SINGAPORE: Nine days of campaigning for Singaporeâs general election wrapped on Wednesday (Jul 8). Candidates had to improvise in their outreach efforts to adhere to safe-distancing guidelines amid a COVID-19 pandemic. Gone were the usual handshakes and large rallies. Instead, candidates intensified their ground efforts, fanning out at coffeeshops and going door-to-door for face time with residents, speaking up to make themselves heard through masks, and giving them fist bumps, elbow bumps and salutes along the way.
Hereâs a look back at some of the moments from the campaign trail.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressing the media at Deyi Secondary School on Nomination Day on Jun 30. Supporters were not allowed to gather at nomination centres due to guidelines from the Elections Department in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Mr Lee was flanked by other People’s Action Party (PAP) candidates for the election and assentors for the party stood on the sidelines. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh looks on as WP candidate for Punggol West SMC Tan Chen Chen and WP chairman Sylvia Lim meet a resident’s pet macaw during a walkabout in Punggol on Jul 3, 2020. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Peopleâs Action Party candidate for Marine Parade GRC Tan Chuan-Jin was often seen sprinting on his walkabouts, turning them into “runabouts”. Speaking to the media at one such runabout at Lorong Mydin on Tuesday (Jul 7), he said running from door-to-door helps him to cover more ground. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
Progress Singapore Party chief Tan Cheng Bock, candidate for West Coast GRC makes a “heart” sign to residents while on a walkabout in Clementi on Jul 8, 2020. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
Workers’ Party’s Jamus Lim takes a “wefie” with other participants of the Singapore Votes 2020: Political Debate before air-time: Singapore Democratic Party’s Chee Soon Juan, Progress Singapore Party’s Francis Yuen and People’s Action Party’s Vivian Balakrishnan. The debate was moderated by CNA Digital chief editor Jaime Ho. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
People’s Action Party first assistant secretary-general and candidate for East Coast GRC Heng Swee Keat giving a child a PAP flag during a Simei walkabout on Jul 3, 2020. (Photo: Ruth Smalley)
Singapore Democratic Party candidate for Bukit Panjang SMC Paul Tambyah fistbumps a patron at a Bukit Panjang coffeeshop. (Photo: Goh Chiew Tong)
One of the People’s Action Party candidates for Sembawang GRC Poh Li San gives a thumbs up despite a hot day for a walkabout at Kampong Admiralty on Jul 5, 2020. (Photo: Jeremy Long)
Freelance artists Albert (right) and Alfred (left) hold up T-shirts bearing comic drawings of familiar faces from GE2020 including WP’s Nicole Seah, SDP’s Chee Soon Juan, WP’s Pritam Singh, PSP’s Tan Cheng Bock, PV’s Lim Tean, WP’s Sylvia Lim, RP’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam and PSP member Lee Hsien Yang. (Photo: Ruth Smalley)
People’s Action Party candidate for Jalan Besar GRC Josephine Teo listens as a resident voices her concerns at Whampoa Hawker Centre. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
The National Solidarity Party’s candidates for Sembawang GRC Yeo Tiong Boon and Sathin Ravindran on a walkabout at Canberra Link on Jul 7, 2020. (Photo: Goh Chiew Tong)
The People Actionâs Partyâs K Shanmugam and fellow candidates for Nee Soon GRC Louis Ng, Derrick Goh and Carrie Tan speak to the media outside Northpoint City. Supporters stood behind them wearing T-shirts with an illustration of Mr Shanmugam. (Photo: Jo Yee Koo)
Singapore Democratic Alliance candidates for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC wave at residents from a carpark at Pasir Ris Street 51 on Jul 2, 2020 (Photo: Jo Yee Koo)
Flyers introducing new People’s Action Party face Derrick Goh, a candidate for Nee Soon GRC at a coffeeshop in Yishun (Photos: Gaya Chandramohan)
Reform Party (RP) candidate for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Charles Yeo, doing a Facebook Live session during a walkabout at Ang Mo Kio Central on Jul 7, 2020. (Photo: Jo Yee Koo)
People’s Action Party candidate for Sembawang GRC Ong Ye Kung smiles after a chat with a resident at Canberra Link on Jul 1, 2020. (Photo: Hanidah Amin)
Singapore People’s Party candidate for Potong Pasir SMC Jose Raymond drenched while out helping to put up campaign posters right after his nomination on June 30, 2020 at Potong Pasir Avenue 1. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean from the People’s Action Party and PAP candidate for Sengkang GRC Ng Chee Meng bump elbows as a way of greeting a passerby at Rivervale Plaza on Jul 5, 2020 during a walkabout. (Photo: Hanidah Amin)
Red Dot United candidate for Jurong GRC Liyana Dhamirah briefly unmasks for a photo at a walkabout in Jurong West Avenue 1 on Jul 8, 2020. (Photo: Ruth Smalley)
