SINGAPORE – In his maiden Meet-the-People session (MPS) at Hougang Single Member Constituency, residents came not only from Hougang but from the neighbouring Aljunied Group Representation Constituency as well to meet Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong.
There could be some sharing of resources between the two constituencies, said Mr Yaw, who had began his maiden MPS at Hougang Avenue 5 half-an-hour earlier.
“It’s still early days, handover must be done in a systematic way. I believe the team will come up with procedures because it’s no longer just about Hougang SMC,” said Mr Yaw, who saw some 60 residents last night. “We are talking about the greater entity of Aljunied GRC as well. We need to sit down collectively to ensure a more efficient town council operation that will benefit constituents.” Continue reading ‘MP Yaw starts working the ground’
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’
SINGAPORE – There was no “secret formula” to securing 64.8 per cent of the votes at Hougang single-member constituency, claimed the Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament-elect Yaw Shin Leong yesterday.
Instead, Mr Yaw, 34, credited the strong foundation which his predecessor and mentor WP chief Low Thia Khiang had created before he vacated the seat to contest in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC). “I merely deepened the foundation and strengthened the foundation,” said Mr Yaw.
Both men won their respective battles to secure six seats for the Opposition in Saturday’s General Election.
His winning margin over People’s Action Party (PAP) hopeful Desmond Choo was even better than Mr Low’s performance in the 2006 General Election.
Continue reading ‘WP seen as ‘rational, responsible’: WP’s Low’
SINGAPORE – In his first, albeit indirect, comments about the results of Saturday’s General Election, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said at a community event in Tanglin Halt last night that “2011 has seen a generation that does not remember from whence we came, but that is to be expected. But I do, and those amongst you who are over 50 will remember”.
He also cautioned: “Do not believe that the Singapore flight can be on auto-pilot. We will run into storms, we will run into all kinds of emergencies and we must have good pilots on board.” The Minister Mentor was speaking to residents in Queenstown to celebrate the completion of several pavilions at a community plaza.
Earlier, the Minister Mentor, accompanied by his five-member team and Radin Mas MP-elect Sam Tan, had toured Tanjong Pagar GRC for almost two hours on an open-top bus to thank voters for their support (picture). The People’s Action Party (PAP) team in Tanjong Pagar was returned unopposed, while Mr Tan won the contest in Radin Mas with more than 67 per cent of the vote.
Speaking to the media, Mr Lee was asked about the swing in support, which saw the PAP secure 60.1 per cent of the vote, down from the 66.6 per cent it garnered in 2006 and the lowest by the party ever.
“I’m sure the Prime Minister and his team would sit down carefully and analyse the reasons and adapt our policies. I can’t say more. I’m not the Prime Minister,” said Mr Lee.
Asked by a Berita Harian reporter whether Mr Lee’s comments had affected the party’s votes, Mr Lee said that he did not think so.
Continue reading ‘A generation that does not remember: MM’
