GE2025: PPP takes aim at WP, government policies in first rally
The People's Power Party (PPP) took aim at Singapore's main opposition party WP and several government policies, including the national Covid-19 vaccination drive, at its rally for the general election.
At Temasek Junior College in Tampines, PPP secretary-general Goh Meng Seng said WP and its chief Pritam Singh had betrayed voters in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC by not contesting there, resulting in a walkover for the PAP.
"I was very angry… because they have abandoned 130,000 voters in Marine Parade. On what good grounds? To come to Tampines for a four-cornered fight?"
Denouncing the WP's move as one that "no one in his right mind" would find strategic, Mr Goh was of the view that WP decided to instead contest Tampines GRC to stop the PPP from entering Parliament and raising the issue of vaccine safety.
Tampines GRC will see a four-cornered contest in the May 3 election, with the PAP defending the five-member constituency against WP, PPP and the National Solidarity Party (NSP).
WP and PPP are first-time challengers in the constituency.
Mr Goh had first criticised WP's move not to contest Marine Parade-Braddell Heights on Nomination Day on April 23.
Responding to Mr Goh's comments on the morning of April 24, Mr Singh, WP's secretary-general, said: "Mr Goh should focus on the campaign in Tampines."
Mr Goh said later at the rally on April 24 that he was moving on to talk about policies.
"Don't ask me about Pritam Singh again. I'm not interested in him, I'm not gay." His comment drew laughter from spectators.
Clad in the party's light purple, all 10 of the PPP's candidates contesting Tampines and Ang Mo Kio GRCs attended the rally, although only eight of them spoke.
Aside from criticising the national Covid-19 vaccination drive, other issues they raised included job insecurity and Singapore's immigration policy.
Mr Heng Zheng Dao, 24, PPP's candidate in Ang Mo Kio GRC and the youngest candidate in this election, made the point about people his age being overlooked for jobs as they have to compete with foreigners.
The proliferation of artificial intelligence was another worry, he said, citing how self-driving cars might affect the livelihoods of private-hire car drivers and food-delivery riders.
Speaking after him were his Ang Mo Kio GRC teammates Thaddeus Thomas, 43, who touched on the cost of living, and Mr William Lim, 47, who spoke about public housing, the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and other issues.
PPP chairman Derrick Sim, 44, who later rose to speak, said he decided to run as a candidate because he felt there were issues with government policies, such as the Infectious Diseases Act, that needed to be addressed.
Mr Sim, a former police officer who is standing in Tampines GRC, said many of his friends had told him that the PPP team would lose its election deposit going up against the WP.
But he said he was not "here for the winning or losing".
"I do not have political aspirations. I'm here to bring the truth. I serve with only one heart, and to bring this vaccine issue to all of you," he told the crowd.
Mr Sim's Tampines GRC teammate, Madam Arbaah Haroun, said she would champion causes such as the high cost of living, the needs of families and job security.
Shortly after speaking in English, the entrepreneur switched to Malay, saying that she has known WP vice-chair Faisal Manap for some time and has done charity work with him.
Mr Faisal, an incumbent of Aljunied GRC, is leading a WP team to contest Tampines GRC at this election. Despite having to compete against each other, Madam Arbaah and Mr Faisal remain friends, with the competition centred on building Singapore, said Mr Goh.
During her speech, Madam Arbaah recited a Malay poem, which she wrote, that took jabs at Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, the anchor minister of the PAP's Tampines GRC team.
Landscaping executive Vere Nathan, 26, who is part of PPP's Tampines GRC slate, said the party would speak the truth if elected.
"It's about… making sure the people hold the power," he added.
Rounding off the rally, Mr Goh challenged Mr Masagos, Mr Faisal and NSP president Reno Fong, who is leading the party's Tampines GRC slate, to a roundtable debate about their respective policies.
"We will debate about our policies and this, I promise you, I will do best," he said.
Thanking those who turned up for their time, Mr Goh said the party will not lose its election deposit and could even win at the ballot box.
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