
'You're not getting rid of me that easily': WP's Harpreet Singh says Punggol team will continue groundwork, Singapore News
The 59-year-old senior counsel also responded to a comment that said he probably has one general election left in him due to his age.
"I'm sorry, but you don't know me, bro," Singh said, adding that he is in good health.
"Let's just say — you're not getting rid of me that easily."
In the recent election, Singh contested Punggol GRC with WP teammates Alia Mattar, Jackson Au and Alexis Dang, earning 44.83 per cent of total votes.
They lost to the People's Action Party (PAP) team consisting Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Senior Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling as well as Yeo Wan Ling, who garnered 55.17 per cent of votes.
Singh said in his Facebook post that the response in Punggol and throughout Singapore has been "overwhelming", with his team being told to "come back" and "continue the fight".
He pledged to continue walking the ground in Punggol during the weeks and months ahead.
Meaningful change takes years of commitment, presence, and continuity, Singh said, adding that is "the WP way".
"We ran this race to serve our country. And that calling doesn't end with the election. We do not just turn up every five years."
The WP team in Punggol is just getting started, he added.
In an earlier Facebook post on May 4, Singh said the results in Punggol show that "something is shifting".
"We may not have crossed the finish line this time, but that's no reason to give up hope. Because when enough of us believe in change, and act on it — change comes."
[[nid:717690]]
jengjee.hoon@asiaone.com

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
NDR 2025: WP urges government to engage widely, explore all options amid global uncertainty
SINGAPORE: In response to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 17), the Workers' Party (WP) urged the government to "engage widely and explore all options" amid global economic uncertainty. The National Day Rally speech is widely seen as the most important political speech of the year. From artificial intelligence (AI) to a new traineeship scheme, Mr Wong touched on several subjects during the speech. In a statement early on Monday morning, the opposition party cited the advance release of the Manpower Ministry's labour force report for the second quarter of this year that said the uncertainty is expected to persist in the coming months and may weigh on hiring and wage growth. "Against this cautious backdrop, the Workers' Party urges the government to engage widely and explore all solutions tabled in good faith, including previously untapped ones," said the party. "Singapore should leave no stone unturned in our collective efforts to build a truly resilient nation for the future and keep our Singapore flag flying high." It said the government should "tackle present concerns" for businesses and employees, including rising rental costs, skills-related unemployment and the "slow rate of real income growth" of 0.7 per cent per year over the past five years. It reiterated its manifesto proposal that JTC Corporation should expand its market share for industrial space and continue offering low-rent options at different price-value points for small- and medium-sized enterprises alongside its private sector-run facilities. The party also called on the government to "urgently track and regularly publish" underemployment measures, as well as to establish a statutory minimum wage. "We agree with the approach of improving jobs matching efforts for Singaporeans, and ask that the relevant organisations accelerate the setting up of this programme with the economic uncertainty ahead," said the WP. "In our experience, many residents referred to e2i often receive career counselling, but not the direct job-matching support they truly need," the party added, referring to the National Trades Union Congress' Employment and Employability Institute. In the 2025 General Election, the Workers' Party retained its 10 seats in parliament by holding on to Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC. It will also have two Non-Constituency Members of Parliament in the next parliament. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Amid concerns over the impact of AI on jobs, Mr Wong assured Singaporeans that they remain the central focus of the country's economic strategy. While technology will lead to some roles evolving and others disappearing, Mr Wong said new jobs will also emerge. The WP said that while AI and new technologies will help businesses, they will also "alter the employment landscape permanently, leaving many Singaporeans behind". It reiterated its proposal in its manifesto for more collaboration between the ministries of education and manpower, to ensure that Singapore's school curriculum aligns with "evolving needs". Singapore should implement "skill-demand feedback loops" from industries for the design of the curriculum, funding for "structural skill-gap areas" and career guidance. "This targeted approach ensures that our education system can provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve high-value career pathways both domestically and globally," the WP said. It called for an increase in the number of allied educators, which can lead to "a meaningful reduction" in class sizes. The party also urged a shift away from high-stakes examinations and towards continual assessment and a through-train approach. "Ultimately, our goal is to create an education system that develops well-rounded individuals with the confidence and capabilities to succeed in an ever-evolving world," it added. The party also called for improvements to social safety nets, including the introduction of redundancy insurance and the mandating of retrenchment benefits for people who are laid off from companies with at least 25 employees. In his speech, Mr Wong also announced a new government-funded traineeship programme. It will provide training opportunities for graduates from the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities. The scheme will kick off with a "more focused roll-out" and will be scaled up if the economy worsens, he said. The WP said the programme should be designed with safeguards to ensure that state-sponsored internships and apprenticeships are not used by firms as a "source of cheaper, subsidised labour". "There should be clear performance metrics and a transparent commitment from participating companies to consider trainees for full-time employment once the training period ends," it added. All trainees should also receive basic workplace protections, said the WP, including paid sick leave and safe working conditions.


