I will make Potong Pasir a better place to live in: Sitoh

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Published at 9:36 am, May 10, 2011

It has been two days since the election results were announced but the split is still palpable in Potong Pasir.

And yesterday, the new Member of Parliament Sitoh Yih Pin (picture) for the constituency called on residents to “remain calm” as he promised to make it a “better place to live in” within the next five years.

In reply to questions about the group of residents who still think a by-election is possible, Mr Sitoh told reporters: “An election has already been held in accordance with the constitution and the laws of Singapore.

“For the more than 50 per cent that supported me, I’m grateful and I’ll fulfil all our promises. For those that didn’t support me, the slightly less than 50 per cent, I appeal to you – please remain calm and give us a chance.”

A group of residents have been collecting signatures since Sunday night to petition against the result – a victory for Mr Sitoh and the People’s Action Party over Singapore People’s Party candidate Lina Chiam, by 114 votes. Continue reading ‘I will make Potong Pasir a better place to live in: Sitoh’


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Fine those who didn’t vote

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Published at 9:30 am, May 10, 2011
Letter from Tan Wee Tong

THE 2011 General Election saw 93 per cent of voters exercising their rights in our compulsory voting system.

In fact, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Singapore scores very well in terms of voter turnout, along with other compulsory voting countries like Australia and Belgium.

However, absentee voters may have had a greater repercussion in this watershed election.

I wonder why 153,412 Singaporeans registered did not turn up to vote.

Their absence may have had significant implication for the final outcome.

For example, in Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency (SMC), the winning margin was 114 votes.

Where were the 1,495 absentee electors who could have granted Mr Sitoh Yih Pin a better mandate or helped Mrs Lina Chiam retain the Singapore People’s Party’s seat?

Similarly, 3,191 electors were missing in Joo Chiat SMC where a difference of 382 votes settled the outcome.

Voting is a duty of every citizen as it represents our trust in whom we choose to govern us.

We are also casting our votes for future generations. Voting gives affirmation to good policies and grants the government its rightful mandate.

Hence, like National Service obligation, we should penalise vote “defaulters”.

On top of the fact that they will be struck off the electoral register, I would propose a fine of S$1,000 on all citizens who did not vote, other than those who are travelling or working overseas, hospitalised, gravely ill, intellectually challenged or have other special extenuating circumstances.


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‘Wild card’ proposal is not democratic

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Published at 9:25 am, May 10, 2011
Letter from Mohamed Fairoz Bin Shariff

I REFER to the letter by Mr Ng Ya Ken, “Why lose the losers?” (May 9). He suggested that we modify the existing election system “to allow a ‘wild card’ window in a General Election so that a second chance could be provided for certain losing candidates to have another contest immediately after”.

I am discomfited by such a proposal which goes against the spirit of democracy and the will of the people.

If the voters of a constituency feel their voice is not being represented by an incumbent, then he or she will be voted out.

The people would have spoken and yet is their voice to be ignored such that the candidate can live to fight another day in another constituency?

I agree with Mr Ng that our election system needs to be modified.

The better solution is for the Group Representation Constituency system to be abolished. Constituents have to vote in a team of candidates and we end up having good ministers being voted out.

An Single Member Constituency (SMC) system would ensure individual candidates get into Parliament based on their own capabilities.

The fact that Mr Michael Palmer, a candidate from a minority community, has been elected as MP for Punggol East goes to show that the minority community will not lose out if Singapore reverts to an all-SMC system.


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They forget, and so they ask for more

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Published at 9:23 am, May 10, 2011
Letter from Lewis Kwong

WHY is it that Singapore voters “cannot remember”, as the Minister Mentor says?

The bulk of netizens’ comments over the past 10 days have been critical of the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Government which they blame for everything from high costs to road congestion and the influx of foreigners.

There are issues on which I don’t agree with the PAP, nor am I a party member. But I have to be fair – this is a good Government, if you compare it with many of our neighbours. Which Government has provided 85 per cent of the population with subsidised public housing? Or provided efficient public transport without high state subsidies?

Which government gives you subsidised upgrading? Not to mention a safe environment and good education system? But the netizens cannot remember – even though most of them are beneficiaries of these policies.

They could have been living in places where there is high unemployment and no meaningful jobs available; where they have to walk hours to get to school, if they could afford the school fees; where young couples struggle for years unable to find an affordable home to raise a family. Continue reading ‘They forget, and so they ask for more’


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I remember – and I’m grateful

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Published at 9:20 am, May 10, 2011
Letter from Jasmine Chua

AS A stay-at-home mother for the past 10 years, I have no interest in politics. But because of all the General Election hype, with new and young candidates out in force, it captured my attention. I told my husband that this GE has been an eye-opener.

The words used by the Opposition parties made me feel that there are many people out there who seem ungrateful. I am not some fervent People’s Action Party supporter but I am always grateful that I live in such an organised country. I appreciate the Government’s effort to make this a nice place to live in.

No policy will ever benefit everybody but someone’s life will be made better. Everyone seems to be lamenting, however, the bad that has happened to them – the high cost of living, no flats for newly-weds, and so on.

In my opinion, one’s standard of living is shaped by one’s own expectations. For instance: Do we need a car? An expensive phone? Why is the flat on offer so far from town? Then they complain that they cannot get married because they have no place to stay. Continue reading ‘I remember – and I’m grateful’


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A General Election like no other

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Published at 8:59 am, May 10, 2011

SINGAPORE – The recently-concluded General Election (GE) was historic on many fronts – including the level of contest and the Opposition’s breakthrough in winning a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) – and, for some candidates, the campaigning was just as memorable.