People’s Action Party candidates for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Alex Yam, Lawrence Wong, Zaqy Mohamad and Hany Soh maintain a safe distance while on a walkabout at Woodlands MRT station on Jul 2, 2020. (Photo: Anne-Marie Lim)
Peoples Voice candidate for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Gilbert Goh speaking to a man with a disability outside White Sands mall. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
People’s Action Party candidate for MacPherson SMC Tin Pei Ling removing her mask just before her address on Nomination Day on Jun 30, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
The Peopleâs Power Partyâs candidate for MacPherson SMC, Goh Meng Seng holds an impromptu Facebook Live chat for half an hour at Circuit Road on Jul 4, 2020. (Photo: Anne-Marie Lim)
The Raeesah Khan case has been a deeply polarising one, evident from the swath of reactions and varying opinions on the internet by Singaporeans young and old.Â
The Workersâ Party (WP) candidate contesting in Sengkang GRC became a lightning rod after it was revealed that she was accused of “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race”.Â
The 26-year-old is currently under police investigations after netizens dredged up screenshots of her comments on the outcome of the City Harvest Church trial as well as the individuals who were spotted gathering at Robertson Quay during the circuit breaker. Raeesah has since apologised for her âinsensitiveâ remarks, stating that she only wanted to âraise awareness to minority concernsâ.Â
SINGAPORE: Three more locations were added to a list of public places visited by COVID-19 cases during their infectious period, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its daily update on Wednesday (Jul 8).
The new locations include a restaurant, a supermarket and a Singtel store. They were visited by the confirmed cases between Jun 24Â and Jul 5.
The new locations and their respective addresses are as follows:
Mustafa Centre (145 Syed Alwi Road)
JEM (50 Jurong Gateway Road)
Penang Culture
Don Don Donki
Jurong Point (1 Jurong West Central 2)
Here is the full list of locations:
Those who had been identified as close contacts of confirmed cases would have been notified by MOH.Â
As a precautionary measure, those who had been at those locations during the specified timings should monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit, the health ministry added.Â
“They should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of acute respiratory infection (such as cough, sore throat and runny nose), as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history.
“There is no need to avoid places where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been,” MOH said.
The National Environment Agency will also engage the management of affected premises to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfection.
Singapore reported 158Â new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in Singapore to 45,298.
One COVID-19 case, a 69-year-old Singaporean man, died on Jul 7 after being found unresponsive at his place of residence.
He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on the same day. He had a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, hypothyroidism and chronic kidney disease.Â
“The preliminary cause of death is cardiorespiratory failure, pending further investigations by the coroner,” said MOH.
Nine of the new cases reported on Wednesday were community infections. Three were imported cases, including two children aged 13 and 15. The remaining 146 cases were work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.
A dormitory at 12 Kian Teck Crescent was also identified as a new cluster, with a total of nine cases.Â
Reform Party’s (RP) secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam sent a message to “his father in heaven”, the late JB Jeyaretnam, during a live Facebook rally today (July 8).Â
“We have brought his legacy here again in 2020,” said Jeyaretnam of his father, who founded RP in July 2008, three months before he passed on. Jeyaretnam has since taken over the leadership of the party.Â
If he could “send a message to his father in heaven”, Jeyaretnam would say: “Dad, I am here in Ang Mo Kio. You lost seven times before you got elected. I also will not give up.
“I will hold my head high as a Singaporean. All the injustices, the pockets of poverty, the lack of compassion â they are still the same today, and even worse than you have feared.
“But I will not give up, until I make a difference.”
He added that the party was trying to make it right for his father’s beloved Singapore. Â
“Rest in peace, dad,” he said.
Later, Noraini Yunus, who is contesting in Ang Mo Kio GRC too, also shared about “a legacy behind her”.Â
SINGAPORE: Given that retrenchments are likely to pick up amid an economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to have a âcredible opposition partyâ to speak up for workers in Parliament, said Workersâ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh on Wednesday (Jul 8).
