Ong Ye Kung reveals he is related to Xie Yao Quan, PAP’s new candidate who replaced Ivan Lim

People’s Action Party (PAP) member Ong Ye Kung and the new candidate of PAP Xie Yao Quan are cousins, Mr Ong who used to head the Education Ministry revealed on Tuesday (30 June).

Mr Ong was speaking to members of the media at the PAP’s Gambas branch office – with other PAP members for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team – when he revealed that Mr Xie and he are blood-related, The Straits Times reported.

“Our mothers are sisters, we used to play as kids,” he said. “I have not seen him for many many years. He used to call me kor kor…now he calls me Min Ong.”

Mr Xie was introduced by the PAP for its Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team on Monday, which will be replacing former candidate Ivan Lim, who withdrew his candidacy on 27 June following online criticisms made against him.

PAP member Tharman Shanmugaratnam – who introduced Mr Xie at the PAP’s Bukit Batok East branch office – described it was a “very easy decision” to field him in Jurong GRC as he has worked hard for the last five years.

Meanwhile, Mr Ong had this advice for his cousin, “Work hard, do your best, be humble, show residents that you care”.