The law recognises them. Transgenders who have officially changed their sex can legally marry here.

But to be accepted by society?

That is a major hurdle that The T Project is struggling to overcome.

The T Project runs a shelter for homeless transgenders, many of whom have been kicked out of their homes by their families, rejected by some strangers and refused jobs by others.

Miss June Chua makes it her mission to help them. She was born male, but at 17, she decided to undergo gender reassignment surgery in Thailand.

“I did not have to ‘come out’ to my parents as I was already wearing ‘girl clothes’. They knew all along that I was different,” says Miss Chua, now 43.

“I am fortunate that they showed me unconditional love. They have never seen me as their son or their daughter but their child.”

But not every transgender person is as lucky.

Two years ago, Miss Chua decided to help the transgender community by setting up The T Project with her sister, Alicia (not her real name), who was also a transgender but died last year.

“I wanted to share my blessing with other less fortunate transgender people,” she tells The New Paper on Sunday.

Located in central Singapore, the shelter has been home to eight people over the years. But due to a lack of funds, the shelter has to move out of its current premises.

When Miss Chua, who works at a women’s healthcare centre during the day, broke the news to the residents on Wednesday, Rose (not her real name) broke down.

She told Miss Chua: “Please do not leave me.”

Rose, 78, was recently featured in a video posted on Pink Dot SG’s Facebook page as part of a campaign for the movement in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Miss Chua says: “Rose is very attached to the shelter as she has lived here for two years. It breaks my heart to see her like this. She is like family to me.”

The shelter can house up to four people and acts as an interim accommodation for homeless transgenders, says Miss Chua.

Shophouse attic

The shelter is in a shophouse attic and funded by a non-profit organisation here.

“They get free lodging and food so that whatever they earn from working can be saved to help them get back on their feet,” says Miss Chua.

She declined to disclose the shelter’s benefactor and its address.

Besides Rose, the other shelter residents are Jess and Pearl (not their real names).

When TNPS visited the shelter on Thursday, it was neat and clean, filled with several wall art contributed by well-meaning people.

Miss Chua says: “I have no rules for the residents here.

“They have been told enough times by society to act or be a certain way. I want to give them the freedom to do whatever they want.”

She claims the transgender community faces discrimination everywhere they go.

“They get rejected at job interviews, social welfare centres and healthcare service providers,” she says, adding that homeless transgenders struggle to survive every day.

“It is a vicious circle,” explains Miss Chua.

“Those with early transition might get kicked out of their homes by their families and drop out of school.

“Without adequate educational qualifications, some resort to becoming sex workers to make money.”

The transgender women who have stayed in the shelter have their own heartbreaking stories of abandonment and rejection.

Pearl, for example, was homeless for several months, lugging a trolley full of her belongings around Clarke Quay.

Miss Chua says: “Pearl got skin rashes from sleeping on the streets. The rashes were so bad that she had to be admitted to Singapore General Hospital.

“She now works at a bakery and is saving money to get a place of her own.”

Miss Chua was recently informed that The T Project might be relocated to a dormitory that houses 70 migrant workers.

She says: “I was devastated when I thought about Rose. I do not know if she can cope at a place full of strangers.”

Miss Chua says its costs about $500 each month to operate the shelter.

She hopes she can raise enough money to keep it going.

“I hope to one day open a transgender resource centre where people can learn about transgender issues.”

For more information on The T Project, go to www.facebook.com/TheTprojectsg

She became a sex worker to survive

When she was 18, Miss Maya (not her real name) was kicked out of her home by her step-grandfather.

She says: “I knew I was all alone when even my father refused to pick up my phone calls.

“My struggles were different from those of a typical 18-year-old. I had no time to think about meeting friends or buying new bags. I just wanted to survive.”

Miss Maya ended up as a sex worker, homeless and almost broke.

But thanks to The T Project, she has found her feet. “I am grateful to Miss June Chua as she gave me a place to stay when I did not have one,” she says.

“Staying at the shelter allowed me to save money to get a place of my own. I did not have to worry about rent.”

Miss Maya, 22, told The New Paper on Sunday that after she was kicked out of her family home, she found work at a karaoke lounge as a waitress and rented a room in Bishan.

All alone

She says: “It was the first day of Hari Raya when I moved in. I spent it all alone. I realised I had no family members with me any more.”

