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Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Jalan Besar PAP team greeted by smiles, waves and even tears, at Kampong Glam walkabout
An emotional Madam Yip Lum Fong (right) rushed to hug incumbent MP Denise Phua during the latter's walkabout at North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre on April 30. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH GE2025: Jalan Besar PAP team greeted by smiles, waves and even tears, at Kampong Glam walkabout Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - With just one full day remaining before election hustings come to an end, the PAP's Jalan Besar GRC team was out in full force at North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre on April 30. They were greeted by smiles and waves from patrons and stallholders, many of whom were long time residents of Kampong Glam, a ward under incumbent Denise Phua. One resident, Madam Yip Lum Fong, 83, rushed forward once she saw Ms Phua. With tears flowing, Madam Yip gave Ms Phua a tight hug and told her to take care of her own health. Madam Yip, who has a grown son with Down syndrome, also expressed gratitude to Ms Phua, who had helped with financial and emotional assistance to the mother-son duo over the years. Between sobs, Madam Yip, a housewife, told The Straits Times later that Ms Phua often took great care of the residents in her ward, sometimes to a fault, and had to be told to take care of her own health. 'Otherwise, she forgets,' Madam Yip said. The PAP's four-member slate, helmed by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, comprised Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah, Ms Phua and newcomer Shawn Loh, were all greeted with warmth and smiles at the market and food centre. PAP candidates for Jalan Besar GRC (from left) Josephine Teo, Denise Phua, Wan Rizal and Shawn Loh meeting patrons and stallholders during a walkabout at North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre on April 30. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Madam Tan Ah Moey, 83, who used to work as a stall assistant at the market, said she showed up to give her support when she found out that the PAP team was visiting. Madam Salbiyah Mohd Yusof, 50, a healthcare assistant, was overheard wishing Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo 'semoga bahagia', which means 'may you be happy' in Malay. Despite being a new face to the area, political greenhorn Mr Loh was not lacking of admirers too, obliging for a wefie or two with those who asked. Madam Liew Soo Ying, 87, said she was particularly taken by the 'his genuine smile and demeanour'. Mr Loh, a former MOF director, is currently the deputy group managing director of Singapore-based investment company Commonwealth Capital Group. He was introduced on April 16 as a new candidate joining the incumbent PAP team to contest Jalan Besar GRC in the upcomin g election. PAP candidate Shawn Loh meeting residents during a walkabout at North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre on April 30. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH He will take over the GRC's Whampoa ward from Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, who stepped down from the team. The PAP team will be going head-to-head with the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), an opposition coalition of three parties – PV, the Reform Party and the Democratic Progressive Party - in a battle for Jalan Besar GRC in the general election on May 3. The PAR team contesting Jalan Besar comprises newcomers - freelance private tutor Chiu Shin Kong, nurse Sarina Abu Hassan, early childhood educator Vigneswari V. Ramachandran, and the party's treasurer Mohamad Hamim Aliyas. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
GE2025: PAP's Denise Phua defends relevance of mayors amid criticism of the role
PAP candidate for Jalan Besar GRC Denise Phua said the roles of mayors and the Community Development Councils (CDCs) continue to be important as they serve regional roles that are separate from those of MPs or grassroot advisors. While most people know the CDC as the lead agency to come up with the CDC vouchers, the CDCs actually do a lot more than that, said Ms Phua, noting that many of the programmes are also led by the five mayors in charge of the five districts. "We operate as a regional office that does not take over the role of the MP or the grassroot advisors, but really looking at the entire district so that CDCs and the mayors are able to aggregate the needs of the district, find some common areas," she told reporters during a media doorstop interview at Upper Boon Keng Market and Food Centre on April 27. For example, in her district, the CDC runs more than 50 programmes to address the needs of residents. Ms Phua has served as the Mayor of Central Singapore District since 2014. She was responding to questions about the role of mayors, which was raised by opposition parties like the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR). In rallies on April 26, both parties had called for the abolishing of such mayor positions should they be elected. Referring to the CDCs as an "ideas bank", Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who is helming the PAP's Jalan Besar GRC team, said that