Area has seen much transformation under founding PM but team wants to keep striving
By Wong Siew Ying, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Tanjong Pagar holds special significance for the People's Action Party (PAP) as it was one of the three seats it won at its maiden electoral outing 60 years ago.
Yesterday, its transformation, topped by the legacy of the man long associated with the place, was highlighted by the candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC as their inspiration for wanting to continue to serve its residents and take the country forward.
"Tanjong Pagar was where the whole Singapore story started," Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing said at a press conference to introduce the five-member GRC team."How Tanjong Pagar transformed from a very difficult environment to what it is today is also a mirror image of how Singapore has transformed from Third World to First," he added.
No less significant is the fact that it is the GRC's first election without founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who had represented Tanjong Pagar since 1955 until he died in March. Mr Lee's ward became part of Tanjong Pagar GRC in 1991.
By Wong Siew Ying, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Tanjong Pagar holds special significance for the People's Action Party (PAP) as it was one of the three seats it won at its maiden electoral outing 60 years ago.
Yesterday, its transformation, topped by the legacy of the man long associated with the place, was highlighted by the candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC as their inspiration for wanting to continue to serve its residents and take the country forward.
"Tanjong Pagar was where the whole Singapore story started," Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing said at a press conference to introduce the five-member GRC team."How Tanjong Pagar transformed from a very difficult environment to what it is today is also a mirror image of how Singapore has transformed from Third World to First," he added.
No less significant is the fact that it is the GRC's first election without founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who had represented Tanjong Pagar since 1955 until he died in March. Mr Lee's ward became part of Tanjong Pagar GRC in 1991.
Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah said the team was "very conscious of the legacy" it had been handed. Mr Lee's legacy is not just rooted in the past, but one that is always thinking about Singapore's future and how to improve people's lives, she added.
Mr Chan, Ms Indranee, Dr Chia Shi-Lu, plus new candidates Joan Pereira and Melvin Yong - both former public servants - form the GRC's line-up. Their introduction to the media took place in a coffee shop in Tanjong Pagar Plaza. So too did that for incumbent MP for Radin Mas Sam Tan, who will defend the single-member constituency .
Mr Chan, Ms Indranee, Dr Chia Shi-Lu, plus new candidates Joan Pereira and Melvin Yong - both former public servants - form the GRC's line-up. Their introduction to the media took place in a coffee shop in Tanjong Pagar Plaza. So too did that for incumbent MP for Radin Mas Sam Tan, who will defend the single-member constituency .
Mr Chan, who is the labour chief, pledged they would continue to take care of the residents as a team.
"Mr Lee constantly reminded us we must make sure...we strive for better living conditions for our residents, to make sure Singapore can continue to be at the forefront of the league of nations, so that all of us can benefit, all of us can continue to live the dream we call Singapore," he said.
The team is also bracing itself for what could be the GRC's first electoral contest since its birth in 1991. The Singaporeans First Party, founded by former presidential candidate Tan Jee Say, plans to contest it.
The team is also bracing itself for what could be the GRC's first electoral contest since its birth in 1991. The Singaporeans First Party, founded by former presidential candidate Tan Jee Say, plans to contest it.
Mr Sam Tan too will be challenged at Radin Mas, which he won with 67 per cent of the votes against the National Solidarity Party's Yip Yew Weng in 2011. The Reform Party plans to contest there.
When asked about the possible contest and winning margin he hoped for, Mr Chan said his team's first priority was to make sure it took care of residents well: "If we do our job conscientiously, if we discharge our duties properly, the residents will take care of the results for us."
When asked about the possible contest and winning margin he hoped for, Mr Chan said his team's first priority was to make sure it took care of residents well: "If we do our job conscientiously, if we discharge our duties properly, the residents will take care of the results for us."
Mr Chan also said Singapore will have "every prospect of continuing to beat the odds" with caring, committed and competent leaders.
Asked how they would cope with an increasingly diverse range of views in society, he said one important role of a leader was to unite and draw different segments towards a common goal to better the country.
"True leadership is about people who bring people together, mobilise them for action, beyond debate, beyond rhetoric," he added.
Another challenge for Singapore leaders is to be alert to potential new faultlines emerging even though the common space for people of different races and religions has grown. Drawing parallels between Singapore today and in 1965, Ms Indranee noted that tensions, "while not necessarily on the same old racial and religious lines", could take different forms as people espouse different causes and the Internet makes it easier to express views.
Mr Chan said his team, if re-elected, will continue to ensure the GRC remains special. " We want to keep Tanjong Pagar special... it is the embodiment of the Singapore spirit to be able to turn a tough environment into one of the most endearing homes that we have, to be able to turn constraints into opportunities."
Long-time public servants enter politics
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Long-time public servants Joan Pereira and Melvin Yong are entering politics to continue where they left off in community work.
Both People's Action Party (PAP) newcomers also have ties with Tanjong Pagar GRC, which they hope will stand them in good stead in the coming election.
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Long-time public servants Joan Pereira and Melvin Yong are entering politics to continue where they left off in community work.
