SINGAPORE: For the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), the
equation is simple. Its showing will depend largely on the appeal
of its chairman and long-serving Opposition politician Chiam See
Tong.
In the run-up to Polling Day, the 71-year-old did several rounds of
the four Single-Member Constituencies and three Group
Representation Constituencies where the SDA is contesting,
canvassing for votes during walkabouts and shuttling between
various rally sites on the same night.
The four-party grouping, which consists of the Singapore People's
Party, the National Solidarity Party, the Singapore Justice Party
and the PKMS, is advocating greater political competition and has
called on voters to deny the People's Action Party (PAP) a monopoly
on power.
The SDA is also calling for the goods and services tax to be capped
at 5 per cent for the next five years and exempting certain basic
necessities from the tax.
Campaigning on familiar issues, Mr Chiam renewed his criticism of
the education system's streaming policy, saying that the process
churns out "factory rejects". As one of two Opposition MPs in the
previous Parliament, he also said that the PAP denies the
Opposition a level playing field and rejects their suggestions
"like a reflex action".
"But a few years later, they will quietly bring them up and pass
them off as their own," he said.
On his home turf of Potong Pasir, the veteran Opposition
politician, who is defending the seat he has held for 22 years,
faces a fierce battle - as the ruling party holds out the promise
of an $80 million upgrading programme for its 15,888
residents.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has also lent his political clout to
PAP hopeful, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, who has been working the ground for
the past five years.
In turn, Mr Chiam pointed to his track record and what he has
achieved despite limited resources. He has called on the Potong
Pasir residents to vote him in for a sixth consecutive term.
Mr Chiam has also promised the residents that within five years,
lifts in all their flats will stop on every floor.
Holding up Potong Pasir as an example, the SDA chief has hawked the
"two-in-one" formula to persuade people to vote for its
candidates.
It has argued that voters will not only enjoy a full-time SDA MP,
but the ruling party candidate will also work hard for them to win
back the seat.
Mr Sin Kek Tong, who is gunning for the MacPherson single-seat
ward, proposed a new formula to reduce the price of certificates of
entitlement.
He also called for reduction of university fees from an average of
$6,500 a year to $5,500, and more help for small businesses,
especially neighbourhood shops.
The 60-year-old businessman wants neighbourhood schools to be
upgraded to the standard of independent schools, but without
raising fees.
The SDA team in Jalan Besar, led by Mr Sebastian Teo, proposed
low-cost tuition and medical centres in the constituency, with
links to international voluntary welfare organisations to look
after the elderly. Dr Vincent Yeo also called for jobs to be
reserved for Singaporeans.
Fellow candidate Fong Chin Leong wanted minimum wages to be
implemented in the country. "This will discourage (employers) from
simply looking for foreign workers," he said.
Over in Tampines, the SDA team wants to turn the town into the
"second Suntec City" and its leader, Mr Edmund Ng, set up an online
job portal for its residents. Mr Ng also charged that the
Government is excessively marking up prices of Housing and
Development Board flats, but this has been denied by the PAP.
SDA's Pasir Ris-Punggol team, led by Potong Pasir Town Councillor
Lim Bak Chuan, again criticised the Government for not fulfilling
its plans for Punggol 21 while putting forward its upgrading plans
for the constituency.
The team also proposed free basic healthcare for all Singaporeans
and monthly payments for senior citizens above 55 years old. -
TODAY /dt
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