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GE: WP defends Chen Show Mao’s commitment

GE: WP defends Chen Show Mao’s commitment

 

Chen Show Mao from Workers' Party

SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party said its candidate Chen Show Mao has enough commitment and local connection, having attended schools here and done National Service as an Infantry Officer.

WP chairman Sylvia Lim was responding to a forum letter from Education Minister and PAP organising secretary, Dr Ng Eng Hen — questioning Mr Chen’s commitment and motivations.

She added that Mr Chen’s parents have been here since 1972, and he has kept in touch with Singapore, coming back four to five times a year.

She said: " For example, he’s serving on the SMU Law School advisory board. So since 2007, four years ago till now, he’s been in touch with WP, our activities and also coming back and learning more about how he can contribute.

" He’s also made known to the public that his wife and children will be moving back permanently to Singapore with him and that he intends to carry on his political work in Singapore regardless of the outcome of the GE."

Ms Lim also responded to the PAP’s Indranee Rajah’s criticism of the WP’s vision of a first world parliament.

She said: " She mentioned that we said that our vision of a first world parliament is not modelled after any particular country and she finds it astonishing. But I am surprised that she finds it astonishing.

" The PAP itself has always claimed itself to be a first world government and I do not believe they claim to model themselves after any particular government of a developed country.

" In fact, they like to claim that they would be a model for others to follow. So similarly for (the) Workers’ Party, our vision of a first world parliament, we’ve explained in detail, is one where we have (an) opposition party performing a robust check function in the House itself.

" And it doesn’t have to be similar to any other country’s parliament, so long as it works for Singapore and it is effective for accountability, I think that’s the most important thing."

Ms Lim added that the Workers’ Party has always said it puts national interest before the party’s.

" I mean Ms Rajah mentions that she doesn’t think it’s possible for any opposition party to act other than in their own party’s interest. But let’s not forget that the People’s Action Party was once an opposition before, so is she saying that at that time, the PAP also did not act in the national interest?"

When asked about the timing of the letters from the PAP, she said: " I think they are looking towards the campaign and perhaps how Singaporeans might support the Workers’ Party or otherwise. So they would want to shape public opinion in their own fashion.

" But I think it’s important for Singaporeans to look at the facts and look at our candidates in terms of what they have been doing and how they’ve been connected to Singapore and look at the reality rather than the rhetoric."

— CNA/ac/al

GE: WP confirms it will contest 4 GRCs, 4 SMCs

GE: WP confirms it will contest 4 GRCs, 4 SMCs

 

Workers' Party

SINGAPORE : The Workers’ Party (WP) has confirmed that it will contest in four Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and four Single Member Constituencies (SMC), said its chairman Sylvia Lim.

The GRCs are: Aljunied, East Coast, Moulmein—Kallang and Nee Soon, and the SMCs are Hougang, Joo Chiat, Punggol—East and Sengkang West.

Its first batch of GE candidates will be introduced on Wednesday.

The Workers’ Party, which has been keeping its cards close to its chest, confirmed that it will formally introduce its candidates over the next few days.

Said Ms Lim: " Certainly we welcome any further questions from the media about the candidates — why they came forward, why they joined the Workers’ Party and so on. We believe there will be more than enough information for the public to make up their minds about the Workers’ Party.

" We will probably start introducing our candidates starting from Wednesday, and exactly which candidates will stand in which SMC or which GRC, that will be confirmed on Nomination Day."

Ms Lim also responded to comments by Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is also Organising Secretary of Special Duties in the People’s Action Party (PAP), and Ms Indranee Rajah, Deputy Speaker and Tanjong Pagar GRC MP.

In a letter to The Straits Times Forum on Tuesday, Mr Ng had questioned if WP candidate, Mr Chen Show Mao, can identify with the aspirations of Singaporean.

Ms Lim said Mr Chen’s commitment to Singapore is solid, tracing back to when he did his National Service when he was a permanent resident, continuing to maintain family ties here as well, as he plans to move back to Singapore permanently with his family, whether or not he wins in the General Election (GE).

" I think it’s important for Singaporeans to look at the facts and look at our candidates, in terms of what they have been doing and how they’ve been connected to Singapore, and look at the reality rather than the rhetoric in that sense," said Ms Lim.

She also responded to Ms Rajah’s criticism that the Workers’ Party’s vision of a First World Parliament is not modelled after any particular country, Ms Lim said the PAP itself has always claimed to be a first world government and does not model itself after any particular developed country.

