TODAY: Distribute government funds fairly: Low

General Election 2006

Carrot-and-stick politics not reflective of international standards, says WP chief

TOR CHING LI
chingli@newstoday.com.sg

RETURNING the criticism levelled at Singapore's Opposition over the weekend, Workers' Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang charged yesterday the People's Action Party (PAP) is also not a First World government.

The ruling party, he said, ought to benchmark itself against "international matured democracies".

Mr Low, who was speaking at the party's fourth press conference to introduce its candidates for the coming elections, was responding to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's comment on Saturday that Singapore lacked a First World opposition.

"I believe he has forgotten the PAP is not a First World government as well," he said.

Denouncing the tactics of the People's Action Party as "carrot-and-stick", he said such "short sighted" politics are not the hallmarks of a First World government.

"What kind of nation are we becoming ... what kind of life do you want to lead? Not one where if (you) don't vote for the PAP (you) will have no upgrading, of if (you) don't vote for the PAP (you) may lose something," he said.

Any responsible government should apply the government funds equally and fairly to everyone, instead of holding the people ransom to their votes, he added.

He described the current state of politics in Singapore as "weird".

"The election is supposed to be for macro issues, where you decide the future of the nation. You are deciding the future of the nation. Instead, we are talking local politics whether you get something or not."

He added: "Politics here is no longer about your credibility as a candidate but depends on who is backing you. This value seems all wrong to me. Is this the sort of value that we want to carry on to the next generation of Singaporeans?"

He also criticised again the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system, which WP had said in its manifesto should be abolished. "The GRC system is developed to block Singapore from becoming a First World country in terms of politics, from having First World politicians," he said.

He also challenged the PAP to engage the WP in a televised forum if they were worried certain issues may not be sufficiently debated. "The option is open to them," he said.

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ERNEST CHUA
IN THE FRAY (From left): Mr Abdul Salim, Mr Lian Chin Way, Mr Melvin Tan and Mr Brandon Siow were the four new Workers' Party candidates rolled out yesterday for next month's general elections.

IN POLITICS FOR THE "LONG HAUL"

THOUGH his maternal grandparents hail from France and England, 30-year-old Brandon Siow sees himself as a true blue Singaporean.

A key account manager in Singapore Airlines Cargo, the National University of Singapore political science graduate has been an activist since his varsity days, when he helmed the student union.

"I knew some people from the Workers' Party (WP) from school and joined their forums and walkabouts before being inducted into the party," said Mr Siow, who lives in a maisonette in Clementi with his wife of three years.

Mr Siow decided to join the WP because he believes having a choice is important in shaping Singapore's future.

As for his youth, Mr Siow said: "Though I'm young, I don't think age will be an issue as we will be functioning as a team in a Group Representation Constituency. Also, it does not mean that our focus will solely be those of the young." He stressed that he and his younger comrades are going to be in politics for the "long-haul" - or the next five to 10 years, at least. - TOR CHING LI

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THE WP BLOOD RUNS THROUGH

HIS is one family where the Workers' Party (WP) features prominently in their genes - three generations' worth, in fact.

Sales executive Melvin Tan, 31, first met his wife, administrative officer Ng Swee Bee, 25, when they were both involved in the party's now-defunct Youth Action Committee three years ago. His wife's parents and her late grandfather were WP supporters too, said Mr Tan, revealing the family had lived in Hougang under party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang for the past 15 years.

To which Mr Low turned and said, tongue-in-cheek, to Mr Tan: "When you have children, I expect them to support Workers' Party too!"

On a more serious note, Mr Tan, who observed after the last elections in 2001 that the system was "not conducive" for the Opposition to progress, decided to answer the WP's call for more willing parties to step forward and serve.

Now a member of its central executive committee and secretary of its youth wing, he said a wish of his is to see the party make history at the polls next month by winning a Group Representation Constituency. - LEE U-WEN

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PLAYING A PART, NO MATTER HOW SMALL

FED UP with the social stigma attached to joining an Opposition party, business manager Lian Chin Way wants to play a part, no matter how small, in eradicating it.

The 36-year-old, however, remained realistic and said it would "take a long time" before any tangible results could be seen.

"This culture has been cultivated over a long period of time, and it's not something that can change overnight. The biggest problem faced by the Opposition is attracting enough people to come forward and serve in any capacity," he said.

