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Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GE2025: ‘Our commitment continues,' says Desmond Lee on PAP's plans for West Coast-Jurong West GRC
Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Initiatives to help residents cope with various concerns, including jobs and the cost of living, have been rolled out by the PAP team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC over the last five years, and the team intends to continue with this work if elected, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee on May 1. On the last day of hustings, Mr Lee, who leads the PAP team contesting the group representation constituency, pledged his team's commitment to continue serving residents in the area. In a two-minute video posted on his social media platforms, Mr Lee said: 'Over the past five years, we've walked the ground. We've heard your concerns. We've taken action, and we have concrete plans for the future.' 'Our campaign, our work over the past five years, and our plans for the future have always been about you, your voice, your aspirations, and the Singapore you deserve,' he added. 'The campaign may be ending, but our commitment continues.' Singapore goes to the polls on May 3. May 2 is Cooling-off Day, when campaigning is not allowed. Noting that the cost of living is an issue that weighs heavily on residents' minds, Mr Lee said the PAP has rolled out initiatives to help with groceries and daily essentials, supported seniors and low-income households, and expanded programmes such as ComLink+, a government scheme that provides financial assistance. These initiatives were made possible by the PAP team, who drew on a network of community partners, said Mr Lee, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration. To tackle residents' concerns about job uncertainty, job fairs were brought to the heartland through the Jobs @ West Coast programme, Mr Lee said. Upskilling and career support programmes were also rolled out to help those who are unemployed find jobs. On the housing front, Mr Lee said the Government is committed to keeping housing affordable and accessible for Singaporeans. The Housing Board has ramped up the supply of new flats and will launch more than 130,000 units from 2021 to 2027. The Prime, Plus and Standard flat classification, which took effect in October 2024, keeps flats in choice locations within reach of more Singaporeans, he said. 'We're exploring more public housing options for singles and higher-income couples,' said Mr Lee. 'We will plan for the rejuvenation of HDB towns, including through Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme – or Vers – and other schemes.' Details of Vers, which was first mooted by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 2018 National Day Rally, have not yet been announced. Mr Desmond Lee said: 'The work does not stop here. And we are ready to do more.' His remarks wrap up the PAP's campaign in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where candidates had, over the past nine days, highlighted their plans for the area. During the nine-day campaign, the PAP laid out plans for the GRC, which include refreshing ageing infrastructure, bridging generational gaps and helping families cope with the rising cost of living. Besides Mr Lee, the PAP slate includes Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, three-term MP Ang Wei Neng, orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak and lawyer Cassandra Lee. They will be facing off against a PSP team that includes the party's top three leaders – chairman Tan Cheng Bock, secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa. The other two candidates are Mr Sumarleki Amjah, head of packaged food and business development at a food and beverage firm, and in-house legal counsel Sani Ismail. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: ‘Our commitment continues,' says Desmond Lee on PAP's plans for West Coast-Jurong West GRC
National Development Minister Desmond Lee taking a selfie with supporters after the party's rally at Jurong West Stadium on April 27. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Initiatives to help residents cope with various concerns, including jobs and the cost of living, have been rolled out by the PAP team in West Coast-Jurong West GRC over the last five years, and the team intends to continue with this work if elected, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee on May 1. On the last day of hustings, Mr Lee, who leads the PAP team contesting the group representative constituency, pledged his team's commitment to continue serving residents in the area. In a two-minute video posted on his social media platforms, Mr Lee said: 'Over the past five years, we've walked the ground. We've heard your concerns. We've taken action, and we have concrete plans for the future.' 'Our campaign, our work over the past five years, and our plans for the future have always been about you, your voice, your aspirations, and the Singapore you deserve,' he added. 'The campaign may be ending, but our commitment continues.' Singapore goes to the polls on May 3. May 2 is Cooling Off Day, when campaigning is not allowed. Noting that the cost of living is an issue that weighs heavily on residents' minds, Mr Lee said the PAP has rolled out initiatives to help with groceries and daily essentials, supported seniors and low-income households and expanded programmes such as ComLink+, a government scheme that provides financial assistance. These initiatives were made possible by the PAP team, who drew on a network of community partners, said Mr Lee, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration. To tackle residents' concerns about job uncertainty, job fairs were brought to the heartland through the Jobs @ West Coast programme, Mr Lee said. Upskilling and career support programmes were also rolled out to help those who are unemployed find jobs. On the housing front, he said the Government is committed to keeping housing affordable and accessible for Singaporeans. The Housing Board has ramped up the supply of new flats and will launch more than 130,000 units from 2021 to 2027. The Prime, Plus and Standard flat classification, which kicked into effect in October 2024, keeps flats in choice locations within reach of more Singaporeans, he said. 