Citing the desire to spend more time with their loved ones, two People’s Action Party (PAP) backbenchers from the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency — including one who is known for not shying away from controversial topics — will be stepping down.
Speaking at a press conference to unveil the PAP candidates for the coming General Election, Mr Zainudin Nordin, 52, who entered politics in 2001, and Mr Hri Kumar Nair, 49, who had served two terms in office, said they will be making way for new blood.
Mr Hri Kumar said that he had to relook his priorities after his wife was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012 and underwent chemotherapy.
While she is “doing well” currently, Mr Hri Kumar noted that the condition is something that would not go away. “(Her illness) has sort of propelled me to rethink how I would spend my time and what my priorities are,” he said.
He also hopes to have more time with his eight-year-old daughter. “She’s a great little girl, I’m looking forward to spending more time at home annoying her, that’s what she accuses me again all the time,” he joked.
Recounting his time in office, he said he was glad to have had the opportunity to raise issues in Parliament. “I’ve never held back, I think the ministers don’t always agree with me, but they have always respected my right to speak up and to say what I want to say, I think that’s important,” he added.
Mr Hri Kumar, who is currently the chairman of Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council, also heads the Government Parliamentary Committees for law and home affairs.
Speaking to TODAY, Mr Hri Kumar said he was proud that during his tenure as an MP, he did not shun from speaking about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, for instance, and voicing his disagreement with the National Library Board’s decision to pulp three children’s books deemed to contravene pro-family values.
Among other things, he had also suggested the idea of a National Defence tax on permanent residents and foreigners, and abolishing the Primary School Leaving Examination.
“But I’m not afraid of saying these things and asking people to debate and consider them,” he said.
For Mr Zainudin, who will also be stepping down as the president of the Football Association of Singapore later this year, the “time is right” for him to focus on his family, he said.
The former Mayor of the Central Community Development Council added that as an MP, there would always be a desire to do more. Nevertheless, he felt he has contributed by speaking up for low-wage workers. He also recalled that in his maiden Parliamentary speech, he spoke about the need for the Government to do more in early childhood education.
At the municipal level, Mr Zainudin said his proudest project was setting up the Bishan Active Park which has since become “one of the most iconic community parks in Singapore”.
On what he would miss about being a politician, he cited meeting residents and helping them.
“Helping people has never been an easy journey. We always try our best … the fond memories are about the difficult things you do,” he said.
Source: www.todayonline.com
