Channel NewsAsia: No confirmation whether Workers' Party contesting in Ang Mo Kio GRC

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By May Wong/Farah Abdul Rahim

SINGAPORE : There is no confirmation as yet whether the Workers' Party is contesting in the Ang Mo Kio GRC, but its members were seen in the constituency on Sunday morning.

When asked of this, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says he welcomes the challenge from the Workers' Party.

The Workers' Party has indicated that Ang Mo Kio GRC is one of its targeted areas in this coming General Election.

Its party member Yaw Shin Leong says it will not be surprising if the party decides to contest in this GRC.

However, he says taking on a GRC is no mean feat, as it requires a lot of planning and availability of resources.

Mr Yaw says: "The party leadership will decide. If it's in the name of national interest, to come here and if the Workers' Party leadership should decide upon that, my team mates and myself are prepared, we are prepared to be fielded."

The Ang Mo Kio GRC is under the PAP's team, headed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Mr Lee, who was in Ang Mo Kio meeting residents there, was asked if he knew the Workers' Party was doing a walk-about in his constituency.

He says: "I hope they come, they said they will come the last time but nothing happened, so this time I hear the thunder and I look forward to seeing the rain."

Apart from Ang Mo Kio GRC, the Workers' Party has said it is eyeing three other GRCs and three single-seat constituencies. - CNA/de

Sunday Times: WP: Opposition spurs PAP to give upgrading

By Zakir Hussain

VOTE for the opposition and you can still get upgrading.

That is the line from a Workers' Party (WP) member tipped to stand in East Coast GRC in the coming general election.

Senior bank manager Eric Tan, 51, argues that the opposition provides competition so the People's Action Party has to improve estates, and come up with programmes to help low-wage workers.

He said: 'Because we walk the ground, you are the beneficiaries and we are happy that you are the beneficiaries.'

He was speaking to reporters at a walkabout in Bedok South yesterday afternoon with three other prospective WP candidates in East Coast GRC.

They are: Mr Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, 66, a technician; Mr Brandon Siow, 31, an account manager; and lawyer Chia Ti Lik, 33.

While all have been on frequent visits to the GRC of late, meeting residents and handing out name cards, they were coy when asked to confirm if they would contest there, saying it was up to the party to decide.

According to the WP website, the party has made at least nine visits to the GRC since last December.

On their chances in East Coast, Mr Abdul Rahim said: 'Before, people were scared of openly supporting the opposition. Now, people feel a little more comfortable supporting the opposition, that is an advantage for us.'

However, retired crane operator Ares Abdul Gani, 55, thought otherwise.

He said: 'Although we have not voted in the past two elections, the estate has improved a lot recently and we have lifts on every floor. I think they will have a tough time.'