Tag: Workers Party

An Aljunied GRC Resident On Life Under The Workers’ Party

Four years after votes were counted for Aljunied Group Representation Constituency on election night in 2011, I have yet to see the post-apocalyptic nightmare some had said my estate would soon be in.

As the first GRC to have ‘fallen’ to an opposition party, the Workers’ Party-run Aljunied was seen as the first real test of the opposition’s capability to govern, albeit on a smaller scale.

There has been a lot of news about the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol-East Town Council (AHPETC) recently, but in the Serangoon ward where I have stayed for 22 years, it is very much business as usual.

The garbage is still cleared, the chutes fumigated regularly, the unfortunate cockroaches that fail to escape the fumes are still removed from the side-walks within the day.

Coffee shop prices have risen, perhaps not as drastically as some other areas. My usual plate of chicken chop now costs $5.80 from $4.50 a decade ago but inflation is a fact of life everywhere.

In fact, if one were to ask me what the differences were between living in the Workers’ Party-run Aljunied and when my ward was under the People’s Action Party, I do not think I could give a satisfactory answer. Perhaps there were differences, but as a resident, my life has not been affected.

I have to put up with a new Build-to-order project next to my block, this on the somewhat tiny plot of land where dog owners used to gather on the weekends but it is an experience not uncommon in Singapore.

As a resident and dog-lover, I obviously wished the Housing Development Board could have chosen to build the project somewhere else. As a Singaporean, I realise it is necessary to ensure everyone has a place to call home.

I have emailed my Town Council several times, and each time someone would reply within a day and resolved the issues highlighted, such as the time I noticed a damaged external wall during a neighbour’s renovation works.

An upgrading of a nearby park was finished recently, and it now comes with a resurfaced basketball court and elderly-friendly facilities. And while I do not like the new paint scheme of my estate, it is just my personal preference.

As someone who does the occasional political commentary via Facebook, I do chance across comments regarding my GRC, usually supporting the establishment or the opposition incumbents.

I cannot identify with the ‘regret’ and ‘Aljunied residents have learnt their lesson’ camp, but neither can I attest to being on the Workers’ Party cheer leading squad.

I have seen my Member of Parliament, the WP chairman Sylvia Lim, around on several occasions, but I also have had the good fortune of not needing her assistance in most daily matters, and cannot describe any encounters with her beyond my professional job scope.

I saw my previous PAP MP, Lim Hwee Hwa, once when I was a young teenager and my ward was still part of the Marine Parade GRC.

Her supporters invited me down to shake her hand when I popped my head out of the window one Sunday morning. I declined, rather quickly, as I was in the middle of playing a game – as a 13-year-old then, politics didn’t interest me much. I remember someone gasping loudly when I said no.

I have been asked about the AHPETC saga and the council’s former managing agent, and the recent statement by the Ministry of National Development over the profits made by the said agent. My stand is simple – if there was wrongdoing, there should be a criminal investigation.

As it is, there is none, and the WP’s explanation to the residents suffices for now. Hougang MP Png Eng Huat even announced that AHPETC was back in the black, after compiling their annual report for 2014/2015.

Of course, there is also the matter of how the WP has performed in parliament, which is where most voters will expect their MPs to repay their trust and faith.

The WP’s ‘A team’ has stumbled along the way, such as Pritam Singh saying in parliament that he will only answer to Aljunied residents before checking if there were any present to actually demand an answer, but none at the level of what I would consider as political suicide. But which politician has not made a gaffe now and then?

The WP MPs have also argued against policies I am concerned over, such as the 6.9 million population target set out in the White Paper. Would I like to see more debate? Certainly, but with the party having just seven voting MPs out of 87 in parliament, I have learnt to tone down my expectations on such issues.

A common question I get asked, once people know which GRC I reside in, is whether I regret my GRC voting out former Foreign Minister George Yeo.

My answer is: had Yeo been fielded in a single seat contest, I do not believe he would have lost. The Aljunied residents did not vote for any single individual, but a team. For better or for worse, that is the nature of our unique GRC political system.

Life in Aljunied GRC under the WP has more or less been the same for me as before GE2011. I cannot speak for the capabilities of the other opposition parties, but considering the teething problems that arose from taking over a GRC, I would have to say the WP has done a decent job.

That alone, however, will not be enough to win my vote. What will swing it for me is what the candidates from WP or the ruling party standing this time around can bring to parliament, and focus on issues that have an impact on not just my estate or my GRC, but for Singapore and its citizens as well.

Both parties have unveiled their candidates for Aljunied, but it still feels premature to make a decision before Nomination Day and the rallies that follow. But my vote – and yours – counts so I will exercise that right as a resident in the GRC and a citizen wisely.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

September 1, 2015
Former AHPETC Managing Agent, FMSS, Issues Legal Letter To AHPETC, Claims It Is Owed $3.5 Million

The former managing agent of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) has sent a letter of demand saying the town council owes it more than $3.5 million.