'We're exploring more public housing options for singles and higher-income couples,' said Mr Lee. 'We will plan for the rejuvenation of HDB towns, including through Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme – or Vers – and other schemes.' Details of Vers, which was first mooted by then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 2018 National Day Rally, have not yet been announced. Mr Desmond Lee said: 'The work does not stop here. And we are ready to do more.' His remarks wrap up the PAP's campaign in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where candidates had, over the past nine days, highlighted their plans for the area. During the nine-day campaign, the PAP laid out plans for the GRC, which include refreshing ageing infrastructure, bridging generational gaps and helping families cope with the rising cost of living. Besides Mr Lee, the PAP slate includes Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, three-term MP Ang Wei Neng, orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak and lawyer Cassandra Lee. They will be facing off against a PSP team that includes the party's top three leaders – chairman Tan Cheng Bock, secretary-general Leong Mun Wai and first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa. The other two candidates are Mr Sumarleki Amjah, head of packaged food and business development at a food and beverage (F&B) firm, and in-house legal counsel Sani Ismail. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Pritam says PAP candidates with NTUC ties can continue helping workers even if not elected
GE2025: Pritam says PAP candidates with NTUC ties can continue helping workers even if not elected SINGAPORE - Labour chief Ng Chee Meng and NTUC assistant secretary-general Desmond Choo, who are contesting single seats at the general election, can continue helping workers even if they are not elected, WP chief Pritam Singh said on April 26. Taking aim at NTUC's close relationship with the PAP, Mr Singh urged voters to vote for WP's Jalan Kayu candidate Andre Low and its Tampines Changkat candidate Kenneth Foo instead. Mr Low will square off against the PAP's Mr Ng in Jalan Kayu at the May 3 polls, while Mr Foo will go up against Mr Choo from the ruling party in Tampines Changkat. Mr Singh said at WP's second election rally, held at Temasek Junior College in Tampines, that Mr Ng and Mr Choo will probably continue working in the labour movement if they do not get elected. If so, the two PAP candidates will continue serving workers with the help of ' rank-and-file unionists and workers who are truly the backbone of NTUC'. Calling the labour movement a 'guaranteed trampoline' for losing PAP candidates, the Leader of the Opposition said Mr Ng and Mr Choo can still lobby the government because of the 'symbiotic relationship' between NTUC and the PAP. 'It is the safest trampoline for a politician anywhere in Singapore, and maybe anywhere in the world, but you must be a PAP candidate to earn the right to bounce on it,' said Mr Singh in a speech rounding off the rally, which lasted nearly three hours. Union work is not easy, he added, and rank-and-file unionists push hard for better workers' rights because of their passion for workers. 'I thank them for that ,' he said. 'So, Singapore, let us help the PAP candidates in Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat, who are the top leaders in the NTUC, to be full-time NTUC union leaders .' This, Mr Singh said, would save them from spending time in Parliament and managing town councils. 'We need to give the PAP candidates more time for their NTUC work, so they can come up with new ideas, or maybe even implement WP ideas,' he added. Earlier, Mr Singh took a swipe at a social media site that touted Mr Ng's role in driving the launch of the new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme - a policy on which the WP said it has also made a difference . The scheme gives payouts to lower- and middle-income adult Singaporeans who have lost their jobs for reasons such as retrenchment and business closure . Mr Singh also hit out at what he said was a lack of substance and specifics in the PAP's 2025 election manifesto. For example, he cited the lack of details about proposals to tackle housing affordability, the decaying lease of Housing Board flats , and the roll-out of the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers) , which will give owners of older flats a chance at 'going en bloc' before their leases run out. Mr Singh said m any families are buying resale flats with 60 or 70 years left on the lease, at prices nearing or even surpassing $1 million. 'These families need more details about Vers before their resale flats start to lose value... What does the PAP manifesto say about this concern? Nothing at all.' He said WP, in comparison, has advanced many practical proposals in its manifesto that deal with issues such as high rental costs for businesses and more flexibility for seniors using MediSave, the national medical savings scheme. 'Singapore is a far more complex society (now), and it will always need fresh thinking. Yet we have a PAP manifesto without specific policy ideas. I believe it is because PAP wants Singaporeans to sign a blank cheque,' he said. Mr Singh said Parliament needs rational, responsible and respectable debate, and 'not a rubber stamp', arguing that voting in PAP candidates with ties to NTUC would not make a difference. He cited the proposed $2.2 billion sale of home-grown insurer Income Insurance to German multinational Allianz, which was called off after the deal came under public scrutiny. Mr Singh noted that no PAP labour MP filed questions or spoke during the debate in Parliament when the issue surfaced. 