many programmes in her constituency that are targeted at vulnerable families, mid-career workers and the youth have benefited from the support of the CDC. "The profiles of our residents have changed from time to time, and when you have new resident groups moving in, it takes time to learn about their needs, understand their aspirations, and then design programmes that they will find useful," she said. "The CDCs have often stepped in to share best practices in other constituencies, so that shortens the learning curve, and allows us to learn from others what works, what does not work, and how we can actually innovate in a way that serves the residents," added Mrs Teo. Fellow Jalan Besar candidates Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah and Mr Shawn Loh also joined Mrs Teo and Ms Phua at the April 27 media doorstop. The incumbent PAP team will go head-to-head with the PAR in a battle for Jalan Besar GRC in the May 3 polls. Dr Wan Rizal also told the media that racial and religious harmony in Singapore has come a long way, and its related challenges cannot be taken lightly. The Singapore government had, on April 25, moved to block Singapore users' access to several instances of online election advertising (OEA) posted on Facebook by foreigners. These posts were made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee who is now an Australian citizen, who criticised the Singapore government's handling of sensitive religious issues, and urged Singaporeans to vote along religious lines. PAP Jalan Besar candidates (from left) Shawn Loh, Josephine Teo, Denise Phua and Wan Rizal taking a wefie with Ms Tan Leng Hong (in red) during the walkabout at Upper Boon Keng Market on April 27. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE They, along with a Singaporean self-styled religious teacher based in Malaysia known as Mr Noor Deros, had spotlighted several opposition politicians in social media posts, including incumbent Aljunied MP Faisal Manap, who is contesting Tampines GRC this year under the WP banner. When asked for his views on recent reports over attempted foreign interference in Singapore's general election, Dr Wan Rizal emphasised that the party "outrightly rejects such interferences". "I think it's our responsibility, as good politicians, to make sure that this does not affect our politics here in Singapore. We truly believe that at the end of the day … Singaporeans must be our focus and attention as we go forward," he said. As a former mosque leader for 10 years, Dr Wan Rizal also said that his approach has always been to serve both the Malay/Muslim community and the broader community. "I think that is how we should view religion in Singapore, it is actually a way to uplift and help one another in Singapore, and we should see it in that context rather than just a very myopic way of just focusing on one community over the other," he added. Building on that, Ms Phua said that the five-year Jalan Besar Masterplan that they hope to implement is a plan "for all", and includes both public and private residents. "When we say we have plans for Jalan Besar GRC, we are looking at a Jalan Besar for all, regardless of age, abilities, home - whether in public or private estates - and backgrounds. We are excited about being given a chance to build an even more vibrant, sustainable town, and definitely a more caring community for all," she said. Political newcomer Mr Loh also shared his experience on the ground, saying that "every single handshake, every smile, every word of encouragement, every word of support" is important. "I think it's a reflection of the good work that the team has done in the past, and it's a reflection of the good work that we will continue to do if we get elected into Parliament," he said.
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: PAP's Denise Phua defends relevance of mayors amid criticism of the role
PAP Jalan Besar candidates Shawn Loh. ;Josephine Teo, Denise Phua and Wan Rizal taking a wefie with Ms Tan Leng Hong, 60 during the Walkabout at Upper Boon Keng Market on April 27, 2025 . ST Photo : Desmond Wee. The Straits Times SINGAPORE - PAP candidate for Jalan Besar GRC Denise Phua said the roles of mayors and the Community Development Councils (CDCs) continue to be important as they serve regional roles that are separate from those of MPs or grassroot advisors. While most people know the CDC as the lead agency to come up with the CDC vouchers, the CDCs actually do a lot more than that, said Ms Phua, noting that many of the programmes are also led by the five mayors in charge of the five districts. 'We operate as a regional office that does not take over the role of the MP or the grassroot advisors, but really looking at the entire district so that CDCs and the mayors are able to aggregate the needs of the district, find some common areas,' she told reporters during a media doorstop interview at Upper Boon Keng Market and Food Centre on April 27. For example, in her district, the CDC runs more than 50 programmes to address the needs of residents. Ms Phua has served as the Mayor of Central Singapore District since 2014. She was responding to questions about the role of mayors, which was raised by opposition parties like the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR). In rallies on April 26, both parties had called for the abolishing of such mayor positions should they be elected. Referring to the CDCs as an 'ideas bank', Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who is helming the PAP's Jalan Besar GRC team, said that many programmes in her constituency that are targeted at vulnerable families, mid-career workers and the youth have benefited from the support of the CDC. 