Tag: PAP

5 Things About The First Night Of Rallies

Two rallies on Wednesday (Sept 2) night wrapped up the first full day of campaigning for the Sept 11 general election.

The People’s Action Party held a Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas rally at Delta Sports Complex, and the Workers’ Party turned up for a Hougang rally in the area.

Here are 5 things about the two rallies.

1. BIG TURNOUT AT THE WORKERS’ PARTY RALLY

The crowd at the WP rally at Hougang Central on Sept 2, 2015. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

The crowd at the WP rally at Hougang Central on Sept 2, 2015. ST PHOTO: YEO KAI WEN

As expected and as seen in the last few general elections, the WP rally in a field in Central Hougang attracted people in the thousands. They started gathering at about 6.15pm and by the end of the evening, the field was packed to overflowing.

After the rally was over, access to Hougang MRT station nearby was closed for a short while to control the human traffic on the platforms.

Workers’ Party supporters at Hougang MRT station after rally 2

But the crowd was generally well-behaved. In fact, people were spotted picking up litter from the field after the rally was over.

People pick up rubbish after Workers’ Party rally at Hougang Central

2. TURNOUT AT PAP RALLY SMALLER

Supporters of PAP Tanjong Pagar candidate Melvin Yong

Over in Tiong Bahru, the crowds were smaller and more measured, but things perked up when a vocal section of supporters for former senior police officer Melvin Yong – a Tanjong Pagar GRC candidate – turned up.

Outgoing Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew and former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Lim Hwee Hua were also spotted among the crowd.

Mr Chan Chun Sing greeting supporters at a PAP rally on Sept 2, 2015. ST PHOTO: JOANNA SEOW

Asked by reporters later if he felt discouraged that the turnout was smaller than that of the WP rally, anchor GRC candidate Chan Chun Sing had this reply: “No, no, we don’t let such things get into the way we serve our residents. Our focus is very simple. We take care of the residents and I think the residents will take care of the results.”

3. SPEECHES – WHO SPOKE AT THE PAP RALLY?

PM Lee (third right) and eight others spoke at the rally. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

Nine people including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who wrapped up the event.

Mr Chan was a lively presence, speaking fluidly in Malay and Chinese before launching into an impassioned English speech. Mentioning how he was laughed and mocked at times, he said in Mandarin: “I can’t bear to give up on my country or Tanjong Pagar!”

PAP’s Chan Chun Sing speaking in Mandarin at election rally

The other GRC candidates spoke about the causes they were passionate about. For instance, Ms Indranee Rajah on education (she also spoke briefly in Cantonese), Ms Joan Pereira on care for the elderly, and Dr Chia Shi-Lu on healthcare. Guest speaker Sidek Saniff touched on how the Malay community was never left behind while paying tribute to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Two issues – housing and healthcare – were on PM Lee’s agenda.

But he also spoke about the standard of the opposition towards the end of his speech, emphasising how politicians cannot afford to “cover up” or “play taiji” and delay problems, in a veiled reference to the ongoing Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) saga.

4. AND AT THE WP RALLY?

Mr Low was joined by 13 other speakers at the WP rally. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

The slate of 14 speakers was designed to show off both the WP’s new faces and put the spotlight on familiar ones.

Newcomers such as Cheryl Denise Loh (Nee Soon GRC) and Dr Daniel Goh (East Coast GRC) got airtime to talk about the causes they believe in as well. They also reiterated the party line about the opposition as a necessary check to the PAP and empowering Singaporeans in Parliament.

WP veterans Png Eng Huat and Low Thia Khiang were the big guns, coming on only towards the end after the younger ones had paved the way. They came out blazing with their speeches in Hokkien (Mr Png) and Teochew (Mr Low). While English speeches from the candidates in general tended to be more circumspect, the dialect speeches were earthier and more direct.

Rounding off the night was chairman Sylvia Lim, who, like the other WP seniors, addressed the AHPETC issue. She debunked four myths that she said the PAP had been spreading about the town council.

Workers’ Party Sylvia Lim: I’m the AHPETC chairman and I’m proud of it

5. MEMORABLE QUOTES?

PM Lee speaking at a PAP rally on Sept 2, 2015. ONG WEE JIN

“If people do something wrong but don’t fix it, and say ‘well, I haven’t been sent to jail’, then standards for politics is too low.”

– PM LEE HSIEN LOONG, WRAPPING UP HIS SPEECH

“In politics, your heart must be right. You cannot afford to be selfish, you cannot afford to cover up or play taiji, delaying problems.”

– PM LEE HSIEN LOONG

“Please don’t insult my residents. Do you think they are here to be bribed? Is this an election or an auction?”

– MR CHAN CHUN SING ON OPPOSITION PARTIES PROMISING RESIDENTS $300 A MONTH

“If there are any residents of Aljunied here, ‘kee chiew’!”

