Tin Pei Ling for alleged flouting of "Cooling Off" day regulations.
After elections, Nicole Seah made a online appeal for donations for her campaign on her Facebook, sparking off a debate on whether it is appropriate. On 23 May 2011, NSP issued a public statement clarifying the declarations required and standing by her actions.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an politician. She was a National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidate for the Marine Parade GRC
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency located in the central, eastern and north-eastern areas of Singapore. The constituency consists of a section of Bedok, Chai Chee, Geylang, Kaki Bukit, Kallang, Kembangan, Marine Parade, Mountbatten,...
in the 2011 Singaporean general election. At age 24 she was the youngest female candidate standing in the election and immediately became a target of media attention, which became increasingly pronounced as her speeches began to go viral on YouTube. During the election, she was described as the most popular Singaporean politician on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, having over 100000 "likes" on the website and outranking the second most popular Singaporean politician, Singapore's former Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor is a Singapore cabinet position created in 2004 as part of a leadership transition.The newly appointed Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong , announced Lee Kuan Yew's new title together with the naming of his Cabinet on August 12, 2004...
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
.
Background
Seah studied at CHIJ Katong ConventCHIJ Katong Convent
CHIJ Katong Convent is an autonomous all-girls Catholic secondary school in Singapore. The school is one of 11 Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools in Singapore. Katong Convent is known for its niche area, speech and drama...
, Tanjong Katong Secondary School
Tanjong Katong Secondary School
Tanjong Katong Secondary School, affectionately known as TK, is an autonomous co-educational school located in Katong. Before its autonomous status, the school was named by the Ministry of Education as the 'Best Non-Independent and Non-Autonomous Secondary School' in Singapore. TK was presented...
and Victoria Junior College
Victoria Junior College
Victoria Junior College is a Pre-University co-educational institution in Singapore. It was established to replace the Pre-University classes of Victoria School in 1984. It stands on Marine Vista, about 5-minute walk to the East Coast Park. It in the East Region of Singapore...
. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science
Bachelor of Social Science
The academic undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Social Science requires three to four years of study at an institution of higher education, primarily found in the Commonwealth of Nations....
(Hons) degree from the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
(NUS), where she was part of the University Scholars' Programme. She works as an executive at Starcom MediaVest Group, a brand communications company.
Seah has been involved in community activities and volunteering since secondary school. Her interest in politics was sparked by a meeting with a destitute woman, who - despite having a roof over her head - had no money for food, and was completely dependent on handouts from charity. While at NUS, she was the managing editor of an online publication called the Campus Observer.
Before the 2011 General Elections, Ms. Seah was involved with the Reform Party (Singapore)
Reform Party (Singapore)
The Reform Party is a political party in Singapore. It was founded in 2008 by the late Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam, and is currently headed by his son Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who succeeded him as party secretary-general after the elder Jeyaretnam died in 2008...
since 2009, but left in early February 2011 along with many other party members. She was invited to join the NSP by Goh Meng Seng
Goh Meng Seng
Goh Meng Seng is a Singaporean politician who was the Secretary General for the 2011 election of the National Solidarity Party in Singapore.-Political career:...
, then the NSP's secretary-general.
2011 general election
Seah was announced as a member of the five-person NSP team contesting the Marine Parade GRCMarine Parade Group Representation Constituency
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency located in the central, eastern and north-eastern areas of Singapore. The constituency consists of a section of Bedok, Chai Chee, Geylang, Kaki Bukit, Kallang, Kembangan, Marine Parade, Mountbatten,...
in the 2011 Singaporean general election on 21 April 2011. This was the first time an opposition party had contested this GRC since 1992. This was several weeks after the PAP announced that their five-person team contesting Marine Parade GRC would include 27-year old Tin Pei Ling
Tin Pei Ling
Tin Pei Ling is a Chinese Singaporean who is one of five Singapore People's Action Party Members of Parliament for the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency. She is in charge of the MacPherson ward....
, leading to immediate media attention to the contest of two young women, both contesting parliament seats for the first time. Tin had been facing online criticism since her candidature was announced, and - partially in response to Tin's positioning - Seah's popularity has grown tremendously, according to the Asia Sentinel's Jon Russell, who added that "her popularity [is] testament to many choosing her as their preferred 'youth' candidate in the election". Her popularity has been referred to as "rockstar"-like by the Straits Times.
People have commented that Seah appears to upstage other members of the NSP and of her constituency team. On April 27, former Prime Minister and Seah's GRC opponent Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
complained that "I look at NSP and they appear to have only one person in charge and the four men are leaving it to the young lady to campaign and say all the things". The party is also referred to as the "Nicole Seah Party". Seah responded, "The NSP is all about teamwork. There are many different areas that everyone can contribute and that's how we synergise and bring our talents together to the table."
Despite national popularity, her team captured only 43.35% of the vote and did not manage to wrest Marine Parade GRC from the ruling party team in the 2011 election. Nevertheless, this was seen as sufficiently threatening to the ruling party, even to the state press. The state press had to interview Goh Chok Tong on the reasons behind his team's "weak results," since traditionally the ruling party has expected a higher victory margin than its 56.65%, i.e. closer to the last contested election in 1992
Singaporean by-election, 1992
-Background and historical significance:This was the first and only by election in a Group Representation Constituency held in Singapore on 19 December 1992 with the nomination day set at 9 December 1992...
where the PAP team under Goh Chok Tong had won 72.9% of the vote.
On Cooling off day, Nicole Seah announced she would be lodging a police report against Tin Pei Ling for alleged flouting of "Cooling Off" day regulations.
After elections, Nicole Seah made a online appeal for donations for her campaign on her Facebook, sparking off a debate on whether it is appropriate. On 23 May 2011, NSP issued a public statement clarifying the declarations required and standing by her actions.