'The profiles of our residents have changed from time to time, and when you have new resident groups moving in, it takes time to learn about their needs, understand their aspirations, and then design programmes that they will find useful,' she said. 'The CDCs have often stepped in to share best practices in other constituencies, so that shortens the learning curve, and allows us to learn from others what works, what does not work, and how we can actually innovate in a way that serves the residents,' added Mrs Teo. Fellow Jalan Besar candidates Dr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah and Mr Shawn Loh also joined Mrs Teo and Ms Phua at the April 27 media doorstop. The incumbent PAP team will go head-to-head with the PAR in a battle for Jalan Besar GRC in the May 3 polls. Dr Wan Rizal also told the media that racial and religious harmony in Singapore has come a long way, and its related challenges cannot be taken lightly. PAP Jalan Besar candidate Wan Rizal said his approach had always been to serve both the Malay/Muslim community and the broader community. The Straits Times The Singapore government had, on April 25, moved to block Singapore users' access to several instances of online election advertising (OEA) posted on Facebook by foreigners. These posts were made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee who is now an Australian citizen, who criticised the Singapore government's handling of sensitive religious issues, and urged Singaporeans to vote along religious lines. They, along with a Singaporean self-styled religious teacher based in Malaysia known as Mr Noor Deros, had spotlighted several opposition politicians in social media posts, including incumbent Aljunied MP Faisal Manap, who is contesting Tampines GRC this year under the WP banner. When asked for his views on recent reports over attempted foreign interference in Singapore's general election, Dr Wan Rizal emphasised that the party 'outrightly rejects such interferences'. 'I think it's our responsibility, as good politicians, to make sure that this does not affect our politics here in Singapore. We truly believe that at the end of the day … Singaporeans must be our focus and attention as we go forward,' he said. As a former mosque leader for 10 years, Dr Wan Rizal also said that his approach has always been to serve both the Malay/Muslim community and the broader community. 'I think that is how we should view religion in Singapore, it is actually a way to uplift and help one another in Singapore, and we should see it in that context rather than just a very myopic way of just focusing on one community over the other,' he added. Building on that, Ms Phua said that the five-year Jalan Besar Masterplan that they hope to implement is a plan 'for all' , and includes both public and private residents. 'When we say we have plans for Jalan Besar GRC, we are looking at a Jalan Besar for all, regardless of age, abilities, home - whether in public or private estates - and backgrounds. We are excited about being given a chance to build an even more vibrant, sustainable town, and definitely a more caring community for all,' she said. Political newcomer Mr Loh also shared his experience on the ground, saying that 'every single handshake, every smile, every word of encouragement, every word of support' is important. 'I think it's a reflection of the good work that the team has done in the past, and it's a reflection of the good work that we will continue to do if we get elected into Parliament,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
27-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Mayors remain important as they 'aggregate' district needs, seek resources, says PAP's Denise Phua
SINGAPORE: Mayors in Singapore do not "take over" the role of an MP or grassroots advisor, but instead function as a "regional role" as constituencies might lack the resources to tackle certain issues on their own, said Mayor for the Central district Denise Phua on Sunday (Apr 27). Ms Phua, a People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Jalan Besar GRC in the 2025 General Election, is one of five mayors in Singapore. Each mayor heads the Community Development Council (CDC) of a particular district: South West, South East, Central, North West and North East. "We operate actually as a regional office ... really looking at the entire district, so that CDCs and the mayors are able to aggregate the needs of the district, find some common areas," she told reporters during a walkabout at Upper Boon Keng Market, in response to a question about the relevance of mayors. This comes after the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) at its rally on Saturday evening called to abolish mayor positions in Singapore. The party's candidate for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Jufri Salim said mayors' salaries could be used to support seniors and students, provide housing grants and