The New Paper has learnt that the managing agent (MA), FM Solutions & Services (FMSS), sent the letter, dated July 20, through its lawyers, Netto and Magin.

This comes at a time when the Ministry of National Development is asking AHPETC whether it overpaid FMSS and, if so, how it plans to claim back public monies that allowed FMSS to make huge profits.

FMSS, which was incorporated soon after the Workers’ Party (WP) won Aljunied GRC in the 2011 General Election, was managing agent for AHPETC from July 15, 2011, to July 14 this year.

It claimed the amount was for money owed for services between April and July 14, when its contract with AHPETC expired.

Source: www.tnp.sg

August 31, 2015
Marriage Not On The Cards for Sylivia Lim And Quah Kim Song

Marriage is not on the cards for Workers’ Party (WP) chairman Sylvia Lim and her boyfriend of more than two years, retired football star Quah Kim Song, as they are happy with where the relationship is at.

“People do ask us often when we’re getting married. But we have discussed this and he’s already a grandfather and we’re enjoying our relationship as it is now, so we have no plans to get married at this point. We do not know if things will change but, at the moment, we’re quite happy with the way things are,” Ms Lim told The Straits Times.

Despite her increasingly busy schedule as the party kicks into high gear for the polls, they have been meeting every day.

“Kim Song is a very understanding person so he would try to get out of the way when I’ve got work to do,” said Ms Lim, 50, wearing a top emblazoned with football powerhouse Brazil’s flag during the interview.

They have even devised a way to see each other during the impending campaign, as Mr Quah will act as her driver, ferrying her to rally sites and other places.

Ms Lim also opened up in the exclusive interview about her wish to spend more time with her parents – who are in their late 70s – and her struggles with her father’s ill health due to strokes and dementia.

“He was always a great supporter of the WP when I joined it 14 years ago and he was so proud when I went on to be sworn in as a Non-Constituency MP in 2006,” she said, adding that both her parents attended the ceremony.

“But in between, before the 2011 General Election, he had two strokes so he was not able to come when I was elected.”

Parenthood is not something that Ms Lim will experience “as being a mother is past my age now” and she will not consider procedures such as in vitro fertilisation, she said.

“I suppose I have missed out on something very special – being a mother. But that was where my life took me so I just have to enjoy my life the way it is.”

But the topic of marriage and children is still regularly brought up to her, she said, recounting a “hilarious” incident at an event she attended. “Somebody came up to me and said ‘Zao sheng gui zi’ (may you have a son soon) and I looked at the person – ‘Do you know how old I am? What are you trying to tell me?’ ” she said with a laugh.

As for being a woman in politics, Ms Lim said: “I think my gender is just a fact. I don’t like to dwell on it in any way and I don’t expect people to treat me differently because I’m a woman or to judge me by different standards.”

Ms Lim was 36 when she joined politics. Looking back on that decision and her journey, she referred to a book by US public speaker Brene Brown titled Daring Greatly. “The fundamental message of that book is that sometimes we may be very self-critical and face criticism from others as well,” she said.

“But we should always remember there’s something to celebrate about the endeavour itself. And people who are prepared to come forward to be criticised should also sometimes cut ourselves some slack.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 31, 2015
Father Supports Yee Jenn Jong’s Decision To Join Opposition Despite Apprehension

When Mr Yee Jenn Jong joined the Workers’ Party (WP) shortly before the 2011 General Election (GE), his father was apprehensive and concerned about the possible repercussions. “He was worried that if I am in the Opposition, what will happen to me?” said Mr Yee, 50.

Mr Yee noted that part of his father’s apprehension stemmed from the fact that the 82-year-old — who was a Chinese teacher — had witnessed turbulent times when the Government was fighting the Communists.

Today, his father still has a slight reluctance but has left him to do what he wishes, said Mr Yee, joking that he is already 50 years old now.

Despite their disagreement over his decision to join the WP, Mr Yee said that during the 2011 GE hustings, his father took him around the neighbourhood to personally tell their neighbours to vote for him. “Though (my dad) was apprehensive … the touching thing is he still very supportive,” Mr Yee said.

That support has not wavered. Whenever matters concerning the WP hit the headlines, he would receive a phone call from his father. “When things get a bit ‘hot’, he calls me up and say ‘are you okay’? I’ve to assure him ‘don’t worry I am okay, dad’,” Mr Yee said.

Similarly, his wife has also overcome her initial apprehension and now follows him on his outreach activities. Their three children — aged between 16 and 21 — have also gotten involved: They are roped in as assistants when Mr Yee performs magic tricks during community events.

Recounting his experiences with his family members, Mr Yee said he hopes that more younger people will join the Opposition as the political space here gradually opens up.

