Below is a report on the TODAYonline newspaper.
WP's Low Thia Kiang: Is Foreign Minister, George Yeo, concerned about WP's "A" team?
by Joanne Chan
01:45 PM Apr 29, 2011
SINGAPORE - Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general, Low Thia Khiang, said on Friday he moved out of his Hougang stronghold to contest Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) to give voters a choice.He was responding to Foreign Minister George Yeo, who had said in an interview that the WP was forcing Aljunied residents to pick between self-interest and pushing the Opposition cause.
This morning, 10 WP members and volunteers hit the streets of Geylang Bahru for over two hours meeting and greeting residents of the newly created Moulmein-Kallang GRC.
Mr Low introduced the party's candidates for the constituency to them.
Speaking to reporters later, he rebutted comments by Mr Yeo, who is leading the People's Action Party (PAP) team in Aljunied GRC.
Mr Yeo said the WP was causing an "emotional dilemma" for residents by sending all its top candidates to Aljunied.
Said Mr Low: "I also faced dilemma, tremendous emotional dilemma in moving out of Hougang. So, I don't know if Minister George Yeo understands the emotional dilemma which I face in a struggle to move out of Hougang. Is he concerned?"
He also responded to the accusation that the WP had not produced any plans on how it intends to improve the lives of residents in Aljunied.
Mr Low said: "I would ask if it's Mr George Yeo's plan, or is it the Government's plan, let's make clear here. And if it's George Yeo's plan or the PAP's plan, where the money comes from, let us know. We are not the Government, so we currently would not be able to give you a local plan until we take over the town council, and we will be able to tell you what we want to do. But for sure, I've been in Hougang for 20 years, and if you look at Hougang yourself, Hougang is not a slum."
Addressing concerns that improvement plans announced by the PAP may be stopped if the Opposition won, Mr Low said town councils get their funds from service and conservancy charges collected and also from the Government.
This would be the same whether the PAP or the Opposition was in charge.
Mr Low added that the election was not just about municipal issues, but broader national concerns, such as the next generation of leaders in Parliament.
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Said Mr Low: "I also faced dilemma, tremendous emotional dilemma in moving out of Hougang. So, I don't know if Minister George Yeo understands the emotional dilemma which I face in a struggle to move out of Hougang. Is he concerned?"
I'm sorry Mr Low but it is not Minister Yeo's duty to understand your emotional dilemma. As the MP for Aljunied GRC, it is his responsibility to understand and address the emotional dilemma you have put the residents of Aljunied in.
Allow me to illustrate this in a clearer fashion for you. Let's say, in the best case scenario, you actually do have concrete plans to address municipal issues in Aljunied, these plans coupled with your National issues would be a fair basis upon which the merits of your party can be addressed. As it stands, by only pushing national issues and not even showing an awareness of local issues facing the residents of Aljunied, all you're demonstrating is that you're making use of the residents to further your own political cause. It certainly looks like your intention is to ride the momentum from the 2006 General Elections to win yourself a GRC. Not that it is wrong to want to win a GRC, just that you might want to consider the people who are voting for you. Are they voting for you simply because the weight of expectation from opposition supporters all over Singapore lies upon them? Are they expected to sacrifice a better living space for themselves and their family to ensure that there is an opposing voice in Parliament?
Mr Low said: "I would ask if it's Mr George Yeo's plan, or is it the Government's plan, let's make clear here. And if it's George Yeo's plan or the PAP's plan, where the money comes from, let us know. We are not the Government, so we currently would not be able to give you a local plan until we take over the town council, and we will be able to tell you what we want to do. But for sure, I've been in Hougang for 20 years, and if you look at Hougang yourself, Hougang is not a slum."
Mr Low, you have been the MP for Hougang for many years now. You know exactly how money for government projects is raised. It would be very concerning if you didn't.(Oh, wait, you do..."addressing concerns that improvement plans announced by the PAP may be stopped if the Opposition won, Mr Low said town councils get their funds from service and conservancy charges collected and also from the Government.") Regardless, let's assume that you didn't have the resources as yet. From your working of the ground, you should at least be able to demonstrate an awareness of these issues. This however was has been very much lacking in your interactions with the media. You are right, Hougang is not a slum, but just take a simple walk across the road from Hougang to any other neighbouring ward and you will be able to see that there is a stark contrast between Hougang and the rest of the estates. This is what 20 years of opposition rule will do to your housing estate.
Mr Low added that the election was not just about municipal issues, but broader national concerns, such as the next generation of leaders in Parliament.
You are right, the election is not just about municipal issues, but broader national concerns, however, if you want the residents of ALJUNIED to vote you in, you certainly don't expect them to blindly vote for you at the expense of their living conditions no? Have you at least demonstrated an awareness of the issues that the residents of Aljunied in particular are facing? I'm sorry, but that's just selfish...
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