In the longer run, Singapore faces other challenges, such as an ageing population and a resident labour force participation rate that will peak in this decade.
An ageing population is set to change the shape of the Singapore’s society in many fundamental ways, while the resident labour force participation rate peaking could mean that the âratio between locals and foreigners in the economy may be up for reviewâ, said Mr Singh.
With these on the horizon, it is important to have a âgood teamâ of Members of Parliament (MPs) â including opposition MPs â working for good outcomes for the country, he added.
Workers’ Party’s Pritam Singh poses with a resident during a walkabout on Jul 8, 2020. (Photo: Marcus Ramos)
Speaking to reporters on the final day of the election hustings, Mr Singh was responding to a question about his assessment of the party’s campaign over the past nine days.
The need for opposition MPs in Parliament is one of the three messages that the WP has tried conveying to voters, he said, citing how the party’s former MPs had spoken up on behalf of private bus drivers impacted by the pandemic, shortly after the release of the first Budget in February.
âIt is important we are there to represent their interests,â he said.
The WP has also been emphasising that the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme is ânot a healthy optionâ for Singapore.
The scheme, designed to ensure a minimum number of opposition parliamentarians even if they are not elected, does not allow the NCMP to âembed himself or herself in the communityâ, Mr Singh added.
Referring to earlier comments made by Mr Goh Chok Tong on how the scheme is an âimportant outriggerâ for Singaporeâs political system, Mr Singh said: âI think itâs an outrigger for the PAP (Peopleâs Action Party).
âI think Singaporeans will realise that when you vote elected opposition MPs into Parliament, the Government is more responsive and more sensitive to the concerns of the people.â
He also stressed that this year’s General Election is a âtough electionâ, with a âreal risk of a Parliament dominated completely by elected PAP MPsâ.
âIs that a good outcome for Singapore? I would suggest it’s not,â he said.
âMy concern with that sort of a situation (is) the solidarity that is required to keep our country together will weaken in such a situation, so it’s very important for the public to reflect on these things and make their vote count.â
âWEâVE GIVEN IT OUR BEST SHOTâ
The WP â the only opposition party who had MPs in the last Parliament â is contesting 21 seats this election in four Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and two Single Member Constituencies (SMC).
Apart from defending Hougang SMC and Aljunied GRC, it is contesting in East Coast, Marine Parade and Sengkang GRCs, as well as in Punggol West SMC.
Workers’ Party’s Low Thia Khiang is spotted at a walkabout on Jul 8, 2020. (Photo: Marcus Ramos)
Given how the PAP is a âvery well-resourced partyâ with aâdeep benchâ, it is not surprising that it has sent out its heavyweights to aid in campaigning, Mr Singh said.
The WP has done its best, he added, noting how former party chief Low Thia Khiang – who is recovering from a fall and time in the intensive care unit – has also showed up to support the partyâs candidates on various walkabouts.
Workers’ Party’s Gerald Giam poses with a resident during a walkabout on Jul 8, 2020. (Photo: Marcus Ramos)
Mr Low was present during the doorstop on Wednesday, although he did not take questions. Earlier in the day, he was seen on a walkabout with the WPâs Ajunied team, who were giving out fliers at Hougang MRT station.
Mr Singh said the party has placed the choice in front of voters. âItâs a difficult election ⊠given the circumstances, but we’ve given it our best shot.â
Campaigning for GE2020 is officially drawing to a close.Â
Catch Progress Singapore Party’s final session for this general election tonight (July 8) at 9pm.
The live talkshow will feature Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Lee Hsien Yang, as well as the following candidates: Leong Mun Wai, Francis Yuen, Abdul Rahman Mohamad, Wendy Low and Kumaran Pillai.
SINGAPORE: The Peopleâs Action Party (PAP) laid out its initiatives for Tanjong Pagar GRC residents, while the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) outlined their ideas for reform, in the constituency political broadcast for the Group Representation Constituency on Wednesday (Jul 8).
As the incumbents, the five-member PAP team went first.
PAP: âYOU ARE NOT ALONE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF CRISISâ
Minister in the Prime Ministerâs Office Indranee Rajah, 57, spoke in Malay, then English, promising to do more for Tanjong Pagar residents.
âWe will introduce green initiatives, we will add new social programmes to existing ones to help residents in need of help and support,â she said.