Mr Lian, a father of a two-year-old son, first joined the Workers' Party seven months ago. Widely speculated to be part of the five-person team that will contest Aljunied Group Representative Constituency, Mr Lian said if he was eventually elected, he would not hesitate to quit his day job because of the "rare opportunity" to be a Member of Parliament."Chances like these won't come by so easily. Doing the best job for Singaporeans would benefit the Opposition as a whole for future elections." - LEE U-WEN

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HE'S THE YOUNGEST CANDIDATE

HE'S the youngest candidate introduced by any political party so far, but 24-year-old Abdul Salim bin Harun does not think that his age will handicap him.

"Age is not important. The main thing is to have commitment, passion and dedication to serve people from the bottom of your heart," said the Wing Tai Holdings sales coordinator, who plans to represent the youth of Singapore.

Having been disillusioned with the way the casino issue was handled, Mr Abdul Salim said he wished Singaporeans could have voted for or against it, rather than the Government making the final decision.

"(Voting) would show that every one of us had a stake in the future of Singapore. And from the religious point of view, as a Muslim, I'm against having casinos," he said.

Having volunteered to join the Workers' Party last year to help empower citizens, Mr Salim is now a member of the party's North-East area committee as well as the youth wing. Also on his agenda is to study ways to bring down the divorce rates for those in the Malay-Muslim community, which have traditionally been on the high side. - LEE U-WEN

TODAY: WP's Ang Mo Kio flutter

PM welcomes Opposition decision to contest his ward

JOSE RAYMOND AND TEO HWEE NAK
jose@newstoday.com.sg

FIRST, Workers' Party (WP) members started showing up at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's constituency.

Then the fact that the Opposition party has already introduced about 20 candidates - and counting - hinted that it was going to open a surprise battle-front.

Yesterday, WP chairman Sylvia Lim confirmed what some had begun to suspect: The party will contest the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency, where it will face a formidable ruling party slate led by the Prime Minister himself.

"We would like to give the residents in Ang Mo Kio a chance to vote and express their views on the Prime Minister," Ms Lim told TODAY.

Mr Lee welcomed the prospect of a contest. "I am happy that WP has at last confirmed that it will be contesting Ang Mo Kio GRC," he said in an email reply to this newspaper. "I look forward to the fight."

The Prime Minister has not had to face an electoral battle since 1988 as the Opposition has shied away from challenging for constituencies where the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) was seen as too powerful.

"I have no doubt that my team will have a strong win," he said yesterday. "Nevertheless, we will fight seriously and go for every vote."

Told of WP's decision, other members of Mr Lee's team sounded surprised but confident. "During the two past elections, we waited but no Opposition party turned up," said Mr Inderjit Singh, who became an MP in 1997, but has never faced a contest.

"We are confident of the support we will get and of the results on polling night. The verdict at Ang Mo Kio GRC will reflect the massive mandate that PM Lee will get at the polls."

Even Dr Lam Pin Min, a new PAP candidate who expects to be part of the ruling party's Ang Mo Kio slate, said he was ready for the battle. "It sounds like a war, doesn't it?" he joked. "But seriously, I am looking forward to a challenge, if there is going to be one."

Ms Lim, who said that WP would unveil its final batch of candidates today, added that her party was familiar with the Ang Mo Kio area. "Historically, part of the ward was carved out of Cheng San GRC after the 1997 elections," she said.

In 1997, the PAP team - then led by Mr Lee Yock Suan - defeated a WP slate helmed by Mr J B Jeyaretnam in Cheng San GRC. The constituency subsequently ceased to exist, with parts absorbed by Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Asked about the Cheng San connection, Mr Lee said: "The contest in Cheng San was in 1997, nine years ago. I believe that Lee Yock Suan and Heng Chiang Meng until 2001, and Balaji and Wee Siew Kim since then, have been taking good care of the residents. I am confident they will support the PAP team strongly."

Though the WP, until yesterday, had played its cards close to its chest, there was a little trailer of its plans on April 9, when WP member Yaw Shin Leong and some of his colleagues bumped into Mr Lee during a walkabout at Teck Ghee ward.

Mr Lee asked if the GRC was a target for WP, to which Mr Yaw replied it was a "massive" target. A smiling Mr Lee then said: "Good luck. I hope to see you all there."

Ms Lim would not reveal the party's slate yesterday, but said: "We have been doing the groundwork in Ang Mo Kio for some time now and we would like to give the residents in Ang Mo Kio a chance to vote."

Residents of Ang Mo Kio have not had to vote since 1988. That was also the last time that Mr Lee faced an electoral challenge - he defeated independent candidate Patrick Leong, bagging almost 80 per cent of the vote.

Political watcher and former Nominated Member of Parliament Zulkifli Baharudin saw the WP move as a signal, more than anything else. "The Workers' Party has been trying to show that it is a serious alternative and what better way to show that than by contesting the Prime Minister's own ward?" he said.

