Weekend TODAY: Near D-Day, East Coast candidates emphasise different issues

GE2006

DERRICK A PAULO
derrick@newstoday.com.sg

THE final fusillade between the People's Action Party (PAP) and the Workers' Party (WP) teams in East Coast was fired on Friday as campaigning drew to a close.

Incumbent anchor Minister S Jayakumar issued his third press statement to counter his opponents' comments about upgrading in the area, whose boundaries have shifted for this General Election.

The shifts have not inflated the PAP's figures on upgrading, which were given on Wednesday as 97 per cent, Professor Jayakumar told reporters after a lunchtime walkabout at Block 58 in Bedok.

He was responding to WP candidate Perry Tong, who spoke to Channel NewsAsia on Thursday and asked if the figure included new intended upgrading facilities.

In addition, he noted that 40 blocks from Kaki Bukit have been moved from East Coast to Marine Parade which, he said, have not been upgraded.

To this claim, Prof Jayakumar said that 90 per cent have been or are being upgraded. Under the new boundaries, close to 100 per cent of precincts would have been or will be upgraded.

The WP team has been arguing in its campaign that it is providing the spark for upgrading to be awarded to the constituency, and Mr Tong had highlighted Blocks 213 and 214, in particular, where there had been none - although these were earmarked in March for lift upgrading.

"Mr Tong now changes the subject. He asked lamely why 'there are no signs of impending commencement of works'. Anyone with common sense and (who is) in touch with the ground will know that lift upgrading cannot be done within a month," said Prof Jayakumar on Friday.

"They will collapse just like Mr Tong's and the WP's baseless claims."

With that, the back-and-forth came to a close between both parties. Mr Tong did not comment further on Prof Jayakumar's latest rebuttal but told reporters: "The only thing we can be accused of is that we have been consistent.

"Prior to, and at the beginning of our campaign, we said that we would start campaigning on municipal issues and move on to national issues. We've moved on to national issues; our opponents have remained stuck."

In its final day stumping for votes, the WP team for East Coast distributed to residents a one-page write up - which it had prepared independently of its party leadership - which touched on policy proposals relating to employment, transport and healthcare - but nothing on upgrading.

These were raised by candidates in its team during the election rallies and to the press, but "were not given the due coverage" due to "distractions", said team leader Chia Ti Lik.

Among the proposals is the provision of free bus services within the CBD area to reduce private vehicle usage and congestion - a concept taken from authorities in the American city of Portland, Oregon.

On the PAP side, Mr Raymond Lim - the second minister in its East Coast team - described the WP as a party that "promises the sky because it knows it never has to deliver".

"I think they've been a terrible disappointment. They said when the campaign started that they'd like to raise the level of debate, but what's clear is they've tried their best to lower it," said Mr Lim.

Weekend TODAY: An unusual contest in Ang Mo Kio

GE2006

For PM, it's a rare electoral test, for young WP team, an indication for the future

JASMINE YIN
jasmine.yin@newstoday.com.sg


YOUNG FACES: WP's Ang Mo Kio team member Lee Wai Leng (left) and team leader Yaw Shin Leong face a tough challenge on PM Lee's turf.

IT IS a foregone conclusion to many: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will emerge victorious at Ang Mo Kio GRC today - his first test at the polls since assuming the leadership in 2004.

Nevertheless, when the Workers' Party (WP) announced their intention to contest the People's Action Party stronghold, many sat up.

After all, it is not every election that the Prime Minister faces a challenge in his own ward - and by a mostly young and well-educated team, no less.

As the nine days of hustings drew to a close yesterday, however, some have been left wondering: Has the promising Ang Mo Kio GRC contest been reduced to a mere sideshow?

Not only has the battle in the 159,872-strong ward been overshadowed by the James Gomez saga, the WP team led by 30-year-old e-business analyst Yaw Shin
Leong has also been keeping a quiet profile.

This is despite analysts' initial predictions that the team would enjoy the exposure just by challenging the PM. It has been dismissed by Ang Mo Kio incumbent Inderjit Singh as a "token team"; the People's Action Party (PAP) also does not seem to think much of the competition.

PAP chairman Lim Boon Heng has set a target of "at least 80 per cent" for Mr Lee's six-man team.

When asked about that target during a community walkabout yesterday, Mr Lee laughed and said: "He sets very high targets. It's his job to set stretch targets and we try our best."

While he did not want to be drawn into giving a figure, Mr Lee had said last Friday that he would "try our best to make sure it costs them some money".

Candidates who get less than 12.5 per cent of the vote will lose their $13,500 deposit.

Calling many of his constituents his "old friends", Mr Lee said yesterday: "I think the voters are supporting us. We've got our message across to voters that this election is about the future and I think voters understand the people they choose will help them to win, help Singapore to win, to move forward."

But the WP team, with an average age of 32.5 years despite the inclusion of 52-year-old Gopal Krishnan, has made clear from the beginning that they never thought they would win the ward.

During the WP rally at Ang Mo Kio GRC on Thursday, Mr Yaw only urged voters to give his team a mandate of a "decent percentage" of votes.

Political analyst Ho Khai Leong, however, believes that the results from Ang Mo Kio GRC would be significant, as it marks the first time that "Mr Lee's constituency has been challenged".

"This is a constituency of great interest because the challengers are so young. Mr Lee has been talking about the concerns of the young and the post-65ers, so having a young group to challenge him certainly creates some spark there," he added.

