SINGAPORE: Opposition parties were out in full force on Saturday (Jun 27) in the lead-up to Nomination Day for the upcoming General Election. 

One day after confirming the party’s line-up for Aljunied GRC, prospective candidates from the Workers’ Party (WP) held walkabouts in their wards on Saturday morning.

All five – WP chief Pritam Singh, chairman Sylvia Lim, vice-chairman Faisal Manap, former Non-Constituency Members of Parliament Leon Perera and Gerald Giam – visited Bedok 538 Market and Food Centre located in Aljunied’s Kaki Bukit division at about 9am, where they gave out fliers and interacted with stall owners and residents. 

Mr Singh also stopped for a selfie with a resident before wishing him great health in Mandarin.

In line with safe distancing measures, the candidates wore masks and avoided shaking hands with those they met. 

The hour-long walkabout at Bedok North Street 3 was the WP candidates’ second stop after visiting a wet market in Eunos earlier in the morning.

READ: GE2020: Workers’ Party introduces five more prospective candidates

READ: GE2020: Workers’ Party to contest 4 GRCs, 2 SMCs; Low Thia Khiang, Chen Show Mao and Png Eng Huat to step down

During the party’s press conference on Friday, Mr Singh said he will be defending his seat in Aljunied – together with Ms Lim and Mr Faisal – in the Jul 10 election. They will be joined by Mr Giam and Mr Perera, who are replacing former party chief Low Thia Khiang and Mr Chen Show Mao.

SDP TO CONTEST HOLLAND-BUKIT TIMAH GRC

Over at Bukit Timah Market, the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) chairman Paul Tambyah, together with members Alfred Tan and Benjamin Pwee, were seen distributing flyers and interacting with residents and stall owners at the hawker centre. 

The market is located in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC which the SDP will be contesting in the upcoming General Election.

READ: SDP’s Chee Soon Juan to contest Bukit Batok SMC in upcoming General Election: Report

Some residents were seen giving words of encouragement and support to Prof Tambyah during the walkabout, which lasted for about 20 minutes. 

This was Prof Tambyah’s second stop after visiting Gangsa Road at Bukit Panjang SMC with SDP’s Khuang Wai Yeen.

The opposition party has said it also plans to field a team in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC and the single-member constituencies of Yuhua, Bukit Panjang and Bukit Batok.

Its secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan has confirmed that he will be contesting in Bukit Batok.

PSP WALKABOUT AT WEST COAST MARKET SQUARE

The Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) secretary-general Dr Tan Cheng Bock was also out and about at West Coast Market Square on Saturday morning along with a number of PSP personnel. Also present was prospective party candidate Jeffrey Khoo, who is also likely to contest in West Coast GRC.

Dr Tan spent about 30 minutes interacting with residents at the hawker centre. While a number of them were eager to shake his hand, Dr Tan reminded them of the need to keep a safe distance. 

READ: ‘I’m quite confident of this area’: Tan Cheng Bock bullish about chances in West Coast GRC

He later said he was pleased with the reception given to him and his team. 

“I was quite cheered today by the reception,” said Dr Tan. “When I came in, I could feel the vibe that many of them still recognise me and many of them asked me to come back and I said: ‘Okay, I’ll try.’”

Meanwhile members from the Reform Party, led by party chairman Andy Zhu, visited a hawker centre in Ang Mo Kio.

Two potential candidates – Gurdev Singh and Charles Yeo – were among the group as they mingled with people and handed out leaflets at the food centre at Block 341 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.

READ: Reform Party unveils potential candidates for Singapore General Election

Mr Zhu said the party will reveal its manifesto and which constituencies its candidates are standing in at a later date. He declined to make any further comment on discussions with the Progress Singapore Party, saying that both sides have already given responses on the matter.

Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam is serving a 14-day stay-home notice after returning to Singapore from England, and the process is “rather smooth”, said Mr Zhu. He should be allowed to leave his place of accommodation around polling day.

The walkabout came soon after the party announced its campaign slogan of “Build Back Better, Fairer” and highlighted some of its key policy plans. 

Specific policy proposals it unveiled on Facebook on Friday night include unemployment benefits, universal healthcare and suspension of GST.

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SINGAPORE: As someone who helps professionals recover from heartbreak, it was unsurprising to me that break-ups, especially that of budding relationships, have been on the rise since the circuit breaker kicked in on Apr 7.

