CHEE Soon Juan said he and his Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) were “just as determined” to continue working for residents of Bukit Batok, a day after he lost the by-election for the single seat.

The promises made to Bukit Batok voters over the campaign period “were not just for consumption and then, after the (election), we don’t continue”, he said yesterday.

“It’s been a good campaign, we gave it all we had, the attention should go to our members,” he added.

“Everybody deserves a good rest, and then we’ll be back again.”

Dr Chee got 38.8 per cent of the votes in Saturday’s poll. Murali Pillai of the People’s Action Party (PAP) won with 61.2 per cent.

Singaporeans vote in Bukit Batok by-election

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, AsiaOne

Yesterday, Dr Chee stopped short of giving details about how he aims to build on his result in Bukit Batok, his best performance in five electoral outings.

He said he was constrained by “the PAP town council”.

“This question is better put to the PAP town council because, every time we make a move, they stop us,” he said, citing an application to hold a health screening during the campaign period that was turned down.

“You need space, physical space, to talk to people, explain to people, right?

“If we can’t use space there, what are you going to do?” he added.

Dr Chee said despite such constraints, the SDP will continue to reach out to residents after taking the next few days to analyse the by-election results.

During yesterday’s thank-you procession, he and six other SDP members went around the estate on the back of a lorry, shaking hands and waving to supporters.

Loudspeakers blared: “Thank you residents of Bukit Batok for your support and encouragement. We look forward to seeing you again.”

Several residents waved back, and shouts of “Thank you, sir” and “Never say die” were heard.

The encouragement seemed to energise a visibly tired Dr Chee. “It is a journey, a process, regardless of the outcome of this election,” he said.

yanliang@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

GETTING people to return their trays after a meal remains a big priority for the Public Hygiene Council.

It set up a drive encouraging people to do so in 2013, but in an informal assessment requested by The Straits Times on how Singapore fares in various aspects of hygiene, council chairman Edward D’Silva rated tray return the most poorly, awarding it just four marks out of 10.

Other areas – like personal hygiene, adoption of dirty areas to keep them clean, litter disposal and clean toilets – fared better at six or seven out of 10.

“When trays are not cleared quickly enough, especially in non-air-conditioned food places, the birds come and pick on the food,” he said.

“That has a potential effect on disease.”

As a reminder to Singaporeans to keep the environment clean, the council held its annual Operation We Clean Up event around the island yesterday with the support of the Singapore Kindness Movement and National Environment Agency.

Patrons at 31 Kopitiam outlets were reminded to return their trays as part of the initiative.

Yip Keng Soon, director of operations at Kopitiam Investment, said the public has the misconception that clearing trays will leave cleaners out of work.

“They will in fact be making life easier for the cleaners and making work less of a burden for older workers,” he added.

He acknowledged, however, that tray return facilities are still lacking.

Ministers and members of parliament were out in force to pick up litter with residents in their wards.

Among them was Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, who did his bit at an open area in Tampines Avenue 3.

“I was told that it takes just two minutes to clear up the bins for the cleaners,” he said.

“However, if the litter is thrown all over the place, it takes 20 minutes of back-breaking work.”

In conjunction with the event, several wards also gave their cleaners a day off yesterday and some hosted dinner for the cleaners.

A bin sensor system was piloted in Nee Soon, which alerts the town council and cleaners when bins are full.

Professor Leo Yee Sin, director of the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said the environment has an impact on health.

“A lot of times in medicine, we think that it is the discovery of antibiotics, discovery of vaccines, that change the health of people. If you look back into Singapore history, what made a difference is the environmental cleanliness, it’s the sanitation,” she added.

jalmsab@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

THE new MP for Bukit Batok, Murali Pillai of the People’s Action Party (PAP), will take his oath of allegiance when Parliament sits this afternoon.

“I hope to learn quickly from fellow PAP MPs and I want to start contributing actively,” he told reporters yesterday, after going around the constituency to thank residents for their support in Saturday’s by-election.

Mr Murali won the contest, where he was up against Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, with 61.2 per cent of the vote.

Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob confirmed Mr Murali will be sworn in today, and told The Straits Times: “I am sure that Murali will stay true to his promise and will lend his voice strongly in Parliament to the issues that matter to his Bukit Batok residents and all Singaporeans.”

She said an MP is deemed to be elected once the Returning Officer declares he has won the election.

Singaporeans vote in Bukit Batok by-election

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, AsiaOne

And Mr Murali said yesterday he has a full schedule of plans to implement, and is “raring to go”.

Some 10 activists joined him on the back of a lorry that went around the estate for an hour to thank residents, many of whom congratulated and cheered him on.

“I am really very grateful for the great turnout of my supporters and volunteers.”

Residents can also expect details on the projects he promised during the nine-day campaign “in a matter of months”, he added.

These include a job placement programme, a health cooperative and a youth mentorship scheme. He said he was finding as many partners for the plans as possible.

He will also hold his first Meet-the-People Session after the election this evening at the PAP’s Bukit Batok branch.

On Saturday, Mr Murali became the first PAP candidate to win a by-election in a single-member constituency in more than three decades.

But his share of the vote was nearly 12 percentage points lower than that won by former MP David Ong at last September’s general election.

Saturday’s by-election was triggered by the resignation of Mr Ong in March over an alleged extramarital affair, a factor analysts said cost the PAP some votes, as did the profile of Mr Murali’s rival Dr Chee.

Dr Chee said yesterday he would remain committed to Bukit Batok.

Mr Murali said he welcomed this: “It’s good because we’re talking about serving our residents.”

The days ahead will also be full of reflection, he added, noting that he and his team will analyse the campaign and make sure they communicate more effectively with residents.

rachelay@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.