– MR MUHAMAD FAISAL ABDUL MANAP, WP CANDIDATE FOR ALJUNIED GRC, AT THE START OF HIS RALLY SPEECH. KEE CHIEW MEANS RAISE YOUR HAND IN HOKKIEN AND WAS A REFERENCE TO HOW MR CHAN CHUN SING HAD TRIED TO RALLY A CROWD USING THIS PHRASE WHEN HE FIRST ENTERED POLITICS

“You are the shareholders of this country. You tell the government what to do. Not the other way around.”

– MR DENNIS TAN, WP CANDIDATE FOR FENGSHAN

“The PAP government is not a government of the future but a ghost from the past.”

– MR PNG ENG HUAT, WP CANDIDATE FOR HOUGANG, IN HOKKIEN

Source: www.straitstimes.com

September 3, 2015
Rosalyn Lee: Good That PAP Not Populist, Does Not Foster Loser Mindset

Responding to Calvin Cheng’s comment that WP has dangerous socialist ideas like minimum wage, this is what local celebrity Rosalyn Lee has to say:

***

The Workers’ Party finally stand for something. lol!

im now fully convinced that they are nothing more than dangerous populists who would say/do anything to win the votes of the common people, without giving a hoot about the crippling consequences.

there are plenty of jobs available, its up to you to take it. heck, even collecting rubbish is a decent gig. i dont ever want us to stoop to becoming a state that takes care of the unemployed! it encourages complacency. cuz i mean, why bother to find work when you can collect benefits? and then what will happen to singapore if more people adopt that loser mindset? wahlaueh. pls lah!

Source: Rosalyn Lee (Official)

September 3, 2015
WP, SDP, SingFirst Among Parties In Action At Tonight’s Rallies

The permits for six rallies on Thursday (Sep 3) have been approved, the police announced on Wednesday.

The People’s Action Party will be holding a rally for East Coast GRC at Bedok Stadium, as well as a rally for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC at the field opposite Blk 274C Compassvale Bow, beside Buangkok MRT station.

The Workers’ Party will hold a rally at the field in front of Blk 4 Boon Keng Rd for Jalan Besar GRC, while SingFirst will hold a rally for Jurong GRC at Jurong Stadium. The Singapore Democratic Party will be holding a rally at Choa Chu Kang Stadium for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

Independent candidate for Radin Mas GRC Han Hui Hui will be holding a rally at Delta Hockey Pitch.

All rallies will take place between 7pm to 10pm.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

September 3, 2015
Lee Hsien Loong: Opposition Party Like ‘Mouse In The House’

Nine parties may be contesting this election but to most observers, the keenest contests will be in wards featuring the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP).

The exception is Potong Pasir where PAP faces the Singapore People’s Party (SPP).

PAP and WP clash in wards including Aljunied, East Coast and Marine Parade GRCs and single seats in Fengshan and MacPherson.

The clash between the two rival parties underscores two differing agendas.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sees it as an election to find leaders for the next generation while WP says it needs to entrench opposition for a healthier parliament.

For the first time in independent Singapore’s electoral history, all seats will be contested. And for the third time since 2006, PAP did not return to power on Nomination Day.

A two-party system is common in some developed countries like the US and Australia. The question is whether Singapore is on the cusp of a similar system.

WP’s success at GE 2011 has allowed it to attract better qualified candidates – 12 out of the 19 WP candidates introduced started volunteering with the party from 2011.

For GE 2015, the party was able to field its largest slate ever – 28 candidates – to contest in five GRCs and five SMCs.

Yesterday, at a press conference at the PAP headquarters, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spelt out the battle lines after the close of nominations. “This is an election where there is a lot at stake and where we have to take very seriously people’s concerns, people’s aspirations, their outlook in a new world and also the way the election is going to be fought,” he said.

Reports and pictures by Ariffin Jamar, Azim Azman, Benjamin Seetor, Chai Hung Yin, Choo Chwee Hua, David Lee, David Sun, Elizabeth Law, Foo Jie Ying, Koh Hui Theng, Hariz Baharudin, Jennifer Dhanaraj, Jeremy Long, Jonathan Choo, Mohd Ishak, Ng Jun Sen, Nurul Nabilah, Phyllicia Wang, Ronald Loh, Shahriya Yahaya and Tan Tam Mei

‘More is better? Depends on the quality’

PM Lee described the performance of opposition MPs in Parliament over the last term as “disappointing”.

“When you go for election rallies, it’s very easy to make fierce, rousing speeches,” he said, adding that opposition candidates also make many promises.

“But when they come to Parliament, none of these issues are raised… because they know that in Parliament if they raise these issues, face to face in debate, they will be pinned down and the fallacies, insincerities and untruths will be exposed,” he said.

