Beatboxing, calligraphy and biking: What do GE2025 potential candidates do in their free time? (2025)

SINGAPORE – From beatboxing to playing the saxophone and reviewing food, potential candidates in the upcoming election have been sharing about their wide range of talents and hobbies.

Here are some interesting pastimes of some political newbies:

1. Beatboxing

WP new face Andre Lowcan drop a beat or two.

The 33-year-old staff product manager at a global fintech company picked up beatboxing when he was in an a cappella group in junior college.

The group already had a tenor, bass, soprano and alto, so he had to learn how to beatbox.

Mr Low said: “It’s a little party trick I like to pull out once in a while because I don’t look like someone who might do that.”

2. Mountain biking

Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat, who will contest as part of the PAP’s slate for the four-member Sengkang GRC in the upcoming general election, is an avid cyclist.

Prof Elmie, 43, who teaches communications and new media at the National University of Singapore, participated in mountain bike community event Singapore Open Enduro Race in January.

The race featured five stages, with trails across Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Chestnut Nature Park.

Prof Elmie often shares his cycling routes on Instagram, including rides through Mandai, Palawan Beach and Dairy Farm Nature Park.

3. Singing

WP new face Jimmy Tan is no stranger to the stage.

The 53-year-old co-founder of an industrial equipment supplying firm won the first season of Golden Age Talentime on Mediacorp’s Channel 8 in 2023. He emerged victorious with his rendition of Chinese oldie The Past Can Only Be Remembered.

When asked by the media, Mr Tan also said he has been asked to perform at WP celebration events – and will sing with residents if elected.

4. Cooking

PAP new face Hazlina Abdul Halim, who will contest East Coast GRC, often showcases her culinary skills on social media.

The former chief executive of Make-A-Wish Singapore was named by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman as his successor in the GRC.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the 40-year-old shared her photos and recipes of her home-made dishes, including lontong goreng, kacang pool, kuih keria and shaksuka, on Instagram.

5. Playing the saxophone

WP new face Harpreet Singh Nehal, 59, who has been most visible in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, is an avid saxophonist.

“I think it’d be a wonderful day if members of the PAP and my colleagues and I can just jam and sing together,” said the senior counsel.

“They bring theguitar, I’ll bring the saxophone. And maybe it’ll be the start of a new chapter in our politics where we can chill and hang out and move this country forward without letting our politics divide us.”

6. Calligraphy

Orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak, part of PAP’s slate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, finds calm and focus in calligraphy.

During Chinese New Year in 2025, the 39-year-old shared a piece featuring the Chinese character for “spring” on Instagram.

“Every stroke requires patience and focus. These qualities that shape not just good art, but good character too,” he wrote on the social media platform.

In 2024, he attended the National Youth Calligraphy Exhibition held at the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore’s premises in Waterloo Street, where he watched live demonstrations by students.

7. Book club

Progress Singapore Party (PSP) new face Stella Stan Lee runs a book club which meets monthly.

According to her website, the group explores a broad range of literature and engages in discussions on ideas that are relevant to society.

Ms Lee also shared on her LinkedIn page that she writes her own stories and develops concepts for television shows.

8. K-drama

Former SAF chief of staff – joint staff Goh Pei Ming’s passion for the army extends to his television picks, with one of his favourite series being South Korean military romance drama Descendants Of The Sun.

The PAP new face told ST that he also enjoys rom-coms, such as King The Land (2024) and Crash Landing On You (2019).

“I enjoy romance genres as it allows me to keep up with the latest conversation topics and bring a little bit more vibrancy and interest to the dinner, especially with my wife,” he said.

It is not yet clear whether Mr Goh, 43, will be fielded in East Coast GRC, where he has been spotted with MPs in recent weeks. He was earlier also spotted in Punggol GRC.

9. Netball

Former senior civil servant Jasmin Lau, who will join PAP’s Ang Mo Kio GRC team helmed by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has spoken about her love for netball.

The 42-year-old has even represented Singapore as part of the national netball team.

Drawing from her experiences in the sporting arena, Ms Lau said she had to learn new skills from playing netball in primary school to basketball in her 30s. But she could build on the strong foundations she had from netball, like how to play as a team, which helped her to pick up the new sport.

She said: “So moving from public service into politics feels a little bit like my transition from netball into basketball. For 19 years or so, I worked on healthcare, manpower and finance policies.

“These experiences are now the strong foundations that I bring into the new court of politics, and I believe that as I hone my skills, I will be able to serve Singaporeans effectively. Yes, there are new skills to pick up, new rules of the sport to learn, but I believe that I can learn them well.”

10. Food blog

WP’s Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat, who will be contesting Aljunied GRC, describes himself as a big foodie.

The 36-year-old director of tech start-up Sensemake.ai used to run a food blog to keep track of culinary delights around the world.

Among his favourite dishes is wonton noodles – he recommends Ah Wing’s Wanton Mee at Empress Road Market and Food Centre as a must-try.

11. Running

PAP new face and new dad David Hoe, who will contest the Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC in the upcoming general election, stays active by going for regular runs.

Mr Hoe, 37, who serves as the director of philanthropy at The Majurity Trust, has shared snippets of his runs on Instagram.

In a video posted on April 19, he filmed himself jogging to Serangoon Gardens market to buy breakfast for his family.

12. Cycling

When Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz is not working as a dentist, he is busy cycling.

The PAP new face, who will contest opposition-held Aljunied GRC, signed up for a night cycling tour around Bangkok during a trip to Thailand in March.

Appointed as one of PAP’s two new branch chairpersons in February, the 37-year-old shared on Instagram that he hopes to spend his downtime cycling in beautiful places.

13. Collecting porcelain dolls

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) treasurer SurayahAkbar has been collecting porcelain dolls since she was in her 20s.

The 42-year-old is part of SDP’s five-member slate for Sembawang GRC.

In a 2016 interview with Yahoo News, the music publisher shared her fascination with the meticulous craftsmanship of porcelain dolls – particularly the detailed painting of their eyelashes and lips.

She recalled buying her first doll at retail store Cash Converters with her mother. By 2016, she had spent almost $3,000 on her 30 dolls.

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