Now that a contest is finally coming his way, Mr Lee had a message for the voters. "Take your vote seriously, for your future is at stake," he said.

He also told the Opposition: "Contest cleanly, on the issues and the quality of the teams. That is the way elections should be fought."

Straits Times: PAP not a First World Govt, says WP chief

ELECTION 06
>> WORKERS' PARTY

He also attacks use of upgrading as an election carrot

BY KEN KWEK

DON'T criticise the opposition for not being of First World standard when the PAP Government is itself not a First World Government, said Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang yesterday.

kenkwek@sph.com.sg

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Brandon Siow Wei Min, 30

Occupation: Sales manager, Singapore Airlines Cargo.

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Melvin Tan, 31

Occupation: Sales executive with local IT startup Acemark Media

Family: Married to Ng Swee Bee, 25, a marketing executive. No children

Home: Five-room HDB flat in Hougang

Education: Monk's Hill Secondary. Advanced certificate in industrial relations from Ong Teng Cheong Institute of Labour Studies and diploma in computer studies from Informatics

Hobbies: Reading current affairs magazines and Chinese novels

If I were elected, the first thing I would do for residents is... "ensure town council amenities are up and running". Mr Tan said it was too early to talk about details

My biggest beef is... "Central Provident Fund and labour policy".

Mr Tan believes CPF funds should be invested in sectors with better investment returns. CPF funds are invested in Singapore government bonds and advance deposits. He declined to name which sectors would give better returns, saying he will touch on the topic in greater detail when campaigning starts.

He also declined to elaborate on how Singapore's labour policies should be changed, except to say that unions should have a greater say, such as during retrenchment exercises.

"The management should be more consultative with the unions," added Mr Tan, who was a branch secretary and branch chairman with the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers Union between 1999 and 2003.

"At the moment, the employees and unions are able to negotiate on the compensation package, but the reasons and number of workers involved are not negotiable."

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Abdul Salim Harun, 24

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Lian Chin Way, 36

Occupation: Regional business manager with TTPCOM, a British software company.

Channel NewsAsia: Workers' Party's Low says PAP 'not First World government'

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006



By Asha Popatlal

SINGAPORE : Workers' Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang has accused the People's Action Party of not being a First World government, and challenged the ruling party to benchmark itself politically against other mature democracies.

He was responding to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's charge that opposition members are not of First World standard.

Said Mr Low, "Yes, we are not First World standard. We are not shy to say that, we are realistic. We are not trying to blow a trumpet, we accept what we are today but we are progressing the younger generation, offering choice to them. But I believe that MM Lee is a fair person. I believe he must know that PAP is not a First World government as well.

He added, "All of us are aware that the PAP is benchmarking a lot of things, benchmarking ministers' salaries to market, so you always talk of international benchmarking. Perhaps it is time that the PAP should benchmark itself politically against international mature democracy standards."

Attacking the PAP's promise of upgrading in estates like Hougang and Potong Pasir if the residents vote for the ruling party, Mr Low accused the PAP of resorting to short-term carrot-and stick politics.

Mr Low said, "If I don't vote for the PAP, I will have no upgrading or if I don't vote for the PAP, I might lose something, my children may not be able to go to kindergarten -- these are very short-sighted and short-term interests. The election is supposed to be about macro issues, the future of the nation. You are deciding the future of the nation." - CNA /ct

TODAY: Hardly 'run-of-the-mill'

General Election 2006

But WP chairman Sylvia Lim is happy to be one of the masses

TOR CHING LI
chingli@newstoday.com.sg

IT'S not everyday that an Opposition politician gets mistaken for a People's Action Party MP, but that was exactly what happened to Workers' Party (WP) chairman Sylvia Lim during a recent house-to-house visit.

Sharing this anecdote at a press conference held to introduce five new WP candidates yesterday, Ms Lim said: "I was visiting one of (Minister of State for Transport and Finance) Lim Hwee Hua's residents in Serangoon and this Indian lady who spoke only Tamil thought I was Mrs Lim. She said, 'You Madam MP?'"

Fortunately, WP Indian Cultural Subcommittee chairman and election candidate Gopal Krishnan had taught her some useful Tamil phrases, such as Paataali Katchi - or Workers' Party in Tamil.

To much laughter and applause from WP supporters present, Ms Lim recounted: "I said, 'No, no, no. Paataali Katchi, Paataali Katchi'. So thanks, Gopal, for that."

Chairing her first press conference in the absence of party chief Low Thia Khiang, Ms Lim gave reporters a glimpse of her wit and mettle well ahead of the hustings as she fielded a barrage of questions for some 15 minutes after introducing the five new WP candidates, including Mr Gopal.