In the free Facebook support group I host, people were lamenting how the pandemic has wrenched them away from potential suitors or newly defined partners.

Despite their best efforts, many of these relationships fell apart after a few weeks, most of the time abruptly.

In the absence of physical touch and activities to do together, new couples living separately resort to video calls, chats and virtual dates to keep the relationship interesting.

But when a relationship isn’t stable or defined yet, it’s ill-equipped to deal with the hurdles of time and distance so prematurely. Unlike long-term partnerships where divorce usually happens after years of negativity, nascent relationships tend to end just as quickly as they began.

READ: Commentary: We cannot allow COVID-19 to disrupt our relationships too

READ: Commentary: Digital dating and why my love life is flourishing under lockdown

TWO TYPES OF BREAK-UPS

I’ve observed two kinds of isolation break-ups: Those between couples that met up to a year before the restrictions, and those between couples that just begun dating a few weeks ago.

For the former, the distance tends to expose the flaws of one or both partners during the “honeymoon” period. For one of my clients, her relationship of three months was plagued by incidents of her new boyfriend flirting and chatting with other women he met online.

She found out about his secret escapades when one of the women contacted her, leading her to question her boyfriend until he confessed.

Of course, she broke up with him on the spot, and is now recovering from the ordeal.

Yet another client was dismayed to find out that her partner of six months was a belligerent drunkard when in isolation. He would accuse her of cheating, then punish her with hot and cold behaviour.

He broke up with her after one particularly nasty argument, only to contact her again, promising that he would change. That did not stop the bouts of drinking, so she cut him off for good after a few weeks.

For budding relationships where both parties met a few days or weeks prior to social isolation, dissolutions happened because there was hardly any foundation at all.

An almost stranger might not hold your interest, and before you know it, it can be all too tempting to get back on that dating app and swipe to distract from the boredom of social isolation.

These potential relationships are thus prone to “ghosting,” where one party simply stops replying and vanishes, never to be heard from again.

This happened in the case of a male user of a dating app I’m a coach of. He hit it off with a woman whom he really liked, exchanging several in-depth conversations over the course of three days – only for her to make excuses to avoid scheduling a call.

Despite her initial warmth, she eventually stopped replying to his messages, leaving him puzzled and upset.

READ: Commentary: We’ve grown closer to co-workers during the coronavirus pandemic

READ: Commentary: When did LinkedIn become a dating site? Two rules to navigate this new challenge

Other times, the potential relationship becomes a “situationship” – a non-committed romantic relationship. Once it has outlasted its usefulness, sometimes in as little as two weeks, one or both parties might start slowly fading away by communicating less.

A woman in my group described her three-week situationship as “extremely disappointing”, because once stringent COVID-19 rules were announced, her potential love interest decided not to pursue anything more, as it was “too much work till they see each other again.”

The unexpectedness of his decision left her feeling bereft. Though she agreed that there would be no commitment, she had hoped that he would want to deepen their relationship despite the challenges of isolation.

THE IMPACT OF AN ABRUPT END

The sudden dissolution of relationships – no matter how young or vague – can hurt just as much as ending a long-term, defined relationship.

If one person wanted more out of a situationship, it can result in anger, resentment and regret at having wasted that time, energy and even money on the other person.

Sometimes there’s the anguish that, due to its brief nature, the party who opted out did not give the relationship a fair chance.

Other times, one person believes they are the problem, resulting in feelings of guilt.

READ: Commentary: Why sparks could fizzle after meeting your Zoom date in person

GETTING OVER AN ISOLATION BREAK-UP

If you have been on the receiving end of a breakup, the very first thing to do is to decide that you will heal, then figure out a way there.

If you cannot make this decision yet because it feels too overwhelming, take the time to be mindful of your pain. Allow yourself to grieve and vent all those repressed emotions.

Second, have an honest conversation with yourself about why that ex means so much to you. At this stage, you may find the pain doesn’t come from losing someone you love – rather, it comes from losing the future you envisioned with this person.

For my client with the three-month relationship, she was upset that her ex would throw away their carefully crafted plans for 2021, given that 2020 was so stressful already.