âWe will look after our seniors, we will strengthen that special bond so that you know you are part of the bigger community and you are not alone, especially in this time of crisis.â
She said that Tanjong Pagar was more than a constituency. âIt is also a home with heart,â she said.Â
âThe PAPâs long history of service to Singapore and Singaporeans began in Tanjong Pagar. Our team will honour that legacy and build on it to improve lives for all.â
The People’s Action Party candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC speaking at the constituency political broadcast on Jul 8, 2020.
Mr Alvin Tan, 39, spoke in English and Mandarin. The LinkedIn executive spoke about the social programmes he has been involved in since he started community service in the Chinatown area about 16 years ago.
âI will continue to build upon these programmes in the Tanjong Pagar area to serve our seniors, our youth, as well as raise awareness about climate change through new green programmes,â he said.
Mr Eric Chua, 41, said that he became a father just three weeks ago and it got him thinking hard about life.
âMany say it takes a village to raise a child ⊠I hope my son can grow up in a village where every child can have a fair chance to succeed in life, regardless of their starting points,â said the former civil servant, who is also a long-time volunteer in the GRC.Â
Initiatives he would work on include helping those impacted by pandemic and helping the elderly and hawkers go digital, he added, before concluding his address in Mandarin.
Speaking in Mandarin and English, Ms Joan Pereira, 52, who had been a Member of Parliament (MP) in Tanjong Pagar since 2015, noted that many programmes have been organised to help residents in need, particularly the elderly. Â
âI have been with my residents in challenging times and in good times, and I will continue to work hard for you,â she said.
Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, 50, started in Mandarin before giving an English speech to round off the teamâs broadcast.
âOur founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew has set high standards for us, to take care of Singapore, take care of Tanjong Pagar and to take care of our residents,â he said. âOur team is determined to do our best to uphold these high standards.â
He said that the PAP will keep its promises and do its best for Singaporeans and for the country.
PSP: âNO ONE SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND â NO ONEâ
PSP organising secretary Michael Chua, 55, started by reassuring residents that the team would be able to manage a town council if elected.
He said that a âPAP-dominatedâ Parliament is not working well because of âgroup-thinkâ and asked for Singaporeans to vote for their team for a âbetter and strongerâ Parliament.
Too many PAP MPs come from the same background, such as the military or civil service, he said.
âTheyâve always voted in favour of all policies. No PAP MP has ever seriously disagreed except for Dr Tan Cheng Bock,â he said. âFor these reasons, we have to break this calcified mould and bring a new vision and fresh ideas to Parliament.â
The Progress Singapore Party candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC speaking at the constituency political broadcast on Jul 8, 2020.
Lawyer Wendy Low, 43, called for âsystemic reformâ in Singapore for social security, job creation and to promote sustainable growth.
She called for a minimum âlivingâ wage, and a national database on the homeless and the âinvisible poorâ living in three- to five-room flats, as well as economic and training initiatives like making Singapore an ASEAN hub for corporate universities.
âIndustry and start-up leaders can set the curricula and close the gap between market needs and available graduatesâ skill sets,â she added. âAn industry-driven curricula will mitigate the excuse to import more foreign talent.â
Ms Low said that one of the partyâs aims will be affordable and holistic healthcare: âWe should address mental well-being like any other ordinary illness. Zero suicide should be a national goal.â
IT executive Harish Pillay, 60, highlighted PSPâs proposals including a review of Singaporeâs free trade agreements, promoting a more vibrant small- and medium-size enterprise sector, and energy sustainability.
The Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, for instance, âneeds serious review because it is hurting our local PMETs and fresh graduatesâ, he said, adding that even where FTAs benefit the economy, âwe must make sure that the impact on the ground is fair and equitableâ.
Mr Pillay also said that Singapore should switch to a 100 per cent electric public transport system to diversify the countryâs energy systems to renewable sources.
The PSP stands for diversity and inclusion, Mr Pillay noted. âWe need diverse voices in Parliament. We do not need a parliament full of yes-men who allow the Government to rule for the few instead of all of us. No one should be left behind â no one.â
Mr Abas Kasmani, 67, a senior trainer and consultant, spoke in Malay, while Mr Terence Soon, a 29-year-old pilot, spoke in Mandarin.
This is only the second time Tanjong Pagar GRC, which has 134,642 voters, has been challenged by an opposition party. In 2015, the PAP ran against the now-defunct Singaporeans First led by Mr Tan Jee Say in Tanjong Pagar, and won with 78 per cent of the vote.
