WP MP expecting a baby girl

WP MP expecting a baby girl

SINGAPORE- Punggol East Member of Parliament Lee Li Lian's long-time wish to start a family has come true.

Ms Lee, 35, is pregnant and expecting a baby girl - her first child - later this year. The Workers' Party (WP) MP said she and her husband, telecommunications consultant Jacky Koh, had wanted a child before she turned 35.

"We are one year late, but I guess there is a reason why things happen," she said in a Facebook post on Monday night.

Her daughter will be born in July in the Chinese Year of the Horse - like Ms Lee.

Her plans to start a family had been delayed by the 2011 General Election and the Punggol East by-election in January last year. Ms Lee won the by-election with 54.5 per cent of the vote.

She told Singapolitics late on Tuesday night that she intends to continue working to as close to her delivery date as possible, unless her doctor advises otherwise.

She also indicated that she would be supported by her fellow WP MPs, as well as party members and volunteers, in her Punggol East grassroots network.

"We are making the necessary arrangements to ensure that the residents are in good hands during my confinement," she wrote in an e-mail message to queries.

Asked if it is even more challenging for women in politics to be mothers, she said: "Many of our female MPs today have families and still manage their jobs, and the challenges we face are no different from (those of) many other women in Singapore. Women are tough.

"That being said, we still need to make it easier for women to juggle (having) children and a career, which is why I will continue to speak up for them," she said.

"As an MP, there are certainly many responsibilities I have to my constituents, but I am committed to both my work and my family," said Ms Lee, who resigned from her job as a trainer at a financial institution last year to spend more time serving residents.

"I'm thankful for a supportive husband and family who will be on this new adventure with me."


Go to Singapolitics for more stories.

This article by Singapolitics was published in MyPaper, a free, bilingual newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.

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