SINGAPORE: A volunteer affiliated with the People’s Action Party (PAP) has returned to public attention after receiving a Silver Award at the PAP Awards and Convention on 9 November 2025.
The recognition followed a feature by Petir, a publication affiliated to the PAP, which profiled a volunteer referred to as Gilbert Quek and highlighted his 15 years of community involvement in Sengkang GRC.
According to the Petir interview, Gilbert explained that he and fellow branch members remained committed to serving residents in the ward, which is currently overseen by the Workers’ Party (WP).
He said the party had no intention of giving up on Sengkang and described a sense of responsibility to support the local community.
Petir reported that Gilbert received a Silver Award during the convention held on 9 November 2025, in recognition of his volunteer contributions.
He encouraged PAP volunteers in other opposition-held constituencies to remain united, serve with openness and continue believing in the party’s mission.
He added that more volunteers were stepping forward as they believed the cause was worth supporting.
PAP volunteer allegedly joined private Sengkang residents’ chat to disseminate campaign content and denigrate opposition
However, Gilbert had drawn attention earlier in the year during the GE2025 period.
A Reddit post published on 30 April 2025 alleged that a WhatsApp user, using the same name, he had entered a private residents-only WhatsApp group in Sengkang named “Kampung Helm”.
According to the original poster (OP), the chat is reserved for current or former residents of Compassvale Bow and is used mainly for estate matters and neighbourly advice.
The OP claimed that Gilbert began posting in the group in April by sharing pro-PAP campaign materials and making critical remarks about WP.
Screenshots shared by the OP appeared to show posts promoting the PAP Sengkang manifesto accompanied by the message, “Let’s work together to Make Sengkang a Better Home for All!”
Another screenshot showed a national message titled “Changed World. Fresh Team. New Resolve.”
The images also included comments critical of WP, such as remarks about party leadership and an unflattering photograph of a WP candidate with a caption questioning her appearance.
One resident reportedly responded that the comment was uncalled for, prompting Gilbert to ask whether anyone had concerns about “a convicted liar still remaining as leader of a political party”.
According to the OP, the situation escalated when a group member asked whether Gilbert was a resident of Compassvale Helm.
The screenshots showed him replying “No”, confirming he was not part of the estate community.
Group administrators subsequently removed him from the chat.
The OP stated that Gilbert had joined via a publicly shared invite link, which was later restricted.
Another image shared by a resident during the same period showed him appearing at a PAP walkabout, reinforcing his presence in grassroots activities.
When a group member confronted him in the chat, Gilbert neither confirmed nor denied that he was the person in the photo.
In a follow-up clarification, the OP said the intention of the post was to document the situation rather than provoke personal attacks.
The Reddit thread questioned whether the infiltration of a residents-only chat by a PAP-linked individual was an isolated case or part of a broader pattern of political actors entering community spaces without residents’ knowledge.
Comments criticised the behaviour as unethical and hypocritical, questioning the boundaries of political conduct in non-partisan community platforms.
Seconder for PAP Sengkang team in GE2025; Awarded Public Service Medal in 2017
An online search shows that an individual named Gilbert received the Public Service Medal in 2017 for his role as Chairman of Compassvale Aspella RC.
Separately, Election Department document list Gilbert as a seconder for the PAP Sengkang candidates in GE2025.
On 3 May 2025, the WP incumbent MPs led by He Ting Ru secured Sengkang GRC with 56.31% of the vote, received 66,383 votes out of 117,888 valid ballots.
They defeated a refreshed PAP team led by Dr Lam Pin Min, which garnered 43.69% (51,505 votes).
TOC has written to the PAP seeking clarification on its ethical guidelines for volunteers’ conduct, whether the Party is aware of the Reddit-raised incident, and will include the Party’s response if provided.
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