Foreign Minister George Yeo has hinted that the next General
Elections could be held “by the end of this year”.
Minister Yeo made the comment while speaking to reporters during
a full-team walkabout with Aljunied Group Representation
Constituency (GRC) members on Sunday.
Ruling party, the People’s Action Party, must hold the next GE
by February 2012.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Mr Yeo said, “We should be
prepared for elections by the end of this year. We have to stay
very close to the ground, respond to the residents’ needs, solve
problems we are able to solve and make their lives better.”
Mr Yeo had earlier told The Straits Times last Thursday that
party activists should be ready for an election at the end of this
year, or in the second quarter of next year after the national
Budget.
Aljunied GRC remains the hottest
battleground since Mr Yeo faced the Workers’ Party team in 2006 led
by chairman Sylvia Lim. Ms Lim said the party aims to contest the
GRC again.
Five Aljunied GRC MPs spent two hours on
Sunday with residents at the wet market and hawker centre at Block
630 Bedok Reservoir Road. They then watched a puppet show staged by
Zhangzhou Puppet Troupe from China as part of events held for
Racial Harmony Month.
Minister Yeo identified two main issues likely to dominate at
the next polls — housing concerns and the influx of foreign
workers.
“Housing is a major concern of Singaporeans right now,
especially in a buoyant market. There’s always the anxiety that you
can’t get the best flat at the best price… The government is
reassuring Singaporeans that HDB flats will
always be affordable to Singaporeans,” he said.
Responding to public outcry following PM Lee Hsien Loong’s
forecast that more than 100,000 more foreigners are set to enter
the workforce this year, Minister Yeo stressed that it does not
mean locals will be displaced.
“The fact that our economy is growing strongly means it will
create jobs, both in terms of jobs for locals, and jobs that
Singaporeans do not want, which will have to be met by foreign
workers,” he explained.
So, does Mr Yeo think the team would retain the hotly-contested
GRC in the next election?
“Ask the residents. We don’t take voters for granted. If they
vote for us, it’s because they see a greater hope for themselves in
the future,” he said.