Added political observer Seah Chiang Nee: "I think this is a learning curve for them. I don't think anyone or the WP is expecting them to perform miracles. As long as they go in, do the best that they can, work hard from it, I think it will augur well for the party."

The PAP team is also taking no chances despite its opponent's inexperience.

Said PAP MP Mr Inderjit Singh: "I think for each one of us, it's very important. We're fighting it as if it's the most important battle and the reason is because this is the Prime Minister's GRC and we want to score as high a percentage of the votes as possible.

"I think it's a very significant battle."

Weekend TODAY: WP candidates, including Gomez, are clean: Low

GE2006

LEE CHING WERN
chingwern@newstoday.com.sg


OOI BOON KEONG
Mr Low and Mr Gomez at a recent rally.

WORKERS' Party chief Low Thia Khiang said that it was under his instructions that his embattled candidate, Mr James Gomez had applied for the minority certificate.

Apart from accusing Mr Gomez of trying to "fix" the Elections Department by claiming that his certificate had gone missing, the People's Action Party has asked why he needed to apply for one if the plan was to field him in Aljunied GRC. The constituency requires only a Malay candidate to be fielded on a slate, not an Indian one.

"I had asked all WP's minority candidates to apply for one, in case of strategy issues," said Mr Low. "This is the reason why James went to apply for the cert. As this episode caused much distress to the Elections Department unwittingly, I asked James to apologise and this, he did."

Mr Gomez did not submit his form but initially accused the Elections Department of misplacing it.

He then said that he did not submit the form because he had been distracted by his busy schedule in the run-up to Nomination Day.

In his final rally before the polls, Mr Low asserted that he had "spoken at length with James and found no evidence to prove that he is dishonest in this context".

Hitting out at Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo for comparing Mr Gomez to a thief stealing at a supermarket, Mr Low said: "It is unfair for George to use the analogy of a thief on James. What has James stolen from the Elections Department?"

He went on to criticise the PAP for making personal attacks on WP candidates.

"Right from the onset of the campaign, I have instructed all our candidates not to make any personal attacks or baseless allegations against the PAP. I believe we must have a more civilised political culture and political engagement must be based on facts and debate and not namecalling," he said.

The past nine days of campaigning has reinforced his confidence in his candidates, said Mr Low.

"The PAP is unable to dig up any skeletons on our WP candidates. Why? Because there are none. They are clean," he said. - ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LIN YANQIN

Weekend TODAY: Not a one-man team

GE2006

Low says WP seeing renewal and campaign was good

VAL CHUA
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
val@newstoday.com.sg


WEE TECK HIAN
Mr Low Thia Khiang leading the Worker's Party members saying the Singapore Pledge at the end of the rally.

FOR so long, Workers' Party (WP) has been associated with a lone voice in Parliament - that of party chief Low Thia Khiang.

Yesterday, the veteran politician said that his party was on the cusp of a renewal, with more capable candidates ready to take over the baton.

"I'm 50 this year, I've gone through a long journey in politics. How many more years do I have to contest?" he told a large crowd at the Serangoon Stadium on Friday.

Admitting his own shortcomings, Mr Low, who is Chinese-educated, said: "I don't mind telling you this, I got F9 in English for my O and A levels."

But his Aljunied team, which is helmed by law lecturer Sylvia Lim, is a "mature and strong" team, filled with passionate and public-spirited candidates who are at the peak of their careers, he said.

"I strongly believe that if you vote this Aljunied team into Parliament, they will perform better than me," he said.

He again warned that no party - no matter how strong - was infallible and that what Singapore needs is an effective Opposition to counter the Government.

"The only way to make the Government account to you is through the elections. What the PAP is most afraid of is your vote," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Aljunied WP team did its last walkabout at Kovan market to garner support. The team, led by Mr Low, walked around the estate to shake hands and chat with residents, holding a press conference outside a fast-food chain. It was reflective of the no-fuss approach of WP, which is gunning for three GRCs and four Single-Member Constituencies, its largest candidacy since 1988.

Unfortunately, the party still has to deal with the James Gomez incident, which has nearly dominated the hustings this time around. Although the saga may be re-opened after the election, Mr Low's stand on the issue remains unchanged.

"I never avoided the issue. We have already apologised for the stress caused to the elections department. Do they have anything new to show? Any more convincing evidence?" he asked.

Through the campaign, WP also fired back with some shots on its own - urging the PAP to clarify the criteria for means testing for C-class hospital wards.

WP also brought up the use of lift upgrading to entice voters, which it termed as "pork-barrel politics".

Describing the overall impact of WP's campaign as "very good", Mr Low is dismissive of the effects of the Gomez incident and the $100 million upgrading carrot that the PAP has offered to Hougang voters.

"I don't think there is an impact. I believe that Singaporeans are intelligent enough and sophisticated enough to be able to judge themselves," he said on Friday.

Indeed, with the frenzied campaigning period over, Mr Low just wants voters to remember his party's slogan: "You have a Choice."

"If there is no support for WP in these elections, it could derail our renewal process and we may not be able to provide you with such a strong choice at the next elections," said the veteran politician on Friday night.

"Before you go to the polling stand, reflect on what kind of Singapore you want. Workers' Party is pro-Singapore and we work for the interest of Singapore, above the interests of the party," he said. - ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LIN YANQIN