Straits Times: WP targets youth during weekend walkabout

YOUTH BRIGADE: WP's Mr Yaw (centre) leads a team, including candidate Lee Wai Leng (on his left), on a walkabout in Orchard Road.

THE Workers' Party (WP) yesterday launched its first major event since the General Election by making its presence felt to a core group of future voters - young people.

It held a youth outreach programme at several places, including Orchard Road, handing out pamphlets to mark Youth Day.

The team of about 20 WP members and volunteers began their day at 7.30am in Hougang, then moved to other constituencies such as Aljunied and Ang Mo Kio GRCs.

Their final destination was Orchard Road, where they set up their party banner outside Takashimaya Shopping Centre and gave out pamphlets - with information about the party printed - to throngs of young people passing by.

The group was led by IT consultant Yaw Shin Leong, 30, who was the leader of the young WP team which contested in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Ang Mo Kio GRC in the election.

He told The Straits Times this was the first time such a youth-oriented activity had been organised, and said there would be more in the months ahead.

"This platform allows us to connect with voters of similar age, who speak the same language and share the same concerns," he said.

"They will form a big part of the electorate in the next election, and our work begins now. We are moving into first gear."

KEN KWEK