Kenneth Foo Seck Guan (Singapore Politician)

Kenneth Foo Seck Guan (born 1977) is a Singapore politician and the Deputy Director of the Singapore Cancer Society.[1][2][3] He previously contested in the 2015 General Elections with the Workers’ Party (WP) team for Nee Soon (GRC).[4][5] In June 2020, he was announced as a WP candidate for the 2020 General Elections and contested in East Coast GRC.[6]

Kenneth Foo Seck Guan
Kenneth Foo.jpg
Born1977
EducationBachelor of Science (Psychology)
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide

For a complete directory of the 192 candidates in Singapore's 2020 General Elections, click here.

Background

Kenneth Foo worked at the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitation Enterprises (SCORE) for eight years where he focused on the reintegration of ex-offenders in society.[7] He joined the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) in 2015 and is the deputy director as of June 2020.[8] Outside of work, his hobbies include running, swimming and playing football.[9]

Early life & family

Kenneth Foo grew up in a low-to-middle-income family where his father was the sole breadwinner.[10] As of June 2020, Kenneth Foo is married.[11]

Education

Kenneth Foo was a student at Montfort Primary School and Montfort Secondary School.[12] He subsequently enrolled in Temasek Polytechnic where he studied business.[13] He has a degree in psychology from the University of Adelaide.[14]

Workers' Party - Grassroots involvement

 
Kenneth Foo pictured doing Grassroots outreach for the Workers' Party. Retrieved from Workers' Party.

Kenneth Foo began volunteering with the WP in 2006 and was a part of the Hougang Constituency Committee (HGCC) until 2011.[15][16] His involvement with the WP includes grassroots work as the legislative assistant to MP Sylvia Lim and being a member of the party’s Central Executive Committee as the former Deputy Organising Secretary.[17][18]

Politics

General Elections 2020 - Candidate (East Coast GRC)

Kenneth Foo was introduced as a Workers’ Party (WP) candidate on 27 June 2020.[19] In a Facebook video published on 28 June 2020, he explains that he chose to contest with WP:

“... because of the party’s philosophy that the government should not be handed a blank cheque to do whatever it wants.”[20]

He said that if he is to be elected, he will focus on three areas - accountability, responsibility and transparency.[21][22] According to his profile on the WP website, his hopes for Singapore are:[23]

1. Building a society where Singaporeans are empowered to be critical and included in the decision-making process for the future of the country.
2. Establishing a balanced, equal and ethical, political system where views are respected and considered with the interest of Singaporeans in mind.
3. Creating a caring and benevolent society, where communities would act to uplift every Singaporean and leave no one behind.

With 46.59 per cent of the votes, the Workers' Party team lost East Cost GRC to the People's Action Party (PAP) team led by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Wee Keat.[24]

General Elections 2015 - Candidate (Nee Soon GRC)

In the 2015 General Elections, Kenneth Foo was part of the Workers’ Party (WP) team that contested for Nee Soon GRC. The WP team garnered 33.17 per cent of votes and lost to the People’s Action Party (PAP) team who garnered 66.83 per cent of votes.[25][26]

References/ Citations

  1. Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. “Personal Profile”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  2. 符策涫 Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. Facebook. June 28, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=214681322950455
  3. GE2020: WP unveils latest 5 candidates”. AsiaOne. June 27, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  4. Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. “Foo Seck Guan Kenneth”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  5. Chew, Hui Min., Tang, See Kit. “GE2020: Three more new faces among Workers’ Party prospective candidates”. Channel News Asia. June 28, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  6. WP Team for East Coast GRC”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  7. Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. “Foo Seck Guan Kenneth”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  8. "Kenneth Foo". LinkedIn. Accessed on 6 July 2020.
  9. Tham, Yuen-C., Chong, Zi Liang. “Member who had quit is surprise WP candidate”. The Straits Times. August 31, 2015. Accessed on 2 July 2020. Retrieved from AsiaOne.
  10. Low Thia Khiang his inspiration for joining politics”. TODAYonline. September 1, 2015. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  11. Chew, Hui Min., Tang, See Kit. “GE2020: Three more new faces among Workers’ Party prospective candidates”. Channel News Asia. June 28, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  12. Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. “Personal Profile”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  13. Tham, Yuen-C., Chong, Zi Liang. “Member who had quit is surprise WP candidate”. The Straits Times. August 31, 2015. Accessed on 2 July 2020. Retrieved from AsiaOne.
  14. Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. “Foo Seck Guan Kenneth”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  15. 符策涫 Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. Facebook. June 30, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/Fooseckguan/
  16. Low Thia Khiang his inspiration for joining politics”. TODAYonline. September 1, 2015. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  17. Three new people get leadership positions in Workers’ Party”. The New Paper. October 6, 2015. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  18. Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. “Personal Profile”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  19. GE2020: WP unveils latest 5 candidates”. AsiaOne. June 27, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  20. 符策涫 Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. Facebook. June 28, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=214681322950455
  21. WP chief Pritam Singh: PAP fielding DPM Heng in east Coast GRC a “strategic surprise” - but will serve as “strong challenge””. The Online Citizen. July 2, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  22. Chew, Hui Min., Tang, See Kit. “GE2020: Three more new faces among Workers’ Party prospective candidates”. Channel News Asia. June 28, 2020. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  23. Foo Seck Guan Kenneth. “Hopes for Singapore”. Workers’ Party. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  24. "2020 PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS". Elections Department Singapore. Accessed on 13 July 2020.
  25. Amit Roy Choudhury. “GE2015: PAP retains Nee Soon GRC”. Business Times. September 12, 2015. Accessed on 2 July 2020.
  26. PAP wins 83, WP takes 6 seats”. AsiaOne. September 12, 2015. Accessed on 2 July 2020.