He said: “This election to me is as much about the next generation of how Singapore Opposition should be … It is also about the SG100 of the Opposition.”

To that end, Mr Yee said he was heartened by the fact that for the coming General Election, the WP has managed to attract a crop of highly-qualified young candidates who are getting their hands dirty instead of just “complaining about the Government in coffee shops”.

On his parliamentary performance, Mr Yee stressed it is for the public to judge how he did and he did not want to take credit for any policy shifts.

Nevertheless, he was glad that some policy changes in early childhood education — including the expansion of the anchor operation scheme — were along the lines of suggestions that he had made in Parliament. He added that he was among the first MPs to seek amendments to laws to penalise culprits outside of Singapore who contribute to the haze problem. The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act was passed in Parliament last year.

Mr Yee said one of the things he has had to learn to deal with, as an Opposition figure, was “personal attacks” from members of the public.

“When I previously raised issues among friends and go to coffee shops to debate, I don’t get personal attacks. Now, there will be attacks from people who do not like you or the stand you are making … I will then try to improve on my speeches and ultimately, I hope people who disagree with me may see the merits to things I am proposing.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 31, 2015
Workers’ Party To Field Residents In Marine Parade GRC

The Workers’ Party (WP) team for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency could be banking on home ground advantage, as WP central executive council Yee Jenn Jong — who is expected to lead his party’s team there — revealed that the “majority” of the five-member slate are residing in the ward, and that he will be leading a team of new faces.

Speaking to TODAY during an interview last week, Mr Yee, 50, declined to say who his team-mates are, but he added that they have several years of grassroots experience, and the party has sought to ensure a balanced make-up, with people possessing legal, finance and operational expertise, which is required to run a town council, should the team get elected. “They are also people who are prepared to roll up their sleeves, go down to the ground and get things running,” said Mr Yee, adding that the line-up was decided via a “collective” process involving himself, the WP leadership and the potential candidates.

“When we got started, I already told them this is a very difficult campaign … Contesting against a former Prime Minister (Mr Goh Chok Tong, who is now Emeritus Senior Minister) and with Marine Parade considered a People’s Action Party (PAP) stronghold,” he said. “I believe if (the candidates) also did not sign up for this willingly, they might crack under the pressure.”

The WP has been formally introducing its new candidates since last Wednesday. Apart from announcing that its incumbents in Aljunied GRC and the Hougang and Punggol East single-seat wards will stay put and defend their turf, the opposition party is playing its cards close to its chest in terms of the line-ups for the other constituencies where it will be contesting.

Nevertheless, over the past weeks, some WP candidates — including Mr Yee — have been spotted regularly doing outreach activities in Marine Parade GRC. Apart from Mr Yee, the others are corporate lawyer He Ting Ru, 32, chocolate business owner Firuz Khan, 48, lawyer Terence Tan, 44 and banker Dylan Ng, 40. Among them, Mr Yee, Mr Khan and Mr Tan are living in Marine Parade GRC. Mr Yee is the only candidate among this group — should this turn out to be the WP’s final line-up for the constituency — who has contested in elections before.

Mr Yee, an entrepreneur running various education businesses, made his electoral debut in the 2011 General Election (GE) standing in the Joo Chiat Single-Member Constituency (SMC). Banking on his selling point as a “local boy made good”, Mr Yee — who has resided in Joo Chiat all his life, while his parents have lived there for more than five decades — garnered 49 per cent of the vote, losing by a narrow margin of 388 votes to the PAP’s seasoned campaigner Charles Chong. The result placed him among the “best losers”, and earned him a ticket to Parliament as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament.

For the coming GE, Joo Chiat has been absorbed into Marine Parade GRC under the redrawn electoral boundaries. Mr Yee had previously said that he had asked to remain in the GRC. On the difference between contesting in an SMC and leading a team in a GRC, Mr Yee said it is a different ball game altogether.

Apart from the obvious task of covering a bigger area, Mr Yee said the fact that he is the only one in the team with GE experience also meant that he felt a responsibility to help his team-mates avoid some of his campaigning mistakes from the previous election. For instance, in terms of engaging residents, he has learnt to condense his message so that voters can understand it within the small window of interaction.

He added: “Contesting in an SMC, you are very much the candidate managing yourself and the team of helpers. But now, I also have to keep my team members and a much larger team of volunteers motivated … taking on the leadership, inspirational and organisational role.”

Nevertheless, with his team members contributing their own expertise, Mr Yee said he has also learnt from them ways to engage residents and how to use social media. On his hopes for the coming elections, Mr Yee said: “I had a gentlemanly contest the previous time and would like to see the same for this round as well.”

Last week, Mr Goh likened opposition politicians to nomads who move from one place to another, without having any interest in the people’s welfare. As a parting shot, Mr Yee said: “I am no nomad, that’s why I am back.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 31, 2015