Straits Times: MP to ask Govt for $100m for Hougang

Application for upgrading package to go ahead despite what minister said, says Low

By Ken Kwek

HOUGANG MP Low Thia Khiang is going to ask the Ministry of National Development (MND) for the $100 million upgrading package for his ward that the People's Action Party had announced during the general election.

The Workers' Party chief told The Straits Times last night that he will do so, despite National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan's recent statement that opposition wards will get funds for upgrading only after PAP constituencies had received theirs.

Mr Low said: "It doesn't matter what the minister has said, I will apply for the funds anyway."

After the election, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had said that although Hougang voters had not voted in the PAP candidate, Mr Low could still try and apply for the money as the Government had been "prepared to put up a budget for it".

But Mr Mah said last week that the money would not be made available for the opposition ward.

Mr Low yesterday said he had met Mr Mah on May 30 at the swearing-in ceremony for the new Cabinet, and had asked the minister for the $100 million upgrading fund that Hougang residents were promised by the PAP.

He declined to disclose Mr Mah's response, saying it was "a private conversation".

But he added: "The Government will just have to decide what is the right thing to do. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said he wants to build a more inclusive society, right?

"On my part, I'll do whatever is necessary to fight for my residents' needs, and apply for the funds."

Mr Low said he had "given instructions" to his town council staff to prepare the necessary paperwork for making the application.

But he would not be seeking funds through the Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC), as the application process for such funds had always been 'skewed against the opposition'.

"I think it's pointless going through that avenue," he said.

Constituencies that want CIPC funds for estate upgrading can apply for them only through their grassroots advisers, who are always PAP representatives. No CIPC funds have been used for opposition wards so far.

Mr Low added that he was sure the MND had the budget "since they promised Hougang voters before Polling Day that $100 million could be set aside for upgrading their estate".

He added that he believed many Singaporeans did not support the votes-for-upgrading policy because they considered it unfair.

"I've always believed that Singaporeans have a sense of justice in their hearts, and are able to make fair judgment on issues," he said.

"The question is whether the PAP is willing to accept this, and trust the people's judgment."

Mr Eric Low, the PAP candidate who failed to win Hougang, declined to comment when contacted yesterday.

kenkwek@sph.com.sg

New Paper - Columnists: You speak only Singlish? You're in berry big trouble

By Glenda Han

IN Singapore, when we speak poor or colloquial English, we are said to be speaking Singlish.

I basically divide Singlish into three broad categories. The first is unique to Singaporeans: Finishing our sentences off with lahs or lehs so as to give them a slight oomph. When you say 'Come lah?', it sounds more persuasive than just 'Do you want to come?'

Secondly, we tend to cut our sentences short so as to get our message across faster. For example, we say 'Have or not?' rather than 'Do you have it or not?' I'm still trying to decide if we are just plain lazy or trying to divert those few nanoseconds saved into more constructive use.

Lastly, we churn out 'rojak' sentences - not comprising fried dough, pineapples and peanut sauce - but English, Mandarin and Malay all within one sentence. For instance, 'Let's go makan (eat in Malay).' Though not an excuse, it's no wonder, given our multi-racial society.

Speaking Singlish in those ways does not mean having a bad command of English. Sure, it isn't proper, but if you can switch to proper English if need be, you don't have a problem.

Bad command of English is more a poor grasp of grammar and mispronunciation. For example, when you say 'This is more better', or when someone pronounces lingerie as 'lin-gir-ree'.

The Speak Good English Movement emphasises the need to stop speaking Singlish. But I think Singlish is a problem only if one cannot get his or her tenses or pronunciation right.

Actors like Gurmit Singh speak Singlish in their sitcoms but can easily switch to proper English if need be. Yet, as much as I understand that our sitcoms need to have a local flavour, it irks me when words are intentionally mispronounced to inject humour. Using words like 'par-kwet (parquet)' or, as a Chinese variety show host said, 'I like it berry (very) much', is just brazenly bad English.

The young may grow up thinking they are pronouncing these words correctly.

Every country has its own slang. Singlish helps identify us as Singaporeans, but don't confuse it with bad English.

And don't confuse it with having an accent either. An accent does not naturally mean your standard of English is higher. I was perplexed when someone was surprised that I did not have an accent even after living in Paris for two years.

I have known people who have lived in Anglophone countries for years, and though they do speak less Singlish, they do not simply adopt an accent after having spent their formative years in Singapore.

During a recent meal, I heard a girl who has spent all her life here speak in a quasi-local, quasi-American accent (with Singlish terms peppering her sentences!). It kept my appetite at bay.

I quote PM Lee Hsien Loong at the launch of the Speak Good English Movement last year: 'Speaking good English does not mean using bombastic words or adopting an artificial English or American accent. We can speak in the normal Singapore tone, which is neutral and intelligible.'

Perhaps teachers should pay more attention on highlighting the irregularities in pronunciation, like the word 'presentation' (pronounced 'PRARE-sen-tation' rather than 'PRE-sen-tation').

Our standard of English will continue to spiral downwards if there is no conscious effort to address even the basic problems.

The writer owns a restaurant and was part of the Workers' Party team, which contested in Ang Mo Kio GRC in the recent General Election. For feedback, e-mail tnp@sph.com.sg