Said Ms Lim: " Our vision of a First World Parliament, being explained in detail, is one where we have opposition party performing a robust check and function in the House itself. And it doesn’t have to be similar to any other country’s parliament in that sense, as long as it works for Singapore and it is effective for accountability, that’s the most important thing.

" Ms Rajah mentions that she doesn’t think it’s possible for any other opposition party to act other than in their own partisan interests, but let’s not forget that the People’s Action Party was once in opposition before. So is she saying that at that time the PAP also did not act in the national interest?"

— CNA/ls/al

Life experience doesn’t define competence

Letter from Marcus Tan

Sin gap oreans have recently

questioned the ability of politicians to relate to the average citizen’s situation, on televised political forums and online.

While I agree that sharing similar life experiences can help policy-makers relate to ordinary Singaporeans, I feel that it does not make the former any less competent if they do not have this.

The fact that he does not suffer from the same ailments as his patients would not diminish a good doctor’s ability to understand, diagnose and treat them. A competent Member of Parliament or political leader should be able to empathise with the people and provide assistance, regardless of his or her personal lifestyle.

I appreciate the fact that, while it is difficult to address every individual’s problem, our “doctors” are trying their best to prescribe “broad-spectrum antibiotics” such as Workfare and MediShield, to help alleviate some of the conditions faced by the less fortunate.

There are those — like banker and political candidate Gan Thiam Poh — who have had their fair share of hardships in life which motivated them to help others, and this will stand the people in good stead when policies are crafted.

Ultimately, the problems each person faces and how they are affected are as unique as the individual himself, and it would be impossible for anyone else to perfectly relate to their quagmire.

But it is our responsibility to elect productive, compassionate policymakers who can provide the best solutions for as many citizens as possible, so that there may be a better Singapore.

What matters more than age ...

Letter from Kwan Jin Yao

I refer to the report, “The grassroots edge, with youth on its side” (April 15). Fielding  a team of relatively young candidates — many in their 20s and 30s — seems like a calculated decision on the part of the People’s Action Party (PAP). A new generation of Singaporeans will have the opportunity to express their political sentiments at the polling booth. Younger political candidates, with their exposure to and use of social media and online channels, may be able to reach out and relate to their younger constituents more effectively.

Nevertheless, has too much emphasis been placed on the age and youth of the election hopefuls, instead of allowing for more holistic evaluations of their intrinsic motivations, policy positions and on-the-ground sensitivities?

As a young Singaporean and stakeholder, I would not be inclined to vote for a politician on the basis of his age per se.

Therefore, if age does not matter, what does?

First, constituents would be betteracquainted with individuals who have been consistently walking the ground and seizing these opportunities to comprehend bread-and-butter concerns or community issues. Second, as potential parliamentarians, candidates should pro-actively make their voices heard. Some candidates have started to utilise online platforms to offer commentaries on substantive policy issues — such as improving healthcare for the elderly or improving the quality of education — though the reviews online have been mixed. Young Singaporeans, with their interest and access to information, have constantly reflected the desire to be engaged in discussions on socio-economic issues that matter.

Finally, individual candidates must not be afraid to respond to questions or calls for clarification on matters related to their

lives or personal decisions: Such as why join politics if the grassroots work they have been doing can be equally fulfilling, or whether the completion of National Service matters for a political candidate.

These questions matter and Singaporeans have the right to know.

Do parents who fight to get their kids into good schools or hire costly tutors get what they pay for?

MOTOKO RICH

First there was Ms Amy Chua, the Yale law professor and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, who sent legions of parents into a tizzy with her exacting standards for piano practice and prohibitions against sleepovers.Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids: Why Being a Great Parent is Less Work and More Fun Than You Think was published last Tuesday. In it, he argues that parenting hardly matters and that we should just let our children watch more television and play video games. With parenting made so easy, he says, we should go ahead and have more children.

Now comes Professor Bryan Caplan, an economist at George Mason University whose book

It is the age-old nature-or-nurture debate.

Ms Chua clearly favours the nurture side of the equation (if her heavy-handed approach could be described as “nurturing”).

Prof Caplan, who has already been dubbed the “Un-Tiger Mom”, writes: “While healthy, smart, happy, successful, virtuous parents tend to have matching offspring, the reason is largely nature, not nurture.”

Likewise, a Certificate of the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee has to be produced by candidates in a GRC which is designated as a constituency that must have at least one candidate belonging to the Indian or other minority community.— The President has appointed members of two key committees that will certify if minority candidates in the coming General Election (GE) belong to their respective communities.