For the full WP press release, please refer to the link
below.
http://www.wp.org.sg/news/press_releases/20040928_sp_util_vouchers.htm
It seems that PAP Eric Low cannot differentiate between govt and
PAP? PA and all its grassroot organizations are set up with funds
from the govt, not PAP. Such simple concept also cannot
differentiate!
Goh Meng Seng
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,4386,275287,00.html?
Opposition MPs criticise SingPower over vouchers
OPPOSITION MP Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) has criticised utilities
provider Singapore Power (SingPower) over the distribution of
vouchers to help needy families pay their power bills.
The MP said he did not receive any for distribution in his
constituency and was not made aware of the existence of such a help
scheme.
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More of the residents who approached him for assistance could have
been helped if he had known about the voucher scheme, the Workers'
Party chief said in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
'I regret that SingPower chose to operate the scheme in such a
covert manner, thereby resulting in some of the households that
face financial hardships (having) to live in darkness,' he
said.
His comments were in reaction to a Straits Times report on Tuesday
that 16,800 vouchers, worth a total of $504,000 were made available
by SingPower last July as a one-off gift for needy families.
Distribution in each of the 84 constituencies was left to the
discretion of MPs or the areas' grassroots advisers.
In his statement, Mr Low asked if vouchers were provided for his
constituency, and whether these had been handed instead to the
People's Action Party (PAP) grassroots adviser in Hougang.
A SingPower spokesman, when asked for a response to Mr Low's
assertions, would say only that 'we obtained the distribution list
of grassroots organisations from the People's Association. This
list included the Hougang Grassroot Organisation'.
Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, who also did not receive any
vouchers, was also critical of the move, saying last night that 'a
scheme to help the poor had been made into a political
activity'.
He added that while saddened by what had happened, the move did not
surprise him as the Government 'would do anything to win
votes'.
Both grassroots advisers in the opposition-held wards - Hougang's
Eric Low and Potong Pasir's Sitoh Yih Pin - said they received the
vouchers some time ago and distributed them.
Mr Low Thia Khiang asked in his statement why SingPower decided to
give the vouchers to the adviser rather than the elected MP: 'Is
SingPower of the view that grassroots advisers are better placed to
help constituents than their elected MPs? Or does SingPower deem
that an opposition MP, elected and mandated by the people, is less
legitimate in making discretionary decisions on the distribution of
vouchers than the PAP grassroots adviser?'
Saying that SingPower is still owned by the Government, he asked if
the move is 'a new strategy to help the PAP MPs and grassroots
advisers in opposition wards win votes for future elections'.
Hougang grassroots adviser Eric Low, who stood against the WP chief
in the 2001 election, said: 'As advisers, we work with grassroots
organisations that were set up by the PAP to serve Singaporeans. It
is a transparent system and we serve all residents, even those who
did not vote for me.
'Hougang is not a PAP ward and we are continuing to serve residents
here. Now that Mr Low knows I have vouchers, he can approach me or
tell his residents to come and see me or my grassroots
organisations. We will help them.'
Similarly, Mr Sitoh, who stood in Potong Pasir, said giving the
vouchers to grassroots organisations for distribution made
sense.
'We have the commitment, expertise and experience to help these
families,' he said, adding that the groups had provided residents
with other forms of assistance, such as with school fees and job
searches. -- Sue-Ann Chia