People’s Action Party (PAP) backbencher Charles Chong, who had previously been a veteran of five elections, won his sixth by a sliver with about 51 per cent of the votes in Joo Chiat Single Member Constituency – and he reckoned that voters this time around were more questioning and read up more on the candidates and their parties.

One voter, for example, pressed Mr Chong on past Government decisions, such as why Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises sex between men, was not repealed. Ironically, Mr Chong was one of three PAP Members of Parliament who were in favour of a repeal in 2007.

After discussing the issue at some length, Mr Chong said he felt a measure of “success” when the constituent indicated he would “spoil” his vote, rather than vote for the Opposition.

“The party brand name did not necessarily work … for some of them, I had to work harder,” said Mr Chong.
Continue reading ‘A General Election like no other’


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Tin Pei Ling gets down to work at first MPS

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Published at 8:49 am, May 10, 2011

SINGAPORE – Newly-elected Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling, who was subjected to intense criticism online in the run-up to the polls, held her first Meet-the-People Session (MPS) yesterday.

Ms Tin, 27, told reporters that the caseload in MacPherson, the ward she is helming, was higher than when she was helping out previously in Ulu Pandan. But having had a feel of the broad-ranging cases in MacPherson after shadowing former MP Matthias Yao for about a month, Ms Tin said she was confident about working with the residents in MacPherson.

Many of those who turned up were low-income families seeking financial assistance and help to secure rental flats, said Ms Tin, one of the five People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs in Marine Parade GRC.

Madam Maimunah Jaffar told MediaCorp: “I came to ask for a rental flat, on behalf of my mum, then for me. I’m very confident that she can help the residents here.”

Another resident Meera Manja said: “Personally I think she’s okay. We expect her to help us, who are needy.”

On Sunday, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, the anchor minister for the GRC, acknowledged that sentiment around Ms Tin had affected the PAP vote in the GRC. However, he added that he had no doubts that Singapore’s youngest MP in three decades could do the job.

Earlier, before her MPS session, Ms Tin told reporters that more needed to be done to engage the young and to listen to what they had to say – through face-to-face interaction and the use of social media.

When asked how the PAP could listen more to the ground, especially the youth, Ms Tin said: “We need to empower them by giving them space as well as the resources for them to do so.

“I think this is something we’ve been doing but we can do it better, to continue to reach out to more young people. And not just student leaders but down to every young resident.”


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Why lose the losers?

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Published at 5:34 pm, May 9, 2011
Letter from Ng Ya Ken

A question many Singaporeans might have asked yesterday morning when they found out that the People’s Action Party (PAP) team led by Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo had lost in the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) contest was: Why didn’t the PAP change the game plan such as putting George Yeo, Lim Hwee Hua and Zainul Adidin Rasheed in another GRC?

In any election system, there is no guarantee that the best men or women would always win. However, it is a great loss to the nation when we lose experienced and capable ministers like the above three in a General Election (GE).

With this experience, it is time that we modify and improve our existing election system and approach. One way is allowing a “wild card” window in a GE so that a second chance could be provided for certain losing candidates to have another contest immediately after the GE

We could set aside one GRC not to be contested during a GE. The Ruling Party could place any of their losing candidates for this empty GRC and invite the best losing GRC team from the Opposition to contest.


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Marine Parade could not avoid ‘sea change’ in S’pore’s political landscape

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Published at 5:33 pm, May 9, 2011

SINGAPORE – Despite predictions the People’s Action Party (PAP) could see its share of the votes erode, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had expected Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) to at least buck the trend.

But support dipped at the polls on Saturday, when only 56.65 per cent of the votes were cast in his team’s favour, prompting Mr Goh to acknowledge they had been unable to duck the “sea change in the political landscape” that had swept the nation.

He had expected a bigger margin of victory and said that, apart from the electorate’s clamour for more alternative voices in Parliament, local and national issues weighed in as well.

Speaking to reporters mid-way through his team’s victory parade in the ward yesterday, Mr Goh also admitted that Ms Tin Pei Ling, 27, the PAP’s youngest candidate, and the National Solidarity Party’s Ms Nicole Seah, 24, were factors in the outcome of the Marine Parade results.

But he defended Ms Tin and said she has made a connection with segments of residents in MacPherson under her watch that will help her grow to become an effective Member of Parliament (MP).
Continue reading ‘Marine Parade could not avoid ‘sea change’ in S’pore’s political landscape’


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Why they made a difficult choice

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Published at 5:26 pm, May 9, 2011

SINGAPORE – She has lived in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) for over 20 years and considered herself a staunch People’s Action Party (PAP) supporter.

But watching her son struggle with the rising cost of living and finding affordable housing for his family, a 52-year-old retiree felt she needed a voice that would speak up for lower-income families like her own in Parliament. “Us sandwiched classes, who speaks up for us? The PAP is good but they have not done well with costs … things are expensive but wages are not keeping up,” she said.

Hence, she made the “difficult” decision to vote for the Workers’ Party (WP) on Polling Day on Saturday, she told Today. “They have a good team and I believe in the things they want to accomplish, like having more alternative voices in Parliament,” said the woman, who had voted for the PAP in previous parliamentary elections.

In interviews with Aljunied constituents the day after Polling Day, reasons like the woman’s cropped up as residents – some of whom have lived in the constituency for nearly 30 years – shared why they thought the WP emerged victorious.

Some had wrestled with their decision, one saying he was in two minds even as he approached the polling booth with his ballot.

Continue reading ‘Why they made a difficult choice’


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