AsiaOne
20 hours ago
- AsiaOne
'Flying coffins': Malaysia's king rejects plan to procure old Black Hawk helicopters, Malaysia News
Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has ordered the government to abandon plans to procure Black Hawk helicopters that are over three decades old, referring to them as "flying coffins". The monarch, who is Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces, was speaking at a parade marking the 60th anniversary of Malaysia's Special Service Regiment in Mersing on Saturday (Aug 16). "Are we going to put our pilots in flying coffins? Think for yourselves," Sultan Ibrahim said, in remarks later published on his official Facebook page. "I believe that all of this happens because the defence ministry is full of agents or former generals who have become salesmen. We even have textile firms wanting to sell us drones." He urged officials not to repeat costly mistakes of the past, citing the country's purchase of SkyHawk jets in the 1980s. According to media reports, Malaysia bought 88 Vietnam War-era aircraft from the United States, of which only 40 were eventually used before being retired due to high accident rates. The king said that inflated prices caused by middlemen could impact the current allocated military budget. "So don't try to fool me. If you don't want to listen to me, I won't reprimand you anymore after this," he added. His comments come after Malaysia reportedly signed a RM187 million (S$57 million) deal in May 2023 to lease four Black Hawk helicopters from a local firm but the contract was reportedly scrapped last November after repeated delivery delays. On Saturday, Sultan Ibrahim stressed that military purchases must be assessed transparently and not based on the recommendations of agents or individuals with vested interests. "Don't waste time purchasing nonsense that does not fit the military's needs. If you don't know what the actual (market) price is, ask me first," he said. The king recalled questioning the purchase of rigid raiding craft for commandos at RM5 million five years ago, when a better boat could have been acquired for under RM2 million. He added that a recent proposal to buy a larger version of the same craft for nearly RM10 million "makes no sense" and should be thoroughly reviewed. In response, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin assured that the ministry will align asset modernisation with the needs of the armed forces. "Honouring the decree of His Majesty, the Defence Ministry will continue to place emphasis on the readiness of the armed forces," he said, as quoted by New Straits Times. [[nid:721324]]

Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Australia grants asylum to former HK lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Former lawmaker Ted Hui left Hong Kong late in 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. HONG KONG – Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former lawmaker said in a Facebook post on Aug 16, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Mr Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Aug 15 approving his claim, and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. 'When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?' he said in the Facebook post. 'If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; Exiles have no home,' he said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party lawmaker, Mr Hui left Hong Kong late in 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023, Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put HK$1 million (S$164,000) bounties on their heads. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA World Did Putin just put one over on Trump at the US-Russia summit on Ukraine? Singapore 3 truck drivers injured after chain collision on ECP, including one rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Pakistan rescuers recover bodies after monsoon rains kill more than 320 Singapore Nowhere to run: Why Singapore needs to start protecting its coasts now Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law.