When asked for her response to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's comment on Saturday that there are "hundreds" of lecturers around, the polytechnic lecturer retorted: "I've never claimed to be extraordinary and if his comment is that I'm just a run-of-the-mill, average person, then I will gladly claim that. We want to represent the people.

"So, it's okay - I am one of thousands!"

She drew first blood with the introduction of the first candidate, Dr Poh Lee Guan, calling him "a strong believer in team building, who will get us better organised to become a first-world Opposition". She was referring to Mr Lee's observation that Singapore lacked such an opposition.

When a reporter asked 26-year-old Ms Lee Wai Leng if her youth would be a disadvantage, Ms Lim said: "It's a question of what the country wants, and who they think can represent their interest best - whether you are 26 or 82."

The Minister Mentor is Singapore's oldest parliamentarian at 82.

Echoing the WP slogan, "You have a choice", Ms Lim deferred most questions about the WP's chances at the election to just that - the people's choice. "I'll leave it to the people to judge. Give us a signal in this election that you value the steps taken by the WP, for a credible choice."

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HE'LL QUIT HIS DAY JOB TO BE A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT


OOI BOON KEONG
COMMITTED: WP's Perry Tong.

AT 1.9m tall, Mr Perry Tong is surely one of the most imposing candidates presented by the WP for the coming election.

Should the 35-year-old University of California, Berkeley, political science graduate succeed in his election bid – most likely for a seat in East Coast GRC – he said he would give up his $100,000 a year job as a management consultant with the US-based Hackett Group. "Being an MP is a demanding position that will require a commitment of more than 10 hours a day," he said.

Mr Tong has come a long way since he was a Normal stream student at St Andrew's Secondary who scraped through his O Levels with just three passes.

He worked as a waiter and bartender to put himself through the Santa Barbara City College.

When he moved on to Berkeley, California, 12-hour daily shifts as a bartender were the norm for the eldest son of a small-time businessman and housewife. Still, he graduated with first-class honours.

He returned to Singapore in 2000, and joined the WP in 2003.

Why enter politics under the WP banner? He said he was inspired by the late President Ong Teng Cheong, who was taken to task by the Government over the issue of national reserves.

"I hope to gain more transparency and accountability for the people of Singapore."

Mr Tong also wants to show other young professionals that there is nothing to fear in joining the Opposition. He lives in a five-room HDB flat in Jurong West with his wife. – TOR CHING LI

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SHE'S THE YOUNGEST CANDIDATE


OOI BOON KEONG
AGE IS NO BARRIER: WP's Lee Wai Leng.

AT 26, WP candidate Lee Wai Leng is one cool newcomer.

While reporters grilled her, Ms Lee, the youngest candidate so far in the upcoming polls, never once paused before replying or showed uncertainty.

"I don't think age is a barrier because it's not the only determinant of how well you are able to serve your residents," said the co-owner of Lingo Whiz, a firm providing translation services.

Ms Lee, who joined the WP in 2002, has been active in grassroots activities in Hougang.

It was also in the party that she met her husband of one year, Mr Ong Wee Teck, 30, an Internet business entrepreneur. The couple have no children and live in a three-room flat in Hougang.

Ms Lee, who switched between English and Mandarin effortlessly, believes her bicultural background boosts her understanding of the ground.

She said: "I can relate to more segments of the population but ultimately, it is about working the ground, serving the residents and doing what is necessary to better their lives."

Ms Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with merit from the National University of Singapore, where she was a member of the Democratic Socialist Club. - ANSLEY NG

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A 'VETERAN' POLITICIAN AT HIS SECOND GE

DESPITE having contested in only one election, businessman Mohammad Rahizan Yaacob was described by party chairman Sylvia Lim as a "veteran" politician.

Mr Rahizan, 49, entered politics in 1984, joining the Singapore Malay National Organisation, or PKMS. He was elected its secretary-general in 1998.

In 2003, he joined the WP and now helps Ms Lim in the party's Northern Area Committee.

Mr Rahizan, who studied in St Patrick's Secondary School, holds a certificate in Organisational Management & Administration from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and has a certificate in Islamic Studies.

He hopes to help the party consolidate "Malay ground".

As for why he left PKMS to join the WP, he said: "I wanted to help mobilise Malay support for the WP, which has now become a mainstream Opposition party.

"I also believe in the party's philosophy of being compassionate to society." - ANSLEY NG

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ESTATE MANAGEMENT HIS FOCUS

THIS General Election will be Mr Gopal Krishnan's first fight in the political arena, though he joined WP in 1979.

