By Imelda Saad | Posted: 24
October 2010 1911 hrs 
SINGAPORE : The ruling People's Action Party (PAP)
team at Jalan Besar GRC has said it is unfazed by any opposition
threat at the upcoming polls, as it has always been prepared for
any challenge.
The ward has been contested in the last three general elections and
more recently, the opposition National Solidarity Party has
expressed interested in contesting the area.
Singapore's general election is due by February 2012.
It was a resounding vote of confidence from the Jalan Besar GRC
team on their chances at the next general election as they hosted
Law Minister K Shanmugam on a ministerial visit on Sunday.
The PAP, helmed by a five-member team led by Environment and Water
Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim, won 69.3 per cent of valid votes
at the last general election in 2006, when it faced off a team from
the Singapore Democratic Alliance.
More recently, the opposition National Solidarity Party has been
seen walking the ground.
Demographically, Jalan Besar GRC is one of the oldest wards in
Singapore. Half of its residents are above the age of 50. It is
also made up of many low-income Singaporeans. Ten per cent of
public assistance cases in Singapore come from this area and 50 per
cent of its residents live in rental housing.
So issues concerning the elderly and low-income residents dominated
Sunday's dialogue session.
Observers said such issues are something that the opposition may
ride on.
But its incumbent MPs remain unfazed.
MP Lily Neo said: "I do not believe in people just coming in just
before elections to say 'hello' and then to disappear for the next
few years and then to not see them until the next election! That is
not our policy.
"Our policy is not winning elections but it is to win people's
hearts to win people's confidence, to show them that over the
years, we can serve them well, and they know that they have a team
who they can trust, the team that will continue to serve
them".
Law Minister K Shanmugam gave the team his vote of confidence after
touring the constituency.
He said: "The opposition must make their calculations, and what you
have is a very strong MP, an MP who is extremely well liked and who
is doing a lot, and I think the residents will ask themselves, 'Can
anyone else do a better job?' I think they will be hard pressed to
answer that question".
National Solidarity Party's Secretary-General Goh Meng Seng said
his party has been consistently present in Jalan Besar since
2001.
He said: "As far as we are concerned, we are pretty consistent on
the ground. (For example), we distributed rice and daily
necessities last year."
However, he added that Dr Neo will prove to be a tough challenge,
describing her as "the anchor" of the PAP team there.
Mr Goh said: "I think our chances will depend on several
factors....(such as) whether Lily Neo will step down, because among
the MPs, I think she is the anchor, she is popular, well liked and
she has - through her own compassion - done quite a bit of good
things there."
One of the latest initiatives launched for residents in Dr Neo's
ward is called the Family Improvement Social Help.
It aims to improve the lives of residents through work
programmes.
For example, the Chinatown Social Enterprise was set up to provide
career opportunities for both elderly and needy residents in the
area. - CNA/ms
