[SINGAPORE] When no one has answers because even the questions are unknown, a strong and stable government can see Singapore through uncertain times, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean on Monday (Apr 28) night.
He described Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as someone who is “full of energy, full of ideas” and is now “bringing together a team with 32 new MPs to build a strong team, not just for the next five years, but for the next 10, 15 years, so that we have continuity and stability to see Singapore through”.
SM Teo made these remarks at a rally for Pasir Ris-Changi GRC. He previously anchored Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, and will not be contesting the May 3 general election as he retires from politics after 33 years.
Continuity, stability and good governance are hallmarks of Singapore – and “very valuable” in uncertain times when people look at these traits to invest their money, he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah anchors the PAP’s four-member team in the newly formed constituency, which includes Senior Minister of State Desmond Tan, Sharael Taha, and first-time candidate Valerie Lee.
The PAP team is up against a slate from the Singapore Democratic Alliance, which comprises its chairman Desmond Lim, Abu Mohamed, Harminder Pal Singh and Chia Yun Kai.
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Speaking after SM Teo, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Maliki Osman – who was in the East Coast GRC before he stepped down ahead of the election – also addressed the issue of continuity.
A fresh team represents the residents of Pasir Ris-Changi, with new perspectives on how to improve the neighbourhoods and communities, “but with the same commitment that has led to the results you have seen in these years”, he said.
In her speech, Lee, advocating for the sandwich generation, highlighted that Singapore “has built support systems, and (they have) been enhanced by feedback” from Singaporeans.
“But we can do better, and we must go further, because the situation is evolving,” she said.
Beyond listening to Singaporeans and being their voice, being Members of Parliament is about hard work, the rally speakers said.
“The opposition may want to be the voices of the people in Parliament, but the PAP is your voice,” said Maliki. “And we are not just your voice, we are also your hands that do the work.”
Opposition parties have said in many speeches that they will raise Singaporeans’ concerns in Parliament, said Sharael.
He added: “I believe that building the future we want takes more than just raising concerns. It takes hard work. It takes rolling up our sleeves together. It’s about the action. It’s about the heart. It’s about us, moving together, hand in hand.”
Other PAP rallies
There were two other evening rallies by the PAP on Monday. At the Jurong Central SMC rally, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said that no major decisions – including the move to raise the goods and services tax (GST) – are easy to make, but it is the PAP that is prepared to make these hard decisions.
Fu, who leads the Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC team, said there are trade-offs when it comes to policymaking.
On the GST increase, the government set up a permanent support system to help Singaporeans with little or no income, such as vouchers, MediSave top-ups and U-Save rebates.
“We may be taking a chicken wing from you, but we are giving you a whole chicken,” said Fu.
At the Sembawang GRC rally, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said it was “disingenuous” of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) to say that the plans and projects for the constituency will carry on no matter who the MP is, so long as the PAP continues to form the government.
Ong leads the PAP’s five-member team in a three-way battle with the SDP and the National Solidarity Party.
“I don’t think they can come here for one month and make all these sweeping statements,” said Ong.
He noted that when there are major national projects such as the Thomson-East Coast Line and the Woodlands Health Campus, it is the Cabinet that makes the key decisions.
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