Whos' whiter than who?
March 31, 2006
Opposition urged to reveal candidates for close scrutiny
Be as open as PAP, says Teo Chee Hean as he unveils 3 more new
faces
By Sue-Ann Chia
THE opposition should be as open as the People's Action Party in
telling Singaporeans who will contest the coming general election,
Mr Teo Chee Hean said yesterday.
Introducing the PAP's third batch of new faces, he hoped opposition
parties would also reveal their candidates early, rather than keep
their names under wraps until Nomination Day.
Mr Teo, the ruling party's second assistant secretary-general, said
it was presenting its new faces now to let people know who they
were and what they stood for.
'One of the reasons why we introduce our candidates in this way -
with their CVs, have them speak to the media - is so that
Singaporeans, their voters, can get to know them. It's a
transparent process,' he said.
'We are prepared to put our candidates out for close scrutiny by
the public.
'We hope that the opposition will be prepared to do the same as
well, put their candidates up, tell us who they are early so
that...we will not be surprised when they turn up just on
Nomination Day to submit their papers.'
Similarly, he said, the opposition must be prepared for the public
to scrutinise their programmes, as outlined in their
manifesto.
Hence, he was surprised that the Workers' Party put out a manifesto
but felt affronted when PAP leaders questioned it. The PAP's
programmes and policies are clear, he said, so its manifesto should
not surprise.
Mr Teo, who is Defence Minister, presented three new candidates at
the PAP's Upper Changi headquarters.
They were Ms Jessica Tan, 39, a general manager of software giant
Microsoft; Mr Teo Ser Luck, 37, general manager in global freight
firm DHL Express Singapore; and lawyer Michael Palmer, also
37.
All three were born after Singapore's independence, and more than
half the PAP's new candidates will be from this post-1965
generation.
'While we continue to pay attention to the needs of Singaporeans of
all ages, we do need to ensure that the concerns, hopes and
aspirations of the post-independence generation are fully
represented in Parliament, and their needs are reflected in the
policy choices that we make,' said the minister. Ms Tan, Mr Teo and
Mr Palmer were typical of their generation, he said, juggling busy
careers with raising young families and caring for elderly parents
too.
Mr Palmer is the PAP's first Eurasian candidate in two decades. An
old boy of the St Andrew's family of schools and a rugby player, he
said he is entering politics because he believes in 'more action,
less talk'.
Ms Tan, who attended CHIJ St Joseph's Convent, Catholic Junior
College and the National University of Singapore, is married with
three children, aged 10, 12, and 14.
She likened taking the plunge into politics to getting married and
having her first baby - a commitment bringing heavy
responsibilities.
For Mr Teo, an old boy of Victoria School and a triathlete, success
at the polls may mean having to quit his job, because of company
policy. But the father of two is prepared for the change, saying he
can 'help many companies, but serve only one country'.
Minister Teo said the new candidates share the same values and
commitment to serve.
'But beyond that core, I think there's also a refreshing diversity
of views, backgrounds and things which they want to push for,' he
said.
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Wah, MP Superstars now on.
PAP challenge Opp to reveal candidates.
Is it setting up to be an Andrew Kuan ending for these people?
