[SINGAPORE] Voters should judge the Workers’ Party (WP) on its manifesto, proposals and what it does in Parliament for all Singaporeans, not just for specific communities, secretary-general Pritam Singh told reporters on Saturday (Apr 26).
Replying to questions on the raising of Malay-Muslim issues in the general election, he warned that community-based politics would lead to an “unnecessary politicisation of the public space”.
This was after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Elections Department said on Friday night that they had “identified a number of foreigners attempting to influence this GE”, including a Malaysian politician who expressed support for a candidate.
Separately, Malaysia-based Islamic preacher Noor Deros, a Singaporean, claimed that WP’s Malay-Muslim candidates had agreed to take up his concerns regarding the community in Singapore.
At the doorstop, Singh reiterated WP’s statement that morning that the party did not make any promises or commitments to any individual, including Noor, in exchange for political support for WP candidates.
The WP does not push any individual’s agenda in exchange for support, stressed Singh. “We don’t work politics like that in Singapore. We don’t work politics like that in the Workers’ Party.”
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He added: “I cannot control endorsements from any Singaporean for the Workers’ Party, but if he thinks that endorsement means we will carry his views and we share his sentiments, he’s sadly mistaken.”
He was speaking to the media while campaigning at Kovan Market and Food Centre, along with his fellow incumbents in Aljunied GRC.
Tampines decision
As for the decision to field Faisal Manap – an MP for Aljunied GRC since 2011 – in Tampines GRC to face a team led by Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, Singh stressed that WP’s Malay-Muslim candidates do not only represent their community.
“Every candidate has to represent all Singaporeans equally and fairly.”
Beyond that, strategic decisions – “where we want to put our team which has the highest chance of success” – are the party’s prerogative, he added.
“And if the allusion is that we have put Faisal there, and that’s something wrong that we’ve done, I don’t accept that.”
Asked if voters might be concerned about racial and religious lines being played up, given that Punggol GRC candidate Alia Mattar raised the issue of Palestine in Thursday’s rally, Singh said he is unsurprised that detractors might cast aspersions on what WP has advanced in its manifesto.
He noted that WP has a position on Palestine in favour of a two-state solution, adding: “Our approach is more of a humanitarian concern.”
“Many Singaporeans, regardless of race and religion, are very sensitive to that issue.”
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