fund mental health services. Mayors earn S$660,000 (US$502,200) a year, according to a White Paper on ministerial salaries in 2012. The sum hasn't changed since. CDCs and mayors "look at some of these common needs that I think individual divisions or constituencies may not have the resources or the bandwidth to take over," Ms Phua said on Sunday. "What we do is, when we identify these pivotal needs, we go and then seek resources ... from corporates, from agencies, and then work together, strategise and make sure these programmes are developed. "And most importantly, able to be scaled across the district." She highlighted The Purple Parade - a national movement celebrating the abilities of people with disabilities in Singapore and promoting inclusion - which she said started from the Central District. "I think many people know of the CDCs as maybe the brainchild ... as the lead agency to come up with the CDC vouchers," she added. "But the CDCs actually do a lot more than that, and a lot of the programmes are actually led by the mayors." AVOID "REDUCTIONIST APPROACH" TO MENTAL HEALTH Ms Phua was accompanied on Sunday morning by the PAP Jalan Besar team comprising Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Dr Wan Rizal and party new face Shawn Loh. Dr Wan Rizal was also asked for his take on SDP's comments from another rally - in this case, that overpopulation was one of the main reasons for mental health issues in Singapore. 'If we continue to allow the PAP to bring in more and more foreigners, our problems of mental health, cost of living, overcrowding, environmental degradation and overall quality of life are all going to worsen," party chief Chee Soon Juan said at the SDP rally on Friday evening. Dr Wan Rizal, known for advocating for mental health issues in parliament, cautioned against taking a "reductionist approach" to the topic. "If you think ... that's the only way, or that's the only problem, then I think you're not looking at the big picture, what mental health is about. But mental health is a spectrum, and I think it's important to understand," he said. He noted that mental health is not only affected by "one factor" and that each person handles mental health issues differently. But he also acknowledged that having more such views was a positive thing, as it showed Singaporeans care about well-being. "Because we can only make Singapore better through diverse views, and I think this is good to hear," he said.
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Little coffeeshop a bustling haven during by-election
Old world charm: The Xin Aun Nong Yong coffeshop in Tapah Road. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star TAPAH: Even as the Ayer Kuning by-election heats up with incendiary rhetoric, a little Chinese-style kopitiam in Tapah Road has been quietly bustling with customers from all creeds and communities. The quaint Xin Aun Nong Yong coffeeshop has been serving Malays, Chinese, Indians and people from other backgrounds for the past 90 years and will continue to do so after all the bigwigs and politicians leave after the by-election. Owner Phua Ah Leng, 67, said customers from all communities have patronised the shop even before she took over the business. 'My late father took over the business from the previous owner many years ago, while I took over about 30 years ago. 'Under the previous owner, the shop has welcomed all,' she said when met. 'The shop was only known as a Hainanese kopitiam back then, and was quite popular among the locals who come mainly for breakfast. I am just continuing this. 'We don't sell food with pork, and our fares include beverages, homemade buns, toast, kuih and nasi lemak that we get from Malay traders,' she added. Phua with her shop's homemade buns. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star Phua said the majority of her customers are from the Malay community. 'Their favourite is half boiled eggs and toast. Some of our other popular items are boneless curry chicken buns and chicken buns, which contain an egg and green peas. 'We also sell vegetable, red bean paste and kaya buns. Our kaya is homemade and is cooked over a charcoal fire, which I learned from my father,' she added. Phua, who was born and bred in Tapah Road, said the small town used to be lively during the 1960s and 70s, unlike now. She said a lot of out-of-towners used to stop by the shop for a break, as motorists would pass Tapah Road to get to Teluk Intan. 'Construction of newer roads and realignment of traffic flow have seen fewer people coming through here, causing a lot of shops to lose business and shutter. 'Back then, a class at SJKC Phui Chen can have between 30 and 40 pupils, but now there are about 35 children of various races studying there. 'Most of the younger generation have also ventured to other bigger towns or cities to make a living, leaving this place quite deserted. 'I also used to work as a clerk in Pahang and Kuala Lumpur but came back to take over the business,' she added. Phua said the Ayer Kuning state by-election has brought more people to the small town. 'Business has been quite good in the past week. I would normally serve about 60 customers daily but now get 30% to 40% more business,' she said. She hopes her daughter, who currently helps at the shop, would take over the business one day.
