Who is Gigene Wong? A Closer Look at the Singapore Democratic Party Candidate

Early Life and Education

Born around 1966, Wong grew up in a low-income family with five siblings. Her parents separated during her childhood. To support her family, she worked multiple part-time jobs as a teenager, including factory work and tutoring. At 17, she saved S$80 intending to enroll in a computer course but found it too expensive. Instead, she took a S$30 accounting course, which she credits as the start of her career.

Professional Career

Wong spent over two decades working in China in senior corporate finance roles. She served as the Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Oil China and as Chief Financial Officer of Foshan Electrical and Lighting Co., a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. After returning to Singapore, she worked at Wison Offshore & Marine as a human resources specialist.

Political Journey

In 2020, Wong entered politics with the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and contested in the Hong Kah North Single Member Constituency (SMC), securing 39.01% of the vote but not winning the seat.

In 2025, she joined the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and was announced as a candidate for the Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC.

Recent Controversy

On April 26, 2025, during a rally at Evergreen Primary School, Wong used a racial slur to describe her fellow SDP candidate, Ariffin Sha. She later issued two public apologies, acknowledging her comments were “very hurtful and unacceptable.

SDP Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan also apologized on behalf of the party and issued Wong a stern warning. He emphasized that such behavior does not align with the party’s values.

Personal Life

Wong is known for her commitment to community service, including being a frequent blood donor. She has stated that each donation can save up to three lives.