January 23, 2010 by admin
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By Kor Kian Beng and Jeremy Au Yong
A PROJECT engineer who was barred from the Facebook page of the
People’s Action Party (PAP) youth wing, after a war of words with
its members, has joined opposition Singapore People’s Party
(SPP).
Mr Alex Tan Zhi Xiang, 22, is now a member of the party led by
opposition veteran and Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, who also
chairs the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), a grouping of three
political parties.
Mr Tan joins a list of tertiary-educated young faces emerging in
the opposition camp. It includes Mr Gerald Giam, 32, an IT
consultant, and Mr Jarrod Luo, 26, a science graduate who runs his
own business.
SDA’s secretary-general Desmond Lim Bak Chuan told The Straits
Times yesterday Mr Chiam and SPP leaders approved Mr Tan’s
membership on Thursday.
Mr Tan said he joined the opposition because he wanted a
platform where he feels he can speak out against policies – such as
National Service and foreign talent – that he thought could be
improved.
He also said he is ready to stand as a candidate in the next
general election, which is due by early 2012.
‘I don’t think I’m too young. In fact, I think it might be an
advantage because I could inspire younger Singaporeans not to be
apathetic,’ he told The Straits Times.
Mr Tan, a Temasek Polytechnic mechatronics graduate, made the
news when he spoke strongly against the PAP at a dialogue the
ruling party’s youth wing organised last month. He blamed it for
the apathy among younger Singaporeans and also criticised the PAP’s
dominance and the lack of press freedom.
He was a guest at the dialogue although a fortnight earlier, he
had been barred from the Young PAP’s Facebook recruitment page for
indulging in name-calling and vulgarities.
At the Workers’ Party (WP), a more recognisable face among its
newcomers is Mr Giam, a founding member of socio-political blog The
Online Citizen. He worked previously as a foreign service officer
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said he got involved with
the WP because he felt the need for capable alternative leadership,
should the PAP stumble.
WP’s youth wing president Koh Choong Yong said the party had
recruited about 50 young people in the past year, many of whom are
graduates and professionals.
Mr Justin Ong, 25, who heads the Reform Party’s youth wing, said
about 20 have joined the youth wing since it was formed last
August.
Similarly, the Singapore Democratic Party’s website says it is
drawing more young members. One person it highlighted is Mr Luo, a
biomedical science and microbiology graduate from Australia’s
University of Queensland. He was elected the honorary secretary of
the party’s youth wing last year. – Straits Times
