Singaporeans not getting the opportunities they deserve:
SDA's Steve Chia
Talented Singaporeans are not getting the opportunities they
deserve, says Steve Chia of the Singapore Democratic
Alliance.
The party's candidate for Chua Chu Kang Single Member Constituency
also paid a former People's Action Party MP an unexpected
compliment.
Mr Chia said: "Is it true that there are no talents in Singapore?
No, it's only true that many of us Singaporeans do not get the
opportunity. So if you emphasise a Singaporeans first policy than
more people will get the opportunity to get good jobs, meaningful
jobs, jobs that you like and you enjoy.
"I will conclude by quoting a PAP MP. This MP is my idol. You know
who is he? Tan Soo Khoon. It's sad that he is no longer
inside(Parliament) because he dares to speak. He said one thing
during the transport fare hike debate. After the 2001 election,
everything goes up - public transport fares go up, refuse
collection fees goes up, carpark charges goes up. He said: remember
the people will not forget."
Speaking at a rally on Wednesday, SDA chief Chiam See Tong says
that it is the PAP's fault that lifts do not stop on every floor in
HDB blocks.
Residents, he says, are paying for that mistake now.
Mr Chiam said: "Given the chance to build those flats, I'll make
sure that lifts stop at every floor. Do you know now they're
talking about upgrading so that lifts stop at every floor. In the
first place, it is the government's mistake. 20 to 30 years ago
when they build those flats, they could not foresee that residents
will get old, cannot walk. So, it is they who are wrong...they
build flats with lifts that do not stop at every floor."
He also rebutted PAP leaders' claims that the Potong Pasir Town
Council does not have the funds for lift upgrading.
He said: "Our statement of account (shows) we've a profit of about
$8 million...they say now the rules have been changed to make it
very strict, to make it very difficult for opposition. If you want
to upgrade the flats for your residents, you can only take 10
percent of the sinking funds, or about $800,000."
"In Lorong 8, Toa Payoh, we built 29 lifts for only $2 million.
When we reported our upgrading of flats to the HDB, they say
impossible, you can't build with $2 million, at least $4 million
needed. You see HDB, PAP prices are very high. So from our
estimates, we can build lifts for 8 blocks of flats, instead of for
four."
The SDA has also accused the PAP government of not delivering on
its promises.
SDA candidate Yip Yew Weng, who is contesting Yio Chu Kang SMC,
asked if the PAP had delivered its promises why were Singaporeans
not enjoying a Swiss standard of living.
He said: "Do you want to live under a one-party system with no
checks and balances, ask yourself... Do you want to live with high
costs of living. Or do you want to live with uncertainty, in terms
of job prospects?
"PM Lee Hsien Loong has recently said that the PAP has delivered
most of the promises made. If that's the case, we would have been
enjoying a life with the so-call Swiss living standard but it's
not. If that's the case, we would have been enjoying a life without
fear, without worrying whether we'll have to face all sorts of
unemployment problems."
Speaking at a rally in Yio Chu Kang on Wednesday, SDA candidate for
Jalan Besar, Dr Vincent Yeo, zoomed in on the needs of disabled
children, saying the government can do more for the disabled.
He said: "But some of these children are suffering from a syndrome
- autism, autistic kids. They need help. There's only one place. A
place called Pathlight - a school for autistic kids. The only place
they have. Now children with learning disabilities, the treatment
at private clinics and hospitals are very expensive because you
need a speech therapist like occupational therapist, they charge a
$100 an hour. What I am trying to tell you is that there're not
enough resources in there." - CNA/ch