But three months later, Miss Maya got home to the sight of all her belongings outside her room. She says: “The landlord wanted the room back. He wanted me to leave immediately and did not even return my deposit money.”

With only $70 and no place to stay, she engaged in sex work and stayed at the cheapest hotel she could find in Geylang. “I had to do it to survive, even if it was sex work.”

But as the months went by, Miss Maya found it increasingly difficult to pay rent.

She says: “Every day, I woke up worrying if I would end up homeless again.”

It was then that her friend told her about the shelter for transgender people.

Miss Maya says: “I went for an interview and on the same night, Miss Chua called me and took me to the shelter.

“There were three other transgender women staying there at that time. I connected with them because we shared similar experiences. They taught me how to be street smart and independent.”

She eventually saved up enough to rent a room in Woodlands.

Miss Maya, who works as a social activist for the transgender community in Singapore, credits Miss Chua and The T Project for helping her out of the darkest period of her life.

“Now I have a roof over my head and I can support myself,” she says with a proud smile.

This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
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Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan yesterday vowed to stay on in Bukit Batok and win over its residents, even as his contest in the by-election ended in defeat.

In a five-minute speech to thank supporters at Bukit Gombak Stadium shortly after the result was announced at 11.30pm, he said: “Bukit Batok, you’ve invited me here… I’ve come to know you, and hopefully you’ll come to know me better in the years to come.

“We’ll see better times, better results, for the SDP the next round.”

Dr Chee, 53, was presented with garlands and was joined by his wife Huang Chih Mei on the podium as he addressed the crowd.

“I want to bow – not in defeat, but with grace and to thank again everyone who worked so hard to make this situation a possibility,” he said.

“We go out with our head held high.”

He later told reporters, when asked if he will stand in Bukit Batok at the next election if it remains a single seat: “Definitely, definitely.”

The opposition veteran, who entered politics in 1992, won 38.8 per cent of the vote against his People’s Action Party (PAP) rival Murali Pillai, who scored 61.2 per cent.

This was his best electoral performance over five attempts to enter Parliament since 1992, and marked a swing of 12.4 percentage points over the 26.4 per cent won by SDP candidate Sadasivam Veriyah in last year’s general election.

Dr Chee’s four-man team got 33.4 per cent of votes in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in GE2015, which marked his political comeback after having to sit out two previous general elections as he was an undischarged bankrupt.

The SDP chief said while he was disappointed at not having won, he felt encouraged by the result.

Singaporeans vote in Bukit Batok by-election

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The Straits Times, AsiaOne

“Given that we’ve so few resources, what we’re up against is never easy,” he said.

“We were never under the illusion that this was going to be anything other than an uphill battle.”

He stressed that the SDP had continued to emphasise both local and national issues, “despite our opponents engaging in the kind of politics we wish we wouldn’t see in Singapore”.

He also repeated his view – made several times during the hustings – that the contest was not just a direct one between him and his rival.

Asked for his response to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s comments on Facebook last night that Mr Murali’s win shows “the Government and people are united in building a better nation together”, Dr Chee said the media had not been fair to him.

SDP member Damanhuri Abas said the party will serve Bukit Batok residents in whatever way it can. He told The Sunday Times: “We surely will want to continue whatever we can do in Bukit Batok, if we are given the space by Mr Murali.”

Mr Sadasivam said the party will spend the next few days taking stock of the result. But he said he was encouraged that SDP managed to win some voters from the PAP.

Analysts were divided over what the result meant for Dr Chee, who has moved away from his adversarial politics of the past to adopt a more conciliatory tone.

Dr Norshahril Saat of the Iseas- Yusof Ishak Institute said his improved result shows “people are willing to forgive and forget Dr Chee for what he has done in the past”.

But former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin said the outcome also showed that “despite Chee’s best effort, his past will still haunt him for a while”.

Dr Chee told reporters he was determined to press on in future elections. He said: “This is a journey, a process. The destination is still far away, and we’ll have to keep at it. One day, we’ll get there.”

This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

In the end, there was no jubilant acceptance speech, no grand celebration by the winner of the Bukit Batok by-election.

Instead, People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Murali Pillai, in the face of his 61.2 per cent victory, said: “I am humbled by the results. I’m encouraged by the results but certainly not feeling triumphant.”

Mr Murali, who was speaking at PAP’s traditional press conference held after the result was announced at 11.30pm, was also quick to thank his rival, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, who got 38.8 per cent of the vote.

