 Interview with ELLEN LEE
Ellen is a Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC as well as practices law as a Consultant at M/s Ramdas & Wong. She talks about juggling her work as a parliamentarian and the demands of legal practice; and gives us an insight into her motivations and challenges.
1. You have been involved in the PAP since joining the youth wing in 1986 - Can you tell us what motivated you to join the PAP?
Ellen : The PAP has effectively improved lives and making things work. It also looked at meritocracy, not background or relationship and I possessed neither at that time.
2. You have been actively involved in grassroots volunteerism for the last 20 years. What are the causes closest to your heart?
Ellen : Low income group, disadvantaged persons and dysfunctional families.
What social changes do you hope to initiate and proactively participate in?
Ellen : Level up the low income and disadvantaged persons through re-training, re-skilling and changing mindsets. Enthuse more, especially young and middle-aged people to volunteer their services.
3. You were a member of the executive committee of the inaugural PAP Women’s Wing in 1987.What were your challenges in those early days of feminist activism?
Ellen : Getting women interested in wanting to help themselves and society without fears of getting into politics or becoming the accidental politician.
4. Today you are a Member of Parliament as well as a consultant at Ramdas & Wong. How you do juggle MP responsibilities and legal practice?
Ellen : It is a tough job juggling all at the same time within the 18 to 20 waking hours a day. I have to cut back on legal work as MP responsibilities extend beyond just constituency work. I am involved in national and international matter as well in the form of participating in cross boundary parliamentarian work.
5. What do you enjoy most of your work as an MP?
Ellen : Interactions with grassroots leaders, VWOS, residents and meeting foreign parliamentarians; the ability to get something done for residents, especially when challenging requests which looked like 'goners" or no chance of succeeding are acceded to by the Government and most importantly, when words of encouragements to residents could motivate them to want to help themselves or better their own lots.
And your work as a practicing lawyer?
Ellen : Helping a client who presented me with hopelessness but after some help or advice, turned around to tackle his/her problems more positively.
Are they complementary?
Ellen: Yes.
How are they complementary?
Ellen : Both are service-oriented and premised on helping people without necessarily involving any tangible rewards.
6. As an MP you are in the media spotlight quite a lot – Do you find the public life restrictive in any way? Do you check yourself when you speak?
Ellen : Public life is an integral part of being an MP because I am elected by a section of the public. It is restrictive in the sense of having to make sure that I am careful and conscious that all that I say or do are being watched or noticed by the public. And this may draw a reaction from them.
7. Is personal freedom a sacrifice that you find yourself making in order to serve as in MP?
Ellen : Yes, but the greater cause of being in a position of power and influence to move things and get things done at macro level makes the sacrifice a small matter. It becomes in-built and is a constant reminder that I have to be responsible in my all my words, deeds and omissions.
8. Drawing on your 21 years in active politics, what would your advice be to younger lawyers who wish to actively participate in politics and civic life?
Ellen : The process of learning and being in service never ends with age or time or position in life. I have never stopped learning to be humble even after I became a lawyer or an MP because there are just so many things I have yet to learn and know. However, it would be good to start young and early because it becomes a way of life, not something to be learnt at a time when you have so many other demands and challenges to face in life.
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