There are no physical rallies held this year in view of the Covid-19 situation, and all the parties have gone online to share their thoughts and vision for Singapore, as well as to address concerns that Singaporeans might have.
[WATCH] In this episode of Straight Talk with PAP, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam talks about the global economy together with Alvin Tan and Sharael Taha. #GE2020 #OurLivesOurJobsOurFuture
SINGAPORE: Calling Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat’s move from Tampines GRC to East Coast GRC a “sudden departure”, the vice president of the National Solidarity Party (NSP) questioned the motivations behind the move and said residents’ interests should come first.
“I’ve walked around and there are people who are surprised that Swee Keat actually made a sudden departure from Tampines to East Coast. So my question is, not (to) him, (but) the party: Does the party have the interest of the people? Or it’s for their own interest?” Mr Mohd Ridzwan said on Thursday (Jul 2) during a walkabout in Tampines.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, the anchor minister for East Coast GRC, visiting the hawker centre at Block 18 Bedok South Road on Jul 1, 2020. (Photo: Aqil Haziq Mahmud)
Speaking to CNA on the NSP’s decision to contest in Tampines GRC, Mr Ridzwan, who is running in a General Election for the first time, said sending a team of candidates to the constituency was like sending a “suicide squad” as they had expected to face up against political heavyweights like Mr Heng and Minister of Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli.
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) president and Tampines GRC candidate, Reno Fong, speaking to a man with vision impairment during his party’s walkabout at Tampines on Jul 2, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
Despite the potentially challenging circumstances the NSP was anticipating, they were resolute in their nomination as candidates as they felt that they had to give voters options at the polling station, Mr Ridzwan said.
The NSP team – comprising party president Reno Fong, vice president Mohd Ridzwan, Choong Hon Heng and Eugene Yeo – distributed party pamphlets to the morning rush hour crowd in the area around the bus interchange and Tampines MRT station.
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) candidate, Choong Hon Heng, distributing pamphlets to commuters at Tampines Bus Interchange during his party’s walkabout on Jul 2, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) candidate for Tampines GRC, Eugene Yeo, at his party’s walkabout in Tampines on Jul 2, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
The fifth candidate, Vincent Ng, was not able to join his fellow candidates on the walkabout as he had personal matters to attend to.
Following Mr Heng’s departure, the PAP’s team in Tampines GRC is now led by Mr Zulkifli, together with Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon, Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mr Desmond Choo and Ms Cheng Li Hui.
On matters of policy, while NSP has indicated in its manifesto that a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 7 per cent should be kept, Mr Ridzwan said the party is also studying an option of a two-tier GST in which goods deemed as basic necessities are exempt from the tax.
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) candidate for Tampines GRC, Choong Hon Heng, at the party’s walkabout on Jul 2, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
“Our position here is – no, don’t raise the GST. Let’s be pragmatic. But then again, could we look into the mechanism and see if we can give zero GST to basic necessities? For example, these could be rice or cooking oil as a minimum.”
“For those who want to buy (at) a premium, because they can afford (it) – they want a better quality – that’s where we have the two-tier GST.”
Mr Ridzwan also said that there should be an option for first-time Muslim pilgrims to make CPF withdrawals to finance their Haj.
The NSP candidates wrapped up their walkabout, which started at 7.45am, at around 9am and left for a meeting at their party headquarters.
That is the commitment that Gigene Wong made during the Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) daily evening livestream yesterday (July 1) where candidates shared stories from their day of campaigning.
Recounting her day, Wong shared the message that she told the residents of Hong Kah North as she went about the area today. “Singapore’s daughter is back for you…I resigned and came home for you all. My heart is with you. I want to help you. I want to serve you. I want to hear you.”
SINGAPORE: Progress Singapore Party (PSP) secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock said he will not take up a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat if the opportunity arises, calling it a “ploy” to entice voters from opposition parties.
Speaking to reporters after a visit to 628 Ang Mo Kio Market on Thursday (Jul 2) where he attended a walkabout with Yio Chu Kang SMC candidate Kayla Low, Dr Tan said he agreed with the Workers’ Party on their views of the NCMP scheme.
“I know they (PAP) changed the rules and all the NCMPs actually behave like MPs in the House. But there’s one element missing – there’s no ground for him,” said Dr Tan.
“For us to be able to be a good opposition, we must always have some home or ground … I look at it as a ploy … to entice you to all vote the PAP, because they guarantee you have 12 NCMPs.”
The NCMP scheme, which was designed to ensure a minimum number of opposition parliamentarians even if they are not elected, is a “poisoned chalice”, Workers’ Party candidate Dennis Tan said on Wednesday.
The NCMP scheme allows the “best-performing losers” from the opposition to enter Parliament after a General Election. Members of the WP have in the past spoken up against the scheme, which has been in place for 36 years.
It is important that those going into Parliament get the majority mandate from the people, said Dr Tan.
“All must get elected …The argument now that you don’t have to elect a proper MP, there will be an NCMP – there’s a slight difference here,” he said.
Progress Singapore Party leader Tan Cheng Bock at a walkabout in an Ang Mo Kio market on Jul 2, 2020. (Photo: Marcus Ramos)
Dr Tan added that he would not take up an NCMP spot if the opportunity arises, but would not deny fellow party members the opportunity.
“I won’t take but if my men want to take I’ll let them take, because I have been to Parliament. I enjoyed Parliament being a proper elected MP. If the new ones feel that they want to have a feel of what Parliament is like, I won’t stop them,” he said.
“I’m already 80 years old and I always say I want people to get into the House to really experience what it’s like in the House. All the questions being asked and the answers by the ministers … it’s an experience they must go through. I will leave it to them.”