In the early 1980s, the 52-year-old was a member of the Anson Constituency Working Committee and helped then-Anson MP and WP secretary-general J B Jeyaretnam organise grassroots activities.

Comparing politics then and now, Mr Gopal said: "Those days, (politicians) were more robust, passionate and hardcore." Asked why it took him so long to step up to contest, he said he was ready – "but there were other more important assignments for me then".

Mr Gopal, who is a senior housing maintenance inspector at the Hougang Town Council, said his work allows him to understand estate issues well. If elected, he would like to focus on a topic he knows best: Estate management.

"We would do a better job if we win another constituency because we have a lot of experience in that area." - ANSLEY NG

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A VOICE FOR HEARTLANDERS

DURING the 2001 polls, Dr Poh Lee Guan garnered 26.3 per cent of the votes in a face-off with Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee in Nee Soon East.

"That was my first time. I am happy with it," said Dr Poh, who is the WP's first assistant secretary-general.

On his chances this coming election, he said: "I have done my part to learn to manage a Town Council, to reach out and to understand the parliamentary process."

The 44-year-old senior management lecturer in a private college is a divorcee with a nine-year-old son. He has been getting acquainted with Town Council operations in Hougang, where party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang is MP.

If elected, he hopes to be a voice for heartlanders. "I am a typical heartlander and will do my best to serve them, manage their living environment as well as possible," said Dr Poh, who lives in a four-room flat in Nee Soon Central. - ANSLEY NG

Channel NewsAsia: Workers' Party says more time needed to build up first-class opposition

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Farah Abdul Rahim


Sylvia Lim, Chairman, Workers' Party

The Workers' Party (WP) says it agrees with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew that Singapore needs a First World opposition.

But party chairman Sylvia Lim admits the WP has a long road ahead before achieving this.

She made these remarks on Sunday as she introduced the party's third batch of election candidates - bringing the total so far to 12.

The WP says it wants to field candidates of a First World standard.

But the party admits it will take time to meet this challenge thrown down to the opposition by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Ms Lim said: "We have no quarrel with what Minister Mentor says - we are aware we are still in a building up process. This election, we have made some progress and we hope the people agree with us on this, but there is still a long road ahead and we will work towards that."

Working towards this goal, she added, also means that WP members must be careful about what they say and write.

Ms Lim was referring to the Singapore Democratic Party's legal troubles over the National Kidney Foundation scandal.

She said: "We have little money so we steer clear of legal battles. It could kill us - it is unfortunate what has happened to the SDP, but we will continue with what we are doing, be careful with what we say and print during the campaign period."

As part of their gearing up, Ms Lim introduced the third batch of WP candidates - a mix of veterans and new faces.

One of the new candidates introduced was 26-year-old arts graduate Lee Wai Leng, who is an editorial and translation executive.

She is a member of the party's central executive committee and also serves on the Hougang Constituency Committee.

Ms Lee is the youngest new opposition face to be introduced so far.

She said: "I don't think age is exactly a barrier. It's not the only determinant of how well you are able to serve your residents. Compared to many party veterans who have walked the ground for decades, and I have plenty to learn."

Another new face is 34-year-old Perry Tong, who is a management consultant with the Hackett Group.

The political science graduate from Berkeley is expected to be part of the five-man team to contest East Coast GRC.

Mr Tong said: "We realise there are a lot of issues on the ground that people have raised - these issues are probably not just addressed to an opposition party, but probably to any political party that cares to walk the ground."

Asked what these issues were, Mr Tong said they would be revealed during the hustings.

52-year-old Gopal Krishnan, a maintenance inspector with Hougang Town Council, is the oldest of the new faces.

He is married with four children and has a Diploma in Building Management.

A veteran trade unionist, he wants to focus on employment issues.

He said: "The minority groups are facing a lot of problems in employment, finding it hard to get jobs in many sectors. Perhaps we can address this to find out why and where."

The WP also introduced 44-year-old Dr Poh Lee Guan, who contested Nee Soon East in 2001 - and will probably stand in the same constituency this time, and 49-year-old Rahizan Yaacob, a former Singapore Democratic Alliance candidate, who is likely to stand in Aljunied GRC. - CNA/ch

Channel NewsAsia: Workers' Party refuses to confirm candidates for East Coast GRC

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Farah Abdul Rahim

A Workers' Party team was spotted on a walkabout in East Coast Group Representation Constituency on Sunday.

Although the five-man team was handing out election pamphlets with their individual photographs and names, they however refused to confirm if they were the candidates contesting the area, saying this was a strategy to irk the People's Action Party.

