By Hon Jing Yi, TODAY, 4 Sep 2015
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) Cheo Chai Chen’s assertion that his People’s Action Party (PAP) opponent Tin Pei Ling’s status as a new mother is a “weakness” has drawn backlash from the public, not least from Ms Tin herself, who took to Facebook to refute his comments.
In a Facebook post this morning (Sept 4), Ms Tin, who faces Mr Cheo in MacPherson Single Member Constituency, pointed out that she went back to work two weeks after delivering her baby — on Aug 5 — because she wanted to continue serving. “I am confident that even as a mum, I can continue to focus on my work in MacPherson,” wrote Ms Tin, maintaining that she is committed to the constituency.
She also spoke up for new mothers, saying they should not have to choose between motherhood and a career. “Women today are well educated and certainly capable of contributing in the workplace and in society. Hence, I want to build a Singapore in which more women can successfully manage family and work responsibilities at the same time. What this needs are Government and employer support, strong family ties with husbands playing active roles, and societal understanding and accommodation.”
Besides Mr Cheo, Ms Tin is also facing the Workers’ Party’s (WP) Bernard Chen in the single-seat ward.
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) Cheo Chai Chen’s assertion that his People’s Action Party (PAP) opponent Tin Pei Ling’s status as a new mother is a “weakness” has drawn backlash from the public, not least from Ms Tin herself, who took to Facebook to refute his comments.
In a Facebook post this morning (Sept 4), Ms Tin, who faces Mr Cheo in MacPherson Single Member Constituency, pointed out that she went back to work two weeks after delivering her baby — on Aug 5 — because she wanted to continue serving. “I am confident that even as a mum, I can continue to focus on my work in MacPherson,” wrote Ms Tin, maintaining that she is committed to the constituency.
She also spoke up for new mothers, saying they should not have to choose between motherhood and a career. “Women today are well educated and certainly capable of contributing in the workplace and in society. Hence, I want to build a Singapore in which more women can successfully manage family and work responsibilities at the same time. What this needs are Government and employer support, strong family ties with husbands playing active roles, and societal understanding and accommodation.”
Last night, Mr Cheo Chai Chen in his rally speech said my new status as a mum is a weakness (see below). I disagree. I...
Posted by Tin Pei Ling on Thursday, September 3, 2015
Besides Mr Cheo, Ms Tin is also facing the Workers’ Party’s (WP) Bernard Chen in the single-seat ward.
When evaluating his opponents during an interview with TODAY yesterday, Mr Cheo, who was speaking in Mandarin, had said: “The PAP’s Tin Pei Ling has been working very hard. But she has just given birth, so voters should let her go home and rest, and take care of her child.
“In general, mothers love their children, so they spend a lot of time with them. If voters choose her, she might focus more on her child than on her voters. This is her weakness.”
His comments drew criticism from some netizens, while other PAP members also waded in. In a Facebook post, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said he had spent four months as a medical house officer delivering babies and tending to recuperating mothers. “I know physically what they have to go through, just after delivery,” he said.
His comments drew criticism from some netizens, while other PAP members also waded in. In a Facebook post, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said he had spent four months as a medical house officer delivering babies and tending to recuperating mothers. “I know physically what they have to go through, just after delivery,” he said.
<< Mothers are strong, very strong >> As a medical house-officer, I did four months of Obs and Gynae where I delivered...
Posted by Ng Eng Hen on Thursday, September 3, 2015
He said he had advised Ms Tin to do less house and market visits since she had delivered recently, but Ms Tin “is obviously not taking my advice” and has pushed on. “Mothers are strong, very strong when motivated ... Those who dare to challenge mothers — beware!” Dr Ng wrote.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu called Mr Cheo’s comments “unjustified and outdated”. “The work of an MP (Member of Parliament) is demanding, but many women MPs have proven that they can be as effective as their male counterparts,” she said, citing the PAP’s Ms Sim Ann, Ms Low Yen Ling and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar as examples. “Mr Cheo’s comment that ‘voters should let her go home and rest...’ is a reminder that our work to change societal attitudes is far from done.”
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu called Mr Cheo’s comments “unjustified and outdated”. “The work of an MP (Member of Parliament) is demanding, but many women MPs have proven that they can be as effective as their male counterparts,” she said, citing the PAP’s Ms Sim Ann, Ms Low Yen Ling and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar as examples. “Mr Cheo’s comment that ‘voters should let her go home and rest...’ is a reminder that our work to change societal attitudes is far from done.”
