The four
official candidates for Punggol East by-election are Dr Koh Poh
Koon of the PAP, Ms Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party, Mr Kenneth
]eyaretnam of the Reform Party and Mr Desmond Lim of the Singapore
Democratic Alliance. It is the first four-cornered contest in a
parliamentary election since 1997. We capture the colourful morning
at the nomination centre and ask - if Singaporeans are tired from
too many elections
ELECTION
FATIGUE?
GO FOR IT: (Above)
People's Action Party candidate Koh Poh Koon (centre) with Mr Chan
Chun Sing Oeft) and Mr Teo Ser Luck (right).
HOT: The heat is on
for Singapore Democratic Alliance secretary general Desmond
Lim.
SUPPORTIVE SPOUSE:
(Left) Ms Lee Li Lian of The Workers' Party with a
supporter as husband Jacky Koh (with camera) records the
moment
WHEELS: (Right)
Businessman Zeng Guoyuan was upbeat when he arrived on his
bike.
SHADE: Reform Party
chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam with a supporter holding an
umbrella.
TNP PICTURES:
GARY GOH
REPORT: ESTHER NG, KOH HUI THENG
and AUDREY TAN
IN A span of 20 months, Singapore will have seen four elections,
starting with the General Election in May 2011, the President
Election a few months later in August, the Hougang by-election on
last May and now the Punggol East by-election.
This works out to an election every five
months.
Municipal issues concerning Punggol East residents
are somewhat the same as in the Hougang by-election: amenities,
cleanliness, transport. (See report on page 6.)
On the national front, it's also the cost of
living, transport, population growth, jobs, foreign workers - the
same issues raised during the General Election.
Like Hougang residents, Punggol East voters will be
voting for the third time.
Might they be tired of elections?
"No, I'm not tired. It is our job to do this and
their job to help us. Without us they wouldn't know what's going
on. This is the part we have to play, there is nothing to be tired
of," said resident Muhammad Yazid, 22, who moved into Punggol East
five months ago.
"It's not every day that things happen so it's not
something to complain about. The campaigns and rallies are just the
standard process of'elections," said Mr Yazid, a technician.
Another Punggol resident Dennis Tan, 60, who is
self-employed and a resident of Punggol East for 14 years, said:
"We don't' tired at all. We're happy. Happy that we have another
choice."
A resident who declined to be named said it was "a
bit tiring" to vote three times within two years, but admitted that
in spite of the inconveniences, the by-election was something his
family saw as a chance to tell politicians what they wanted in
their estate.
Academics The New Paper interviewed said election
fatigue would also depend on whether the residents preferred the
status quo or wanted change.
Said sociologist Tan Ern Ser, an associate
professor at National University of Singapore (NUS), it would be a
"chore" for those who are quite happy with the status quo.
However, for those who are hoping for a change of
party, or to put some pressure on the ruling party, having another
election means another chance at pushing for their preferred party
or voicing their concerns, said Prof Tan.
NUS political science lecturer Bilveer Singh said
the electorate stands to gain a lot when parties come round
promising to do a lot for them.
Indeed, Punggol East resident Winston Sanchez, 57,
a store receiver, said that he looked forward to what the parties
had to offer.
He said: "If there's something we are not happy
about, we can get someone who can give us a better deal.
"I'm happy with the by-election because hopefully
something will change. Because only when something like that
happens, they will open their eyes and make changes," he said.
Expensive
But apart from Punggol residents, are Singaporeans
as a whole suffering from election fatigue?
For the. civil servants and government agencies,
yes, and it is expensive for the Government to organise," said Prof
Singh.
However, Prof Singh who lives in the adjoining
precinct of Punggol, said that there was interest in the
by-election among Singaporeans in general.
Punggol East maybe tucked in one corner of the island, but
Singaporeans as a whole are talking about the by-election, said
political observer Mano Sabnani.
"Just the other day when I was taking the train, I
overhead two young people talking about the by-election.
"I'm not sure if they were Punggol East residents,
but I would say that ever since the last General Election, there's
been heightened interest in politics among Singaporeans," he
Said.
However, political commentator Eugene Tan, a law
lecturer from the Singapore Management University said election
fatigue could have set in among some of the electorate as the "same
issues (from the last General Election) were carried forward and
there seems to be no change in direction by the PAP and WP".
These issues were cost of living, income gap and
immigration, he said
Former National Solidarity Party's
secretary-general Goh Meng Seng also agreed that these same issues
have "been recycled" in this by-election.
Said Mr Goh: "Unless candidates are creative enough
to explore new issues, the Punggol East by-election will be really
boring."
NOMINATION FERVOUR
WHERE TO? Private
tutor Ooi Boon Ewe, 71, asking an election official where the
Nomination Centre was. TNP PICTURE: GARY
GOH
REPORT: ELIZABETH LAW
WHAT has a "sheikh" (right) on a three-wheeled motorcycle and a
bunch of disappearing documents have in common?
Nomination Day, believe it or not.