READ: Commentary: A home can heal in the time of coronavirus

Rejection can also reinforce negative ideas about yourself. These include never being good enough for someone, or that you won’t find anyone better than your ex, so it’s hopeless to try again.

If we hold on to these damaging beliefs, we’re more inclined to wallow in despair. So confront those beliefs – then adopt a growth mindset.

For example, if you believe that life will never get any better, simply prove yourself wrong by trying out new hobbies and immersing yourself in new experiences.

Many of my clients started “taking back” their lives by renovating their homes or going ahead solo with an activity that they had planned with the ex.

The point is to do something so fabulous that you forget why you needed the ex in your life to begin with.

Third, reach out to your support network. Now that you can meet your friends and distant family members face-to-face, it’s a good time to catch up with them and let them comfort you.

There are also many support groups online – such as the Facebook group I run, Get Over Him – to help you through this painful period.

SHOULD YOU GET BACK INTO THE GAME?

Now it can be very tempting to hop back onto that dating app to ease your pain – but don’t do it immediately.

You need to give yourself time to heal and better yourself before you attempt to jump into another relationship. Two heartbreaks in a row is not fun.

Think of it this way: Work on yourself first to the point where you’re overflowing with love, where you’ll want someone to share that with you. Don’t try to fill the void of your loss.

Of course, if the break-up was amicable and you feel ready to move on, feel free to dive right into the dating world.

READ: Commentary: Relationships – yes you have a type. It’s likely to be your ex

The circuit breaker has forced people to slow down and foster more authentic connections.

With bars, museums and concert halls still closed and wearing masks mandatory – taking away some of the magic of a first date– it’s an excellent time to get to know someone virtually before you meet.

Plus, you get to take things slow, and figure out what you want and don’t want in a partner.

Cherlyn Chong is a breakup recovery and dating specialist at Steps to Happyness, as well as host of the free Get Over Him Breakup Recovery Group for Professional Women on Facebook.

SINGAPORE: The Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock said on Saturday (Jun 27) he is confident of his team’s chances in West Coast GRC in the upcoming General Election.

Speaking to reporters after a walkabout at the West Coast Market Square, Dr Tan emphasised that West Coast is a familiar stomping ground.

“I don’t go anywhere if I don’t win. That’s a philosophy you must know. And I’m back here because I know the area very well,” he said.

“I’ll welcome any competitor, no problem. I’m quite confident of this area because I’ve served this area for many years.”

Dr Tan was Member of Parliament for Ayer Rajah for 26 years, when he was with the People’s Action Party (PAP). The ward is now part of West Coast GRC.

He is likely to be part of a five-member team contesting West Coast GRC, together with Mr Jeffrey Khoo, Ms Hazel Poa, Mr Leong Mun Wai and Mr Nadarajah Loganathan.

READ: GE2020: PSP announces line-ups to contest in 4 GRCs, 5 SMCs; Tan Cheng Bock set to lead team in West Coast GRC

Along with Mr Khoo, Dr Tan spent some time interacting with residents at the West Coast hawker centre on Saturday morning.

“I was quite cheered today by the reception,” said Dr Tan. “When I came in, I could feel the vibe that many of them still recognise me and many of them asked me to come back and I said: ‘Okay, I’ll try.’”

The PSP on Friday announced its line-up of potential candidates to contest four Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and five Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) at the upcoming General Election.

Dr Tan made the announcement after the party unveiled its last slate of prospective candidates, bringing the total to 24. 

PSP will contest in West Coast, Nee Soon, Tanjong Pagar and Chua Chu Kang GRCs, as well as Hong Kah North, Pioneer, Yio Chu Kang, Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs.

The line-up did not include PSP party member Lee Hsien Yang, the brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

READ: GE2020: Lee Hsien Yang joins Tan Cheng Bock’s Progress Singapore Party

When asked whether Mr Lee would be contesting for the PSP or would only remain as a member, Dr Tan kept mum.

“In politics things change, in politics, timing is important, and in politics, how I move, I don’t tell you,” replied Dr Tan. “Whether he wants to join as a candidate or not … is also up to the party.

“We have an exco (executive committee) that is doing this selection. And we’ll wait and see. We have a group of people, who I call potential candidates, everybody is in that group. And when I decide to field them, I can field them. They are all ready.”

PSP will be fielding a number of political newcomers as part of their slate of candidates and Dr Tan was keen to emphasise that they can each contribute in their own way.

