Democrats hit Toa Payoh-Bishan to sell
newspaper
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Singapore Democrats
The SDP has been making its rounds in
the Toa Payoh-Bishan GRC to sell its newly revived newspaper
The New Democrat. Over the past two weeks, Team SDP has
been actively getting the newspaper across to residents in the two
estates.
Going from coffee shop to hawker center, sales have been brisk with
diners readily buying the publication. "We notice that people seem
to be more enthusiastic buying our newspaper," said party chairman
Mr Gandhi Ambalam, "this is probably due to the greater unhappiness
with the PAP."
Indeed sales have been noticeably faster than previous years.
Already a few thousand copies have been sold since sales started a
couple of weeks ago.
The current issue deals mainly with matters related to the cost of
living, the withholding of CPF savings by the Government, and
influx of foreign workers in Singapore. The newspaper is published
in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
Many people come up and talk to the Democrats about life in
Singapore. While visiting a food centre at the Shunfu area this
morning, one lady in her 50s told us how difficult it is to make a
living. Speaking in Chinese, she said that foreigners
coming in to Singapore are making it very difficult for her to find
a job.
"All the employers ask me how old I am and when I tell them, they
always say that they can get a foreigner who is younger and
cheaper," she said, adding that even if she is able to land a job,
it pays her only $40 a day.
"If I get sick and cannot come to work, I won't get paid," she
continued. "But the foreigners come here
and they make a little money and then go back and buy big houses at
home. But they don't have all these expenses that I
have."
Another man in his thirties also
expressed his frustration with foreigners, saying: "Aiyah
but the Government gives them citizenship so that they can vote for
the PAP. It's not fair."
Apart from sales at Toa Payoh and Bishan, the Democrats have
visited Tampines, Bedok and Geylang Serai during the Hari Raya
period as well as the Central Business District during lunch time
to sell the newspaper.
Other than the sales SDP members also take the opportunity to chat
with voters and to listen to their views.
The message that the Singapore Democrats put across is that we know
the difficulties that ordinary Singaporeans are facing in their
daily lives.
"But you must support the opposition in order that we can speak up
for you in Parliament," Dr Chee Soon Juan points out, "Without your support, the
opposition will not grow and without an opposition the PAP will
continue to roll all over you."
Sales will continue over
the next several weeks.
http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/2843-democrats-hit-toa-payoh-bishan-to-sell-newspaper