“You voted for a tiger in a Chamber and you got a mouse in the House.”

PM Lee added that they would then hope that people would not notice this before repeating the tactic in the run-up to the next election.

The WP painted a different scenario of its performance on its website.

In a review of its 2011 to 2015 Parliamentary performance released yesterday, it highlighted several changes its party members effected in Parliament – everything from healthcare to public housing.

So is WP ready to form the next Government?

While its party leadership has said no, East Coast GRC candidate Gerald Giam said on Saturday that taking over the Government remains a long-term aim, but WP wants to “focus on what our goals are for this election”.

Singapore Management University (SMU) law don Eugene Tan said: “We can see it as the WP indicating that they are shifting gears and that they now have more confidence that they can move in a more concerted manner towards trying to develop Singapore’s political system into a two-party one.”

When asked if more opposition parties would give rise to better governance, PM Lee said: “More is better? Depends on the quality.”

Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said: “The WP will have to convince voters that they can multi-task. They have to be the opposition voice in Parliament but also be effective in local governance, and certainly be above suspicion in how it manages those practicalities as that is the political system today.”

You voted for a tiger in a chamber and you got a mouse in the house.

— Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the opposition MPs in last term’s Parliament

‘…all 89 seats have to be fought seriously’

The possibility of the People’s Action Party (PAP) losing a majority share – all of which are contested – is real, said PM Lee Hsien Loong.

“So we are fighting this election on the assumption that all 89 seats have to be fought seriously.”

At the same press conference, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah said every vote against the PAP could mean a PAP candidate or team of candidates not elected into Parliament, and that would mean the PAP will have less ability to deliver the results voters want.

In the past, opposition politicians had relied on the by-election effect, arguing that since the PAP is returned to power on Nomination Day, voters should then get opposition politicians into Parliament to voice their concerns.

But for the third time since 2006, the PAP was not returned to power on Nomination Day.

UNLIKELY

So is Miss Indranee’s scenario plausible? Is there a likelihood of a freak result with the PAP not securing a majority?

Unlikely, said observers.

Dr Lan Luh Luh, associate professor at the National University of Singapore business school and faculty of law, said: “In by-elections, people will think more of the local, municipal agenda. But on a national level, people do not want to shake the foundations of the Government.”

SMU’s law don Eugene Tan said: “(The state of play) may affect undecided voters and they might feel that much more is at stake. They might think, ‘I should be more careful.’”

‘Investing in the young… motivates our whole venture’

PM Lee Hsien Loong said the PAP is constantly looking for ways to connect with the young.

For example, he tries to bond with his Facebook followers through his social media posts on nature, festivals or politics.

“Basically, they are looking for a human connection – not abstract policies – a person they can feel they can connect with, they can understand and who understands what they want.

“Investing in the young… motivates our whole venture.”

Unlike GE 2011, where PAP roped in several candidates from the NTUC and the civil service, GE 2015 sees the median age of the new PAP candidates rise from 38.5 in 2011 to 42.3 now.

Of the 24 new faces, 15 are from the private sector.

HIGH-CALIBRE

The WP’s pitch appears to be that voters want higher-calibre candidates and since the last GE, it has been attracting some from top universities.

Five of them have law backgrounds, another five business- or finance-related education, and one, Dr Daniel Goh, has a background in academia.

The remaining seven candidates who first got involved with the party before 2011 are from social and grassroots work.

Veteran journalist P. N. Balji said: “2011 was a turning point for WP in attracting solid candidates. That has continued into this election: like Goh, He Tingru and Leon Perera.”

NUS sociologist Tan Ern Ser said: “It makes sense to join a winning team. I think WP can be seen as having a good ‘business’ model.”

PM Lee yesterday said this election will be a tough fight, with the country at a turning point.

“As I told our candidates: if you are in a PAP ward, you fight as if you can lose. If you are in an opposition ward, you fight with a conviction that you can win.”

‘When you vote for someone and he wins, he will run a town council’

Running a town council is a litmus test of whether an MP is capable of going on to run a government, said PM Lee Hsien Loong.

“When you vote for someone and he wins, he will run a town council.”

He also said: “People who aspire to be the government will first be tested in running a town council and demonstrating (whether they are) capable of administering, managing, leading and producing results to Singaporeans.”

PM Lee said the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) saga was a serious issue concerning governance, profitability and propriety.

WP chairman Sylvia Lim had earlier accused the PAP of using the Ministry of National Development (MND) to make political attacks.

But PM Lee said it was the government agency’s responsibility to investigate and take action if necessary.

He pointed out that the Aljunied GRC and Punggol East SMC town councils were running healthy surpluses before they were amalgamated into AHPETC, which then reported a deficit.

RICH

Meanwhile, AHPETC’s former managing agent, FM Solutions and Services (FMSS), went from nothing into a rich company, said PM Lee.