Said Mr Murali of Dr Chee and the SDP: “They ran a well-organised campaign. I want to thank them for the contest because it helped me articulate my plans for our Bukit Batok residents much better.”

Residents, whom he thanked for giving him the mandate to serve, were front and centre of his speech.

“I will serve everybody, irrespective of their political affiliation,” he stressed.

His press conference was a low-key one, held not at PAP headquarters or a stadium but at the party branch in Bukit Batok.

Also, Mr Murali was flanked, not by ministers but by four members of his campaign team, whom he said he was “eternally grateful to” for their time and hard work.

The quartet were: Madam Angelina Lim, branch assistant treasurer, Mr Lim Boon Lye, branch activist, Ms Noor Fatimah and Mr Tan Han Sen, branch activist.

Much of his brief speech focused on his immediate plans, which are to roll out the programmes he had proposed in his nine-day campaign.

Singaporeans vote in Bukit Batok by-election

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These include a job placement programme, healthcare plans, and a mentorship scheme for children from low-income homes.

Mr Murali said the schemes would be ready in the next few months. “I’ll start work tomorrow,” he added, even as he said that his agenda was “ambitious”.

“So I’ll be out there looking for people to join me. And I would like to work with a number of civic organisations as well,” he said.

“We really need lots of help and I welcome anyone to join me, and we’ll take it from there.”

Mr Murali, when asked, did not dwell on his margin of victory.

It was 11.8 percentage points lower than what the PAP’s David Ong, who stepped down over an alleged affair, scored at the general election last year.

Instead, he quipped that he was “used to razor-thin margins”, coming from Aljunied GRC where he contested in a team against the Workers’ Party and lost with 49 per cent of the vote.

“I said from the start that this will be a tough by-election. And I’m really grateful for the results that have been announced,” he said.

“It gives me encouragement, but certainly there’s lots of work to be done.”

Tomorrow will likely be a busy day for Mr Murali, as Parliament will sit in the afternoon.

Asked if he would be sworn in then, Mr Murali said: “If the Speaker permits, then I will attend.”

He will hold his first Meet-the-People Session tomorrow evening.

Speaking to reporters after the press conference ended, several PAP leaders said they had expected a tough fight and were very happy with the result.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing said: “It’s never easy to win a by-election.”

These local elections are always a tough fight for the incumbent party, he added. “We never, never take for granted a by-election. It’s not something that you can compare with a general election result.”

Mr Chan added: “So of course we’re very pleased that the residents of Bukit Batok have renewed their faith in the party.”

His colleagues were also full of praise for Mr Murali.

Said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam: “He came out stronger than I expected. I think he did exceptionally well.”

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said: “It was a good fight. It is a good win.”

This article was first published on May 8, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Both by-election candidates for Bukit Batok SMC have thanked their supporters this morning.

The new Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bukit Batok single seat Mr Murali Pillai and his party mates from the People’s Action Party (PAP) went around the neighbourhood on a lorry waving at residents.

New MP for #BukitBatok Murali Pillai on a thank you parade around the constituency https://t.co/wE9xHNXWrq https://t.co/bdn1KMEbVS

— The Straits Times (@STcom) May 8, 2016

“Together we will build a better home for all of us” said Mr Murali, according to Channel NewsAsia’s Twitter account.

“Together we will build a better home for all of us” says PAP’s Murali Pillai as he goes around thanking residents pic.twitter.com/Olg6ER3qGU

— Hetty Musfirah (@hettyCNA) May 8, 2016

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Dr Chee Soon Juan and his party mates also did their morning rounds thanking their supporters.

He said: “We’ll be back”, in a tweet on Channel NewsAsia’s account.

“We’ll be back”: #SDP‘s Chee tells #BukitBatok residents at thank you parade https://t.co/0inrsNZzg1 #SGByElection pic.twitter.com/MEJqdfjSiZ

— Channel NewsAsia (@ChannelNewsAsia) May 8, 2016

Mr Murali won 61.2 per cent of the vote, or 14,428 votes, in last night’s count of the by-election.

Dr Chee garnered 38.8 per cent of the vote, or 9,142 votes.

There were 622 rejected votes out of the 24,192 cast, which made up 94.03 per cent of the total voter pool comprising 25,727 registered electors.

The result was announced at close to 11.30pm, following nine days of campaigning by Mr Murali and Dr Chee before the Cooling-off Day on May 6.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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