“Look at every candidate now with a changed view … It doesn’t mean that the criteria set by the PAP is the best criteria for Singapore, but unfortunately that is the thinking of many Singaporeans – it must be like this then they would be a good candidate,” he explained.

“You must give people a chance, let them see how they can perform.”

Dr Tan also stressed the party’s diversity of candidates.

“Our candidates come from all walks of life. Simple people can bring very good knowledge to Parliament because they know the ground,” he added.

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SINGAPORE: Singapore’s four Budgets have been “effective” in keeping residents employed, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Saturday (Jun 27).

He was speaking to reporters at West Coast GRC’s Teban Marketplace, after a morning walkabout at the hawker centre. He was accompanied by Ms Foo Mee Har and Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran.

Ms Foo and Mr Iswaran were part of the 2015 People’s Action Party (PAP) team that contested in West Coast GRC, winning 78.57 per cent of the vote against the Reform Party. They were among the best performing PAP teams in the 2015 General Election. 

They are expected to face former PAP Member of Parliament Tan Cheng Bock’s Progress Singapore Party (PSP) at the polls this year.

“I’m very glad to see that many (residents) have told me that whether they are stallholders or whether they are workers, that the Budget measures have been effective in helping them,” said Mr Heng, who is also Minister for Finance.

He added that many residents have felt the “flow of benefits” and found the Budget initiatives adequate.

Since February, the Government has released four Budget packages aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on Singapore’s economy and helping businesses and workers. The country will spend a total of S$93 billion on these measures. 

READ: Parliament passes Fortitude Budget, 4th package of COVID-19 relief measures this year 

Mr Heng said that businesses and residents alike are “doing well”, with one businessman hiring more workers and companies rewarding employees with extra bonuses.

Other measures such as the Solidarity Payment, the Utilities Support Scheme and town council rebates have also helped residents, he added.

“My aim of this visit is to understand how the policies that we are making at the national level, how … it translates to benefits for people on the ground,” Mr Heng said. 

READ: Budget 2020: S$1.6 billion Care and Support Package to help Singaporeans with household expenses

CONTESTING WEST COAST GRC?

When asked if his visit to Teban Marketplace indicates a possible move from Tampines GRC to West Coast GRC, Mr Heng said that he would be visiting other locations as well.

“I’ll be going around, not just to the West Coast, but to all different parts of Singapore,” he said.

Mr Heng, Ms Foo and Mr Iswaran received a warm welcome on Saturday morning as they spent a few minutes chatting to groups of residents. Several members of the public also approached them for pictures.

READ: GE2020: PAP faces tough test from Tan Cheng Bock’s PSP in battle for West Coast GRC, say analysts

There are four things Ayer Rajah residents can be proud of, Ms Foo told reporters – better homes, better facilities, better connectivity and better lives.  

She cited the various home upgrading programmes, a new eldercare centre, the Jurong Region Line and a “vibrant” group of voluntary welfare organisations.

“I think we’ve been able to bring the community together, and no one in Ayer Rajah has to face life’s challenges alone,” she said. “We walk every step of the way with them.”

PAP ALJUNIED TEAM OUT AND ABOUT

Aljunied GRC grassroots adviser Shamsul Kamar – who ran as part of the PAP’s five-member team in Aljunied during the 2015 General Election – was also out and about on Saturday morning. 

Aljunied GRC, which has been run by the Workers’ Party (WP) since 2011, looks set to be hotly contested as the PAP seeks to regain its seats there, having narrowly lost to the WP in 2015.

Mr Shamsul – who is also the PAP’s Kaki Bukit branch chair – however stressed that he was “not campaigning”, and was instead seen handing out mosquito repellent and flyers on preventing dengue to shopkeepers and residents. 

When asked to comment on the lineup that WP had recently announced for Aljunied – which will see Leon Perera and Gerald Giam replace Low Thia Kiang and Chen Show Mao – he said it was “natural” that the WP would field a team there, and that the changes were a part of the process of renewal for the party. 

“I think the focus is really to serve the needs of the residents, I don’t really think about it that much,” he said on the PAP’s chances in Aljunied in the upcoming elections.

“For me, it’s really about how we can make a difference to the lives of the residents here. I don’t make calculations of whether this will turn positive or what have you.”

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