They were part of a grin-inducing sideshow
yesterday by two wannabe candidates before the serious business of
nominating the candidates for the Punggol East by-election could
begin.
Shortly after 10.30am, a loud chugging sound could
be heard, and a three-wheeled scooter appeared along Rivervale Link
soon after.
Hardly anyone caught it the first time, but the
rider went past two more times - just in case anyone missed his
dramatic entrance.
On the bike was a man in a long white robe and a
sheikh's headscarf.
The storage compartments on the sides of his
scooter had the word "Police" on it and a red warning siren was
perched between the handles.
His appearance came as no surprise to media
gathered outside North Vista Secondary School.
Parrot
man
It was businessman Zeng Guoyuan, 59, better known
as "parrot man" at previous election events.
This time, he ditched the bird for the
headgear.
Mr Zeng failed to stand in last year's Hougang
by-election and the 2011 General Election, but was at the
nomination centre to submit his papers for the Punggol East
by-election.
Walking into the school alone at about 11 am, he
said he had left his parrot at home. He then went into the school
hall to submit his nomination papers.
Less than 20 minutes later, he came out the same
way, wearing a bib in protest. He said election officials had
rejected his application because of a "past incident", but did not
say what it was, adding that to compete would be a
waste of money.
"It'll be $14,500 gone, immediately," he said,
taking out the cash in $1,000 bills to show the media.
Another candidate wannabe was also unable to stand
for election because of paperwork.
Private tutor Ooi Boon Ewe, 71, was the first to
make his way into the school assembly hall at about 10.45am.
He has tried to contest in every presidential
election since 1999, and also unsuccessfully tried to contest in
the last three general elections.
But he left in a huff when officials said he could
not stand without a donation certificate, which he said had "gone
missing".
"It's all in my house, someone in the house.
Someone in the house must have kept it, doesn't want me to be a
candidate," he said at a bus stop outside the school.
He initially blamed his wife for hiding the
document because he claimed she did not want him to stand, but he
tried to retract his statement later in the evening when The New
Paper spoke to him at home.
Unlike the two men, the four confirmed candidates
had their paperWork all in order.
Dr Koh Poh Koon of the People's Action Party (PAP)
was the first to arrive just after 11 am, when nomination
officially started. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Teo
Chee Hean and a group of about 30 supporters.
There was a round of applause from the group before
Dr Koh, Mr Teo and a handful of supporters entered the nomination
centre.
Mr Desmond Lim of the Singapore Democratic Alliance
was the next to approach the school, but he waited at the gates for
about 15 minutes.
When asked if he had enough people, he said he had
enough people, but was waiting for two more people "out of
respect".
Candidates filing their nomination papers had to
have at least six supporting names, including the proposer,
seconder and at least 4 assentors.
Mr Lim was quickly followed by Mr Kenneth
Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party.
Chanting
The last to arrive was Workers' Party (WP)
candidate Lee Li Lian, accompanied by party chairman Sylvia
Lim.
A group of about 50 supporters followed and could
be heard chanting the party's name as Ms Lee entered the school
compound.
Meanwhile, party supporters had gathered in the
school field, with the WP ones being the most vocal. They
alternated between chanting the party name and singing songs in
Hokkien.
As the scorching afternoon sun beat down, one woman
fainted.
Pasir Ris GRC MP Dr Janil Puthucheary went to the
woman's assistance.
He said: "I saw a group of people standing around
so I went over together with Alex Yam (Chua Chu Kang GRC MP) and we
assisted where we could.
"When she got better, we took her outside together
with about four to five of her friends, where her father came to
pick her up," he said.
Dr Puthucheary said the heat must have got a bit
too much for her to bear, adding. that she was "quite young".
The candidates have until next Thursday to campaign
before Punggol East goes to the polls on Jan 26.
-With additional reporting by Judith Tan, Koh Hui Theng,
Celine Chen and Theodorn D'Cruz
Rising costs worry
residents
Main
concerns include amenities, transport and cleanliness
REPORTS: KOH HOI THENG
DEPENDING on the candidate you speak to, it's either democracy
that needs fixing or Rivervale Plaza. Reform Party's (RP) Kenneth
Jeyqaretnam and Workers' Party (WP) Lee Li Lian have indicated they
will be campaignirfg on national issues.
But Dr Koh Poh Koon of the People's Action Party
(PAP) and Mr Desmond Lim of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA)
are focusing on municipal issues.
What's on the minds of the Punggol East
residents?
The New Paper interviewed residents last week to
get a sense of the hot-button issues in the ward.
Engineer Sham Mohd Noor, like many of the 122
residents interviewed, said cost of living is No. 1.
"The cost of living is getting very high, even
transport (fares) are going up. Everything goes up, but never comes
down," he lamented.
But Mr Sham said that doesn't mean ruling out local
issues too.
"Both national and municipal issues are important
What happens on the national level, for example, living costs, will
affect my family expenses.
"Immediate issues like neighbours' noise also
affect our environment So all issues, whether national or
municipal, have to be addressed," he added.