Dr Tan was the MP for Ayer Rajah for 26 years, when he was with the People’s Action Party. The ward is now part of West Coast GRC.
During his time as an MP between 1980 and 2006, Dr Tan also spoke against the Nominated Member of Parliament scheme.
“I opposed the NMP scheme very, very strongly and I stated my case in Parliament, objected to it and voted against it. That has been my stand,” he said. “For the NCMP (scheme), I’m not against it but that’s my own take. It’s not just being able to talk in Parliament but I always believe that you must have a base.”
Along with other PSP members, Dr Tan and Ms Low spent about 45 minutes greeting residents, as well as posing for photographs. They also ran into the People’s Action Party candidate for the Single Member Constituency, Mr Yip Hon Weng.
Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chief Tan Cheng Bock and his team run into People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Yip Hon Weng and his team during their walkabout at an Ang Mo Kio market on Jul 2, 2020. (Photo: Marcus Ramos)
A Singaporean has been missing in Australia since Monday after he was swept away while taking photos of waves along the shore.
Mr Goh Heng Yi, 23, who is studying for a Master of Economics at the University of Western Australia, was last seen on a rock at the Injidup Natural Spa, near Yallingup, Western Australia.
Australian media reported that he was with five other international students at the time.
After the first wave hit, Mr Goh was able to scramble up a nearby rock but was hit by a second large wave and vanished, reported ABC News.
Search operations began on Monday evening but have been suspended multiple times due to the hazardous conditions.
The south-west coastline is known for its treacherous waves, and the surf was described by the Australian police as being around 6m high when Mr Goh was swept away.
Sergeant Jane Gillham of the Dunsborough Police Station told The New Paper that around 40 personnel and volunteers are involved in the search, which had to be suspended as night fell yesterday.
The search is expected to continue today using police drones.
There’s no better way to show your political party pride than with well-designed merchandise.
We spotted these party-branded items used by political candidates on Nomination Day, and have included where you can get them (if you even can). Otherwise, just ask them where they got their party swag when they are walking around your neighbourhood.
Reusable face masks
They looked to be the same but upon further inspection, it seemed that some People’s Action Party (PAP) teams have their own customised white reusable mask. PHOTO: Facebook/Yahoo SingaporePHOTO: The Straits TimesParty chief Lee Hsien Loong was spotted wearing an all-white mask with the PAP logo emblazoned on the side. This same design was seen on many a PAP candidate.
The Workers’ Party’s Jamus Lim emphasised the importance of debate and, in turn, why Parliament needs more different voices, in his concluding remarks on the live “Singapore Votes 2020 – The Political Debate” tonight (July 1).
At the end of the hour-long session, Dr Lim said: “I enjoyed the debate. This is exactly why debates on ideas on how Singapore should progress should occur.”
He mentioned that it was clear from the debate “the People’s Action Party (PAP) doesn’t have a monopoly on best ideas on how we should bring the society forward”.
While Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had previously said that the general election would give PAP the mandate to bring the country out of the current crisis, Dr Lim didn’t agree.
“The truth is, PAP, in all likelihood, would have this mandate by the end of this election,” he said, earning chuckles from around the table.
In a one-on-one between Vivian Balakrishnan of the People’s Action Party (PAP) and Jamus Lim of the Workers’ Party (WP) on the live “Singapore Votes 2020 – The Political Debate” on July 1, the foreign affairs minister dropped an oblique compliment regarding the opposition party’s manifesto.
“I read your manifesto and actually, to be honest with you… we could have written the same manifesto,” Dr Balakrishnan told Dr Lim.
“And that’s why people have called the Workers’ Party ‘PAP-lite’ or ‘PAP-like’.”
Dr Balakrishnan stated that the WP has basically used whatever stand the PAP has taken as a reference point and took a “half-step to the left”.
Dr Lim rolled with the jab and emphasised that WP does not necessarily object policies just for the sake of objection – something that fellow WP member Sylvia Lim brought up earlier today (July 1).
“Ultimately what we want is the right policy. The fact that we’re having a debate and agitating toward an answer is a step positive in that direction.”
The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Vivian Balakrishnan and Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan crossed swords in a live political debate today (July 1) on the hot-button issue of Singapore’s growing population.
In a heated exchange, Dr Balakrishnan quashed claims that the government was targeting a population of 10 million and accused Dr Chee of “[indulging] in falsehoods”.
In the question and answer segment of the debate, Dr Chee asked Dr Balakrishnan if he would “categorically tell Singaporeans right now” that the PAP has no intention of raising Singapore’s population to 10 million.
His question referenced SDP’s “Four Yes, One No” manifesto for the upcoming election, in which the party said it would “push to stop the PAP from raising our population to 10 million”.
Dr Balakrishnan, who is also Foreign Minister, responded: “Just today, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a statement advising people like you not to indulge in falsehoods.”
With Opposition politician Chee Soon Juan biting at his heels, Murali Pillai’s headache just got worse.
The People’s Action Party (PAP) man just appeared in a 54-second video to talk about an online post about his son. It was painful to watch.
With both hands on his chest, the lawyer said: “Yes, I am not a perfect father. Yes, families have issues. But no, these things should not be brought into politics. I am terribly affected by this. But I will fight on.”
A father’s anguish was clearly displayed on his face. Murali’s body language showed the angst of a father going into GE2020 trying to defend his single seat of Bukit Batok, which he won with a 67.6 per cent vote share in the 2016 by-election.
Not a mean feat as Murali had fought in a town with a high Chinese majority, most of them belonging to the older generation. They even had a problem pronouncing his name — so Murali’s minders told the residents to call him Ah Mu.
This time round, the Chee-Murali contest could just turn out to be a closer one.