Both People's Action Party (PAP) newcomers also have ties with Tanjong Pagar GRC, which they hope will stand them in good stead in the coming election.
Ms Pereira, 48 and a mother of two, was a former People's Association (PA) director who spent over 10 years at Queenstown Community Centre, which comes under the group representation constituency.
Mr Yong, 43 and a father of two, walked part of the GRC when he was the commander of Clementi Police Division from 2010 to last year. He helped to start several community schemes, including a football programme called the Delta League, with teams of at-risk youth.
Both want to focus on bringing residents together to help one another. Ms Pereira is looking especially at helping the elderly, who form a bigger-than-average number in the GRC, while Mr Yong is eyeing ways to further engage youth.
Ms Pereira, who worked at PA for 25 years, was its director of family life and active ageing from 2007 to April this year, when she resigned as a prelude to entering politics.
Ms Pereira, who worked at PA for 25 years, was its director of family life and active ageing from 2007 to April this year, when she resigned as a prelude to entering politics.
She said: "I've seen first-hand how suicides among the elderly were averted, because they were involved in community groups like qigong or had chit-chat sessions," she said at a PAP press conference yesterday to introduce the GRC's candidates for the coming election.
"The challenge is to reach out to as many elderly people as possible, so they can be part of an informal roll-call, in which the whole community is watching out for each other."
Ms Pereira joined Temasek Cares - Temasek Holdings' charity arm - as its assistant general manager in May, and began accompanying Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah, an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, at her Tanglin- Cairnhill ward.
She has since helped residents solve problems at Meet-the-People sessions and co-founded new programmes, such as a dental screening programme for the elderly at Henderson Community Club.
"If elected, I hope to help create more meaningful programmes to build a tightly knit community," Ms Pereira said.
Mr Yong, whose final day in the police force was Sunday, said his priority is to "quickly re-acquaint myself with as many residents as possible, and for them to know me".
He will knock on doors daily and visit markets and local gathering places to meet residents, he said.
Explaining his motivation for starting the Delta League, he said: "If we can get youth away from the risky business of crime, then our future generation will be okay.
"But after-school talks aren't always effective. We wanted the boys to come to the police voluntarily, so we could encourage and motivate them."
The league, which began in Tanjong Pagar GRC's Queenstown ward, has expanded nationwide, with over 10,000 youth taking part.
Mr Yong said that, if elected, one of his first plans will be to create a community where "people care about each other".
When asked whether he would be a full-time MP or potential officeholder, he brushed the question aside, saying: "I have no plans currently, other than to focus full time on the residents and the election."
New platform to serve people
By Rachel Chang, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Joan Cheng Sim Pereira, 48
By Rachel Chang, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Joan Cheng Sim Pereira, 48
Occupation: Assistant general manager at Temasek Cares, the charity arm of Temasek Holdings
Family: Married to a shipping executive, with two daughters aged 17 and 20
Education: Bachelor of Arts from the National University of Singapore
Hobbies: Brisk walking and reading
Why politics?
All 25 years of my working life, I've been with the grassroots. I've been... working with residents of all ages and walks of life. I love people; they are always at the centre of all I do, think and say. Therefore, when I was approached, I decided that this would be a different platform where I could serve them.
Why you?
My 25 years of grassroots experience - working with the ground, listening to residents and being close to them - will let me bring a diversity of views to policymakers, which is important because the needs of society are ever-changing.
What issues?
I want to champion elderly issues. I want to see our elderly be involved in social groups that meet on a regular basis as I have seen how such groups, whether for exercise, qigong, or even just chit-chat, can help to avert depression, even suicides. The community cares for one another like that.
I want to champion elderly issues. I want to see our elderly be involved in social groups that meet on a regular basis as I have seen how such groups, whether for exercise, qigong, or even just chit-chat, can help to avert depression, even suicides. The community cares for one another like that.
Favourite spot in Singapore?
The Ulu Pandan park connector. It's where I take my walks and being close to nature and residents doing their walks allows me to think through their needs and the types of programmes to be organised to best serve them.
Hoping to help young people
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Melvin Yong Yik Chye, 43
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2015
Melvin Yong Yik Chye, 43
Occupation: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police
Family: Married to a pre-school teacher, 43. They have a son, 14, and a daughter, 12
Education: Bachelor of Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University and Master of Science in criminal justice from University of Leicester
Hobbies: Jogging and reading
Why politics?
I have served 20 years in the police and more than 13 years as a grassroots volunteer. I worked closely with ministers and PAP MPs and saw how they put in time and effort to make Singapore a better place... Since I am a beneficiary of the PAP system, I thought I should give politics my best shot.
Why you?
Through my years in the grassroots and police, I have a network of contacts willing to help build community spirit in Tanjong Pagar.
What issues?
I would like to create more opportunities for people to get to know one another... When people are familiar with each other, issues are easier to resolve. I also want to champion youth development. I was the beneficiary of many helping hands... I want to assist young people in achieving their dreams.
Favourite spot in Singapore?
Punggol Waterway. As one of the first residents of Punggol, I've seen it transformed from an empty plot of land to what it is today. My family and I enjoy the scenery there.
No comments:
Post a Comment