“In such a situation, can you say that it’s not my business? I think voters should be able to tell it’s not so simple,” he added.

WP has said that AHPETC’s latest annual report, filed on Monday, shows the town council had made a $1.7 million surplus if the $7.2 million operating grant withheld by MND is factored in.

The report was also filed on time – an improvement over the filing of the previous year’s report that was 10 months overdue.

Asked if AHPETC would become a significant issue in this General Election, Ms Lim said earlier: “I’m sure the PAP wants to make it an issue.”

BY THE numbers

Total number of voters 2,460,977

Total candidates 181 29 in SMCs and 152 in GRCs

Parliamentary seats 89 with 9 NMP and up to 9 NCMP seats available

Number of political parties contesting 9 (PAP, WP, SPP, SDP, NSP, SDA, RP, SingFirst, PPP)

Source: www.tnp.sg

September 2, 2015
Workers’ Party, PAP, To Launch Rally Tonight In Radin Mas And Hougang SMC

Poised at what the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) deems a critical juncture in its history, the Republic yesterday entered what will be its most intensely fought elections ever, with a record 181 candidates vying for 89 seats in Parliament.

After nominations were closed at the stroke of noon, the record books had a new entry: All 16 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and 13 Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs) were contested, the first time since Singapore’s independence that an election will see a battle in every ward.

Yet, few surprises were sprung on a day that has traditionally thrown up its fair share. Almost everything went according to script, save for an independent candidate who appeared out of the blue to throw his hat into the ring, and in the process help the 2015 GE to notch another entry into the books: It will see the most multi-cornered fights in almost a quarter of a century, with the MacPherson, Radin Mas and Bukit Batok single-seat wards all seeing three-way contests.

Despite the tumult caused within the National Solidarity Party by its decision to go head-to-head with the Workers’ Party and the PAP in MacPherson — which led to the resignation of its head, Ms Hazel Poa, and a subsequent reversal by central executive committee member Steve Chia, who entered the ring, only to withdraw his candidacy later — the NSP stuck to its guns and entered the fray.

At Radin Mas SMC, the fight will be between the PAP, the Reform Party and independent candidate Han Hui Hui, an activist who had previously made headlines for her protests against the Central Provident Fund.

While private-car driver Shirwin Eu had his hopes of standing in the GE dashed after he failed to garner the required signatures, Mr Samir Salim Neji, 45 — who was previously virtually unheard of — turned up at Keming Primary School and successfully filed his papers to contest in Bukit Batok SMC.

Mr Samir, the managing director of business planning software company Anaplan Asia Pacific, will go up against PAP’s David Ong and Singapore Democratic Party candidate Sadasivam Veriyah. Adding that he stands for “more happiness and less stress”, Mr Samir told reporters that he wants to turn Bukit Batok into a “start-up village”.

At the eight other Nomination Centres across the island, there was little drama, with party supporters — who gathered as early as 8am before making their way to the centres with the candidates — in good voice and spirits despite the hot sun, notwithstanding the jeering at some of the candidates from sections of the crowd.

While the support was fiercely partisan, the mood was mostly benign and friendly — and this extended to the halls, where candidates were busy making sure their papers were in order.

Two PAP candidates, Mr S Iswaran and Ms Grace Fu, alerted their opponents to mistakes in their forms, helping them avoid disqualification. In return, Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam and SDP candidate Jaslyn Go showed appreciation for the gesture, even as they downplayed the significance of the errors.

With the battle joined, rallies will begin tonight, with the PAP and WP getting off the blocks in Radin Mas and Hougang, respectively.

Over the next eight days, rallies could be held at 46 rally sites — comprising one for each SMC, two for each GRC and a lunchtime rally venue in the Central Business District — across the island, before Cooling-Off Day puts the brakes on campaigning and voting takes place on Sept 11.

The WP has indicated that it plans to hold a rally every night over the campaigning period.

Yesterday, hours after the morning frenzy at the Nomination Centres ended, political parties began sending their representatives to apply for permits for the sites. These included supporters of Singapore People’s Party Mountbatten candidate Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, PAP grassroots volunteers for Marine Parade GRC and Potong Pasir SMC, and a group of WP supporters representing teams from various constituencies.

In an advisory issued yesterday, the police strongly encouraged people to take public transport to the rally sites, given the large crowds expected. It added that motorists travelling near the rallies should be prepared for traffic diversions or lane closures. Real-time updates on the traffic situation will be broadcast on radio.

The police also sought the cooperation of supporters and members of the public to assemble at, and disperse from, the rally sites in an orderly manner. It issued a reminder that the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones is prohibited for public safety reasons, and added that police officers will be deployed at the rally sites to maintain law and order.

Source: www.todayonline.com

September 2, 2015