Chia Ti Lik, Candidate, Workers' Party, said: "We cannot deny we are in competition with them and the longer we wait to confirm, to come out with a firm slate and where we are standing, it irks them more because they need to do their planning to counter our groundwork, efforts and candidates' profiles."

But Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar, who is leading the PAP team in East Coast GRC, said rather than irk the PAP, such a strategy simply leaves residents in the dark.

Professor S Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister, said: "Why should it irk us? I would think the residents will be really interested to know who your team will be. It doesn't irk the PAP because whether there's a contest, who's going to contest, who will be the faces of the team - our strategy does not change." - CNA/ch

Channel NewsAsia: 32-year-old lawyer among candidates introduced by Workers' Party

SINGAPORE VOTES 2006

By Farah Abdul Rahim



SINGAPORE : Two new faces from the post-independence generation were unveiled by the Workers' Party (WP) on Saturday for the upcoming General Election.

They are 32-year-old lawyer Chia Ti Lik and 36-year-old businessman Goh Meng Seng.

Mr Chia is a partner with Chia Ngee Thuang & Company and Vice-President of the party's Youth Wing.

He is married with no children and received his law degree from the National University of Singapore.

A former Young PAP member before joining the Workers' Party, Mr Chia has been leading walkabouts in East Coast GRC.

Mr Chia said: "Since what you are seeking to do in the Young PAP cannot be done within the framework and, in the present circumstances cannot be fulfilled by my contributions to Young PAP, then it would be better to do the right thing, and if the right thing is to join the opposition, then I join the opposition."

Mr Goh is also a Council Member with the party's Youth Wing.

He is married with one daughter, and graduated with an arts degree from the National University of Singapore.

Introduced as one of the WP's bi-cultural candidates by party leader Low Thia Khiang, Mr Goh has been working the ground in Aljunied and Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituencies, as well as the single-seat ward of Nee Soon Central.

But he remained tight-lipped on where he would be fielded.

Mr Goh said: "Whether you are bicultural or monocultural, you have to represent the people in certain ways - their aspirations, their views. I think culture is part of it, one small part of it...The most important thing is, you must be able to walk the ground, feel the people, what their concerns are; empathy is above cultural setting."

Mr Goh said the current generation of younger opposition leaders like himself are different from the older generation.

He said: "We are here to talk about policies, not about individual's vengeance - that's past our generation. We don't want to talk about lawsuits, talk bad about people, that's not what younger Singaporeans want to see. They want to see a healthy, active engagement of ideas and what we can offer."

Two other candidates were also introduced - party veterans 66-year-old Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, who has been active in East Coast GRC, and former party chairman Dr Tan Bin Seng, who is 54.

Both men have contested previous elections.

Altogether, 20 candidates will be introduced by the WP before Nomination Day.

With four candidates under 41 years old so far, the WP is in the process of passing the baton of leadership from the older to younger generation of leaders, said the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang.

He said the party has been engaged in self-renewal since the 2001 General Election, and more than half its current Central Executive Committee made up of younger members.

He was speaking to the media as he introduced more candidates to contest the election.

"The renewal process is not only to attract the younger generation, it also serves as a connection between the party and the younger voters. The younger population is different in their thinking, perception and expectations. And yes, I hope the younger generation will respond to the call," said Low Thia Khiang, Secretary-General, Workers' Party. - CNA/ch/ls

Weekend TODAY: WP's simple message to Singaporeans

General Election 2006

Low Thia Khiang asks that party be given a chance; says taking polls seriously

TOR CHING LI
chingli@newstoday.com.sg



WORKERS' Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang has a simple message for all Singaporeans: You have a choice. Now, give us a chance.

Flanked by three first-time WP candidates being introduced for the May 6 polls, Mr Low said: "The real challenge is not standing for the election, but when you are elected. If people want to know how good we are, give us a chance.

"The People's Action Party will come and contest the next election anyway. If the opposition candidates are given a chance and not performing, then they will be out by the next election."

WP supporters at the press conference - the first of a daily series running up to Nomination Day next Thursday - applauded as Mr Low introduced party chairman Sylvia Lim, youth wing executive committee member Yaw Shin Leong and banker Eric Tan.

Mr Low stressed: "I assure all Singaporeans that we are not taking the election lightly, neither are we just fielding anyone we come across. There were people who wished to be candidates on the WP platform but unfortunately we had to reject them. We are mindful of the expectations and responsibility of the party to Singapore."

He said all 20 of WP's candidates were chosen based on three 'C's and two 'P's: Credibility of the person, capability to run a town council as an MP, balance of character, passion for politics and public spiritedness.