Be they national or local, the lines are blurred,
said political commentator Eugene Tan. After all, broad national
issues have very local effects.
"Things like costs of living are very real. The
impact of higher grocery prices and electricity bills is more
immediate and people feel the pinch."
Added Prof Tan, a Nominated MP and Singapore
Management University law lecturer: "When you're in the sandWiched
group that's aspiring to move up the socio-economic ladder and are
ineligible for financial assistance that the bottom 20 per cent
get, you'll feel it."
Types of
homes
Six in 10 homes in the ward comprise five-room and executive HDB
flats, as well as private apartments.
Most of the flats today were built after the PAP's
General Election win in 1997, The Straits Times reported.
Punggol East was part of the Pasir Ris-Punggol
Group Representation Constituency before the 2011 General
Election.
Real estate prices in the young estate have gone up
since then as demand rises.
A four-room build-to-order flat sold for around
$250,000 in the early days, said Mr Lee Sze Teek, senior manager
for training, research and consultancy at property firm Dennis Wee
Group.
In the last quarter last year, the transacred price
for a four-room resale flat was between $400,000 and $500,000, an
increase that "is in line with HDB resale price index change", he
added.
Private home owners have also seen quite a
"substantial price increase" for their property, said Mr Alan
Cheong, senior director of research and consultancy at Savills
Singapore.
The average transaction was between $600 and $700
psf five years ago. Today, property near the MRT station can
command up to $1,000 psf, while those further away fetch about $850
psf.
Mr Sham lives in a five-room Rivervale flat with
his wife, a designer, and three girls. The family has a maid.
He bought the flat for about $250,000 in 1998. But
Mr Sham has no plans of cashing in on his profitable real estate.
He said: "I'm comfortable living here. My workplace and my
daughter's school are nearby. I also don't want to take up a loan
(to service the purchase of a new flat)."
Still, he feels squeezed by rising prices.
Mr Sham and his wife, a dual-income couple, spend
at least $3,000 on essentials like food, transport and education.
That's a quarter of their $12,000 monthly income.
Resident S. Toh, who is in her 50s, took issue with
high health-care costs. The mother of four said she ended up paying
$150 when her three children suffered gastric flu in November.
Dusty
Clinic assistant Pauline Jee, 41, was upset at
Rivervale Plaza's slow upgrading works.
"The construction is taking so long and it makes
the whole area very dusty. As a result, my mother-in-law doesn't
want to go to the market there any more," the mother of three
said.
On Sunday, Dr Poh said upgrading works at the plaza
will be ramped up after Chinese New Year.
Madam Tee also pointed to the lack of amenities
like education centres and playgroups for young children.
PAP's Dr Koh and RP's Mr Jeyaretnam have said they
would raise these concerns.
Calling the electorate more educated, more vocal
and more demanding, Prof Tan said voters would be on the lookout
for viable alternatives, "regardless of whether it's the ruling
party or opposition".
Added Institute of Policy Studies' senior research
fellow Gillian Koh: "As a voter, I would be looking for political
leaders with courage.
"They need to explain how the different challenges
listed play out against each other, and how there just aren't easy
answers that fix all of them at the same time."
Mr Sham and the 31,000-plus voters in Punggol East
will make their opinions known when they go to the polls on Jan
26.
- Addidonal reporting by Celine Chen, Kerri Heng,
Nathanlel Hong, Lhavanya Dharmalingam, Theodora D'cruz and Audrey
Tan
Residents
say...
WE ASKED 122 Punggol East SMC residents: If a party candidate
were to come by, what are some of the issues you would raise with
him or her?
Municipal
issues
Amenities: 22
Cleanliness: 15
Traffic/transport: 13
Neighbours: 9
Safety: 8
Others: 1 (transparency of town councils)
Total: 68
National issues
Rising cost of living: 36
Transport: 10
Foreign workers: 9
Health care: 8
Population growth: 6
Elderly: 5
Education:5
Housing:4
Others: 5 (CPF and unemployment)
Total: 88
• Each resident can raise
more than one issue.
AT
A GLANCE
Voters for
by-election
31,649
(During GE 2011: 33,281)
PROFILE OF
RESIDENTS
Race
Chinese: 79 per
cent
Malay: 11 per cent
Indian: 8 per cent'
Others: 2 per cent
Age
50 and above: 24
per cent
36 to 49: 27 per cent
22 to 35: 23 per cent
12 to 21: 11 per cent
0 to 11: 15 per cent
Housing
5-room: 44 per
cent
4-room: 37 percent
Executive: 12 per cent
Private: 4 per cent
1-room/2-room: 3 per cent
• Based on ST Jan 10,
2013
ELECTION
SITES
Campaigning
period
Until Jan 24
Outdoor rallies to be held at two
venues
• Open field in front
of Block 128C,
Punggol Reid Walk
• Open field in front
of Block 183C,
Rivervale Crescent
Cooling-off
day
Jan 25
Polling
day
Jan 26
News, The New Paper, Thursday, January 17 2013, Pg 4-7
