She hopes to keep food costs in the area under control, enhance social mobility and preserve a part of Mountbatten’s heritage – that is Ms Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss’ plan if she is elected.
Unveiling what she called her “Mountbatten Manifesto” on Monday evening (Aug 31), the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) candidate in the Single Member Constituency (SMC) spelled out a five-point plan.
“Residents know that Mountbatten is famous for its local food. I pledge to work with local stallholders and local government agencies to ensure that rental prices are kept affordable so that the community can continue to enjoy their favourite food at affordable prices,” she said at a press conference.
She pledged to try to improve transport connectivity within the constituency, as well as set up a Mountbatten Social Mobility Bursary for children of the disadvantaged. “I want to demonstrate how Singaporeans can work together as a community,” she said on her plans to raise S$100,000. “Where those who are better off will be able to help those who are not so better off.”
Also on her mind is Dakota Crescent, an estate built in the 1950s, which is slated for redevelopment by the end of 2016. Residents are likely to be “very disappointed” if it disappears, she said. “I want to explore feasible ways to conserve at least a representational amount of the flats so that the community and Singaporeans may have a physical reminder of where we came from.”
In Parliament, she hopes to increase accountability and transparency by raising questions. But her priority will be to run the town council professionally and help Mountbatten residents, she said.
In the 2011 General Election, Ms Chong-Aruldoss contested the ward under the National Solidarity Party’s banner, losing to People’s Action Party candidate Lim Biow Chuan with 41.4 per cent of the vote.
Asked if the ground was different now, she said: “I have not stopped working for this coming GE. So the difference between now and before is five years of work.”
Ms Chong-Aruldoss left the NSP, where she was secretary general, earlier this year after she lost her bid to be voted party president.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