While the WP does not have the resources of the Government to check the skeletons in one's closet, Mr Low said all candidates have to sign a declaration form in his presence.

"Based on the due diligence that the WP has done, I believe all our candidates (can stand up to scrutiny)," Mr Low told TODAY.

In response to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's remark that the Opposition was playing a "cat and mouse game" by not confirming their full slate of candidates sooner, Mr Low said: "This is no cat and mouse game. This is the election. And candidates from WP, we are no 'mouse'. We are candidates, we are human beings."

While Mr Low deflected questions on the WP's game plan for the polls, he kicked off the briefing by explaining WP's reluctance to speak to the media. "The visual media has portrayed the Opposition in a bad light and damaged substantially the image of the WP in the last elections ... I hope there will be some progress in this election," he said.

This experience with the media was why the WP has been doing "a lot of groundwork away from the eyes of the media", he said.

He also noted how the Government curbed other medium - such as the Internet - through which the party can reach out to the electorate.

Ms Lim also stressed the need for an Opposition, saying that it would act as a check on the Government and its policies.

"Of course, PAP MPs may disagree with the PAP government policy sometimes, such as in the casino debate, but there's nothing much they can do about it."

As to how long WP candidates would persist in the calling to provide a credible alternative, Ms Lim said: "We will have to look at why we lose the election if we do, and how. If we've done our part and were not supported, we have to think seriously about whether people in Singapore care about having a credible Opposition or not."

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SYLVIA IS PUTTING HER HEART AND SOUL INTO WINNING A GRC


PHOTOS BY DON WONG
PREPARED: To face all challenges, including those laid down by the PAP.

THOUGH she was unveiled as a new candidate yesterday, Ms Sylvia Lim is perhaps one of the more familiar opposition figures in Singapore.

As chairman of the Workers' Party (WP), she has been a spokesperson and a leader for her party for some years.

And true to form, the new candidate minced no words as she described the WP's plans to send a strong signal to the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) by winning a Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

Said Ms Lim: "If we want to get rid of GRCs, the only way really is to show the PAP that it can be lost. We have to put our energies towards that, and among the party members, we know what we're trying to do, and it makes sense to all of us."

The 41-year-old law lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic, who is single, did not flinch when asked if she was afraid of the PAP uncovering skeletons in her closet.

"What they dig up, we can't evade. The PAP has my file, I was a civil servant before and they've screened my friends. But they are also not perfect, and we have information about them too. I think the voters will be able to discern what is relevant and what is not," she said.

A former senior police officer, Ms Lim graduated with a Master of Laws degree from the University of London in 1989 and was called to the Singapore Bar two years later. She has been with the WP since November 2001 and also serves as a councillor at Hougang Town Council.

When asked to give an overview of the party's slate of new candidates, Ms Lim said the party was "fortunate" with the quality it has managed to attract this time around. "The electorate has changed somewhat. People think differently from their parents, and may not be so put off by the dangers of getting in Opposition. They may want to see for themselves how they can push the boundaries, so we have people like that coming to join us," she said, adding that she was one of "two to three" female candidates the WP would be fielding.

Above all, she said that for an opposition candidate to succeed, he or she had to have "very thick skin" to face all challenges, including those laid down by the PAP.

"There will always be people who are pro-PAP (and) may not see the need for Opposition, but we have met those who are very supportive. You must be prepared to face everything," she said. - LEE U-WEN

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KEEPING HIS DAY JOB TO SERVE SINGAPOREANS BETTER


HIS GOAL: Helping the 'new poor'.

REGARDLESS of whether he makes it into Parliament or not, Mr Yaw Shin Leong will not quit his day job as a business analyst with a local IT firm.

Unlike his fellow candidates Sylvia Lim and Eric Tan, who said they would resign and become full-time MPs if they are elected, Mr Yaw adopted a different stance.

"I think it's important for an MP to understand society, and I would very much like to remain within the corporate world. In this way, I will be able to serve Singapore better," he said.

Just 30 years old, the National University of Singapore graduate is the same age as Mr Christopher de Souza, the People's Action Party's (PAP) youngest new candidate.

Speaking fluently in English and Mandarin yesterday, Mr Yaw, who is married, said he wanted to be the voice for the post-independence generation of Singaporeans.

He has been involved with the Workers' Party (WP) for over five years, and now holds three posts, including executive committee member of the party's youth wing.

Before joining the WP, he volunteered at various grassroots activities in Potong Pasir, and was also involved in civil group The Think Centre.

On his goals to serve the public, he pledged to do more for what he called the "new poor" - those who are not under the poverty line but who are not rich either.