'Elected PAP MPs who champion NTUC... should fight hard in Parliament when NTUC issues are raised, particularly issues that Singapor eans are concerned about.' Mr Singh said WP's candidates, if elected, will work hard on the ground and look after the town councils in the constituencies they are contesting. He added: 'Tampines wins, Tampines Changkat wins, Jalan Kayu wins, Singapore wins, everybody wins.' At the end of this speech, Mr Singh responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's comments at a press conference earlier in the day that delved into Facebook posts by two Malaysian politicians and an ex-ISA detainee. The posts were blocked for attempting to interfere in Singapore's election. They - along with a Malaysia-based Singaporean religious teacher, Mr Noor Deros - had spotlighted several opposition politicians in social media posts. These politicians include WP vice-chair Faisal Manap, who is leading the party's Tampines GRC team. Mr Singh said: 'My colleagues and I categorically reject the involvement of any foreign element whatsoever in our domestic politics. Singapore is our business. Nobody else's.' He added: 'I passionately believe in a race-neutral Singapore, where we are judged not by our race or the colour of our skin, but by our deeds and our common humanity.' Mr Faisal , who was moved from Aljunied GRC, made a similar pledge to voters. 'I am a minority candidat e, a Malay/Muslim. Regardless, I will serve the residents of Tampines GRC - regardless of race, language or religion - equally and to the best of my ability ,' he said in his rally speech. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
26-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
GE2025: PAP manifesto 'loaded with motherhood statements', Pritam Singh says at WP rally, Singapore News
The People's Action Party's (PAP) manifesto for this year's General Election is "loaded with motherhood statements", Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general Pritam Singh argued at his party's rally on Saturday (April 26). Singh attended the event alongside party chair Sylvia Lim, as well as Tampines GRC candidates Faisal Manap, Jimmy Tan, Eileen Chong, Dr Ong Lue Ping and Michael Thng at Temasek Junior College. Also present were Tampines Changkat SMC candidate Kenneth Foo and Gerald Giam, Fadli Fawzi, Kenneth Tiong, Jasper Kuan, Paris V Parameswari, Yee Jenn Jong, Sufyan Mikhail Putra and Nathaniel Koh. Singh prefaced his statement by pointing out that many voters have made comparisons between the two parties' manifestos. However, "the result is clear," said Singh. "The PAP manifesto is short on substance and specifics." He said the Singapore population has increased from under two million in 1965 to over six million today, that "Singapore is a far more complex society, and it will always need fresh thinking". "Yet we have a PAP manifesto without specific policy ideas," he argued, highlighting that the PAP manifesto chapter on housing affordability only promises to keep HDB flats affordable with scant details on how that might happen. "I believe it is because the PAP wants Singaporeans to sign a blank check." He said that the PAP government implemented the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers) but did not provide sufficient details in Parliament, and families buying resale flats while planning for the future or for retirement lose out. "What does the PAP manifesto say about this concern? Nothing at all." Lim also went after the document while delivering her rally speech. "In the PAP manifesto, there is one sentence about caregivers. "It reads: 'Strengthen support for caregivers, the unsung heroes in our families'. There are no details stated about how this will be done." Comparatively, WP's manifesto has a "concrete proposal" to provide aid to caregivers in the form of family care leave, Lim said. With WP, caregivers would be able to take paid time off, with costs covered equally by employers and the government, she stated. "This will send a signal that society values our seniors being cared for at home by loved ones." She also reiterated WP's stance towards the elderly, stating that the goal of the party is "to enable our seniors to live their golden years with security, dignity and purpose". "Remind the government that it was seniors who built this country, send a strong signal that more needs to be done for seniors to live with security, dignity and purpose... let's create our own kind of silver tsunami," she concluded. At the end of the rally, Singh also took the chance to repeat WP's stance on the topic of foreign interference that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed earlier in the day. "My colleagues and I categorically reject the involvement of any foreign element whatsoever in our domestic politics. Singapore is our business, nobody else's," he said. [[nid:717255]] The PAP manifesto was launched by PM Wong on April 17 before a crowd of over 400 PAP activists. He introduced it as a promise to Singaporeans, saying that it reflects "hopes, concerns and aspirations". "It reflects our commitment: to keep Singapore strong, stable and united." The section on housing states that the government's building programme was set back by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, they are on track to launch 100,000 new flats between 2021 and 2025. They also promise to build more than 50,000 new flats over the next three years, decrease waiting time for flats, explore more public housing options and plan for rejuvenation of HDB towns, including through Vers. WP seats 'important for Singapore's democracy' Singh had previously stressed in his party political broadcast that it is "important for Singapore's democracy" that WP wins more seats. "With more WP constituencies comes a higher chance that Parliament will continue to have a fully-elected democratic opposition presence for the longer term," he had stated. "This will make our system stable and sustainable for the future." He added: "The WP will not form the next government. The PAP will certainly do so. But the WP needs your support to strengthen our presence in Parliament." [[nid:717229]] Singh had also mentioned in the party's first rally on Thursday that his team has been "stress-tested" amid crisis in Singapore and has proven to be a "force of good". He elaborated that the party has proven itself loyal to Singapore, emphasising that they will continue being loyal as Singapore navigates the changing world. khooyihang@
