PAP vs WP in Aljunied and Hougang

BillyBong SG · 2006-02-20T19:11:51+00:00

Minister George Yeo hopes for minimal changes to Aljunied GRC team By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia Foreign Minister George Yeo said he hoped there would be mi...

BillyBong SG

PAP's Eric Low READY FOR BATTLE in Hougang.
There's been a lot of coverage on PAP Hougang contender Eric Low in both the papers and on the news.

Complaints include: (interviewed in the news)

1. difficulty in applying for permits to stage dinners

2. Getting a proper stage for his public addresses at these functions.

3. 'bureaucratic' administration by the Hougang Town Council which is run by WP.

In addition, TODAY interviewed some people who steadfastly declared that they will give their vote to Eric Low.

A recent chingay celebration in Aljunied and Hougang saw Mr Low distribute over 3,500 ang baos to residents. He was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo during the 4-hour celebration, MP for Aljunied GRC.

Last elections saw Eric Low shave off 3% off the 58% winning margin set in 1997. Will it be an odds-on victory this time?

nightzip SG

Originally posted by BillyBong:
[b]PAP's Eric Low READY FOR BATTLE in Hougang.
There's been a lot of coverage on PAP Hougang contender Eric Low in both the papers and on the news.

Complaints include: (interviewed in the news)

1. difficulty in applying for permits to stage dinners

2. Getting a proper stage for his public addresses at these functions.

3. 'bureaucratic' administration by the Hougang Town Council which is run by WP.

In addition, TODAY interviewed some people who steadfastly declared that they will give their vote to Eric Low.

A recent chingay celebration in Aljunied and Hougang saw Mr Low distribute over 3,500 ang baos to residents. He was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo during the 4-hour celebration, MP for Aljunied GRC.

Last elections saw Eric Low shave off 3% off the 58% winning margin set in 1997. Will it be an odds-on victory this time?

[/b]

Nothing much lah...its like tit for tat also.

I mean the opposition parties also have a LOT of difficulties rallying, staging dinners, and public addresses, etc in PAP regions also mah...

And the ang-baos inside is rice only...in Today's newspaper...just a pre-election propanganda gimmick. Wink

iveco SG

If I am not wrong, LTK ever allowed constituents who had fallen on hard times to defer their SC/CC payments. Maybe this will work in his favour.

Is WP DEFINITELY contesting ALJ GRC this time? It is going to be interesting if they do, considering the make-up of this ward.

ditzy SG

Yippee, I get to vote. Laughing

hisoka SG

whats the make up?? Confused

iveco SG

Meaning you are from Kovan area and not S'goon Gdn? Confused

AF2005 SG

in my opinion, the WP some of manifastos may back fired in this election. the manifasto really have nothing to do with ordinary people in the hougang ward. Its about bread and butter issue and swing votes.

But other wards like nee soon east or central may have swing votes to show displeasure with unemployment problem, high cost of living and high ministerial salaries.

there are many individuals who see MP meet the session, asking for immediate help and sure to get sore eyes whenever they hear the millions that MP and ministers get paid and they have to go begging for food to feed themselves and their children. The gov have the money to give, but they just don;t want to help. The gov hold the purse so tight, but dare to pay themselves so high.

AF2005 SG

Ang bao rice only? are u sure? it may be an insult to some recipent.

iveco SG

Now I know why PAP are so particular about losing seats in YIS town. The reason is that residents there are less well-off, am I right?

claudetnt SG

i do not believe the problems faced by PAP's Eric Low in Hougang are true to all the other PAP Constituencies.

Do not forget that both the opposition leaders were "endorsed" by the PAP during the run-up to the last elections by none other then LKY + GCT. The PAP wanted 2 fall-guys and EL happened to be one of them at the wrong place at the wrong time!

BillyBong SG

Do you really believe the conspiracy theory that the Ruling party intentionally wanted 2 opposition members in parliament to create the false inpression that open democracy exists in SG?

Are you suggesting the residents in the said constituencies were taken for a ride and that the votes were skewed in the opposition's favour?

Question

AF2005 SG

yes, and also a lot of coffeshops that can encourage negative influence. PAP have lost once in nee soon central even to an unimpressive WP guy based on swing votes. It even involves delaying when or not to build the existing yishun polyclinic.

Nee soon central is unstable in swing vows than nee soon east. Not sure why, WP choose to fight to in nee soon east rather than weaker nee soon central. Maybe WP feels embarrassed to face the NS central residents there after the defeat only in one term.

charlize SG

Would you all agree that the coming elections is more unpredictable than the previous ones?

I am thinking one of the GRCs might actually fall into opposition hands this time round. Laughing

iveco SG

Nee Soon Ctr was ever a SDP ward from 1991 to 1997. It is only natural that the party would seek to snatch it back. Hence WP had to settle for Ho Peng Kee's Nee Soon East, which was removed from SBW GRC.

tohyi SG

there is a great need for at least 1-2 GRC to go to the opposition. we need more check and balances in parliment. not a bunch of the current puppets who sit in the chamber and put up a show only to justify their million dollar salaries. at the end of the day lots of wayang. we must be a laughing stock on the global democracy stage.

Calvin86 SG

1-2 is not enough to stop a bill from being passed we need about 5 and that is the min... aim for 9 if we miss we get 5

LinYu SG

I share your opinion
Very Happy

claudetnt SG

BillyBong:

"Are you suggesting the residents in the said constituencies were taken for a ride and that the votes were skewed in the opposition's favour?"

Not at all. The voters in the 2 opposition wards did not feel the "heat" as much as at the other opposition wards. Secondly, PAP did not go all out the capture these wards and if you care to check the records even some PAP supporters were stunned and disappointed at that time.

BillyBong SG

As i recall, there was limited coverage of the media in both of these wards; this can be attributed to attempts to lower the opposition's profile and campaign efforts in these single-seat wards during elections.

However, who can forget the antics of Seetoh during his pro-PAP campaign? Effort and determination to take Potong Pasir was there. He simply wasn't good enough despite all the goodies and freebies being handed out by his party.

Chaim deserves credit where it's due.

claudetnt SG

BillyBong:

Not only Chiam but also Low TK (workers party) deserves credit.