"We first brought (this issue) up in 2001, and it was dismissed by the incumbent PAP MPs. But we are seeing for ourselves that society is now at a crossroads. The 'new poor' phenomenon is still very evident in 2006," he said. - LEE U-WEN

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BANKER INSPIRED BY DEDICATION OF VETERAN LEADERS


INSPIRED: WP veterans who give Singaporeans a choice.

A GOOD friend of Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang for "over 10 years", banker Eric Tan finally made the move to join the Opposition in the past two years.

In fact, the father of three teenaged girls has been on a mix of leave and no-pay leave since the electoral boundaries were revealed in March. He will be away from work until after Polling Day in May.

Mr Tan, who has a masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan, said that he had been inspired to join the WP.

Said the 50-year-old: "When I look at the dedication of the veterans, who stayed against all odds to offer people a choice, their dedication impresses me. We are all driven by the conviction for a need of an opposition and for our love for our country."

Mr Tan added: "Joining the Opposition is the mother of all fears here. I hope that by joining the Opposition, we are telling people that it is okay to be different, and dispelling that fear. Fear kills creativity, which is needed to succeed in a new economy."

Mr Tan, general manager of RBC Dexia Investor Services Trust, counts among his former employers the Royal Bank of Canada, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and the Ministry of Defence. - TOR CHING LI

Straits Times: GE a referendum on future of opposition, says WP

BY SUE-ANN CHIA


PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
OPPOSITION CANDIDATES: Mr Low Thia Khiang (second from right) formally introduces the Workers' Party's first three candidates (from left) Mr Yaw Shin Leong, Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Eric Tan.

THE Workers' Party has defined this general election as a referendum on the future of opposition politics in Singapore.

In an impassioned call to voters, WP chief Low Thia Khiang said yesterday that Singaporeans must decide if they want to give the People's Action Party (PAP) a "blank cheque" or if they wanted an opposition to check and balance a PAP Government.

If they believe in a strong opposition, they should signal this clearly at the ballot box - or politicians like himself would have to question their relevance to the political system here.

"Do Singaporeans need an opposition, do they want an opposition? And if they do not want, then what am I doing here?" he said when introducing the WP's first three candidates yesterday.

He had given new candidates no illusions about opposition politics: It is a long hard slog capturing voters hearts, demoralising at times, even for him.

"My conviction is that politics is a process, you come in for a long haul and don't expect instant success, especially in the opposition," he said.

If first-timers want to win at first try, they should join the PAP and stand in a Group Representation Constituency. "But if you want to join WP, then prepare to lose."

"We are prepared to lose. We have lost before. We continue and we press on. This is the spirit and that's why we survive till today. Since 1957."

Yesterday's press conference was unprecedented for the WP, which usually announces its candidates on Nomination Day.

Reflecting its better organisational skills, the party handed out CD-ROMs to the media containing their candidates' bio-data. The three unveiled are: WP chairman Sylvia Lim, 41, a polytechnic lecturer; WP member Eric Tan, 50, a senior bank manager; and Mr Yaw Shin Leong, 29, who runs his own business consultancy and is an executive committee member of its youth wing.

Mr Low, 49, who will be defending his Hougang seat for the fourth time, made it clear that his party did not just pick "anyone", and had to turn away those who were not up to mark.

One example: Mr Tan, whom he described as a "rare find", was his friend for 10 years before he finally decided to join the party.

Mr Low said he looks for credibility, capability, character, passion and public spiritedness in his candidates. What he doesn't want: People with an axe to grind against the ruling party.

The first-timers, numbering 15 in all, may not have gone through the same battery of interviews and psychometric tests like the PAP's candidates, but they can stand up to public scrutiny.

Mr Low would not confirm that the WP will field 20 candidates, contesting three GRCs - Aljunied, East Coast and Ang Mo Kio - and four single seats, Hougang, Joo Chiat, Nee Soon East and Nee Soon Central. Nor would he say where the three would be fielded.

He also would not be drawn into specifying what would be a strong signal to the opposition, save to say he was concerned about the dipping level of support. The high point for the opposition was the 1991 polls when it won four seats and had 39 per cent share of votes. In the 2001 polls, it retained two seats, and had just 24.7 per cent share of votes.

"Do we want to continue to be like that? Do people want to give a blank cheque to the PAP to do whatever they want to do and after the election, lament... complain?" he asked.

"Or do people want to show that yes, we give you the support but we are not going giving you a blank cheque and we are prepared to allow the opposition to check and balance the government."

In a reference to the WP slogan, You Have A Choice, he said: "We provide you with a choice, value that choice."

sueann@sph.com.sg