It is healthy that there's political contest in S'pore:
Ng Eng Hen
By Lynda Hong | Posted: 11
April 2010 1940 hrs
SINGAPORE : Education Minister Ng Eng Hen on Sunday said
it is healthy that there is political contest in Singapore.
He was responding to reporters who asked him about the recent
activity by opposition parties in various constituencies.
Dr Ng joined 300 residents in Toa Payoh for some Sunday morning
exercise.
Elaborating on his point that political contest is healthy, Dr Ng
said he would encourage would-be candidates and opposition parties
to meet residents so that residents could ask them questions about
what they stood for.
He said: "I think it is healthier for Singapore, rather than just
appearing before the elections and then not continuing. I have
noticed that opposition parties are doing this more regularly and I
think all-in-all it is good for politics in Singapore."
Dr Ng said PAP MPs assume that there would be a contest each time
and so the MPs have been working the ground to improve the lives of
residents.
This point was also emphasised by Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong at
a separate community event.
Mr Gan also told reporters that there has not been a shortage of
ideas within the ruling party.
He was asked to respond to Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam's
comments in a TODAY interview that a one-party system will lead to
a society closed to new ideas.
Mr Gan said that PAP MPs have been proactive in implementing their
ideas.
He said: "During the last recession, you also see that we have
rolled out many initiatives, including the Jobs Credit, SPUR and so
on. They were very effective in helping our companies and workers
cope with the recession and allowing our economy to recover very
strongly, very quickly since the second half of last year."
Mr Gan added that the PAP MPs have also been focused on serving the
residents and improving their estates. - CNA/ms