I found Mr. Cheo's comment on Ms. Tin Pei Ling to be unjustified and outdated. The work of an MP is demanding but many...
Posted by Grace Fu on Thursday, September 3, 2015
In a statement, NSP secretary-general Lim Tean assured that his party supports “mothers of all kinds”. Citing two women in his party who are mothers, Ms Kevryn Lim and Ms Nor Leila Mardiiiah Mohamed, he said: “There is no question that mothers are strong, and there is no question that any woman, mother or not, is any less able than her male counterpart.”
Secretary General and Tampines GRC candidate Lim Tean has issued the following statement addressing the recent comments...
Posted by National Solidarity Party on Thursday, September 3, 2015
Ms Lim, who is standing in Sembawang Group Representation Constituency, shared the statement, adding: “I believe Miss Tin, like all mothers and myself, can also be a career woman of (her) own and manage (her) time respectively without neglecting anyone in the family.”
At a walkabout today, Mr Cheo told reporters he was joking. On Thursday, he also told TODAY he thought the WP’s Mr Chen was “inexperienced”. Mr Chen, 29, is new to elections and is the youngest candidate fielded by the WP this time.
At a walkabout today, Mr Cheo told reporters he was joking. On Thursday, he also told TODAY he thought the WP’s Mr Chen was “inexperienced”. Mr Chen, 29, is new to elections and is the youngest candidate fielded by the WP this time.
In her post, Ms Tin, herself the youngest candidate when she made her political debut in 2011, noted: “I should add that neither should youth be seen as a disadvantage.”
She added: “It is good that young Singaporeans are paying attention and getting involved in the GE. It shows that young Singaporeans are willing to stand up for (their) beliefs and work hard to achieve a better future for our country.
Tin Pei Ling’s new status as a mum is a weakness: Cheo
NSP candidate also aims broadside at his WP rival, calling him inexperienced
By Hon Jing Yi, TODAY, 4 Sep 2015
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) surprise pick to contest in MacPherson yesterday (Sept 3) took aim at his opponents, and cited his experience as a Member of Parliament over close to two decades ago as an advantage in the three-cornered fight.
NSP candidate also aims broadside at his WP rival, calling him inexperienced
By Hon Jing Yi, TODAY, 4 Sep 2015
The National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) surprise pick to contest in MacPherson yesterday (Sept 3) took aim at his opponents, and cited his experience as a Member of Parliament over close to two decades ago as an advantage in the three-cornered fight.
Mr Cheo Chai Chen, 64, is facing the People’s Action Party’s Tin Pei Ling and the Workers’ Party’s (WP) Bernard Chen in the ward, which was carved out of Marine Parade GRC in the electoral boundaries review.
Speaking to TODAY at the NSP headquarters in Jalan Besar, he said: “My Workers’ Party opponent is inexperienced, and I will work hard to get the support of voters.” Mr Chen, 29, is new to elections and the youngest candidate fielded by the WP.
Of Ms Tin, who was elected in 2011, Mr Cheo, who spoke in Mandarin, said: “The PAP’s Tin Pei Ling has been working very hard. But she has just given birth, so voters should let her go home and rest, and take care of her child.
“In general, mothers love their children, so they spend a lot of time with them. If voters choose her, she might focus more on her child than on her voters. This is her weakness.”
http://tdy.sg/1N5AmCI - #GE2015: Ms Tin Pei Ling might focus more on her child than on her voters, claims National...
Posted by TODAY on Thursday, September 3, 2015
An MP for Nee Soon Central from 1991 to 1997 under the Singapore Democratic Party, Mr Cheo was fielded at the last minute, after party colleague Steve Chia flip-flopped on his decision to contest in MacPherson last week, following the appearance of online postings with details about the nude photo scandal involving him in 2003.
In 2011, Mr Cheo was part of the NSP five-man team fielded in Marine Parade GRC, where they garnered 43.36 per cent of the vote.
Mr Cheo also said that the NSP insisted on its bid for MacPherson as a matter of principle. “It’s primarily because the WP is too arrogant,” said Mr Cheo, citing the WP’s decision not to attend a second round of opposition talks to avoid three-corner fights on Aug 6, as well as its refusal to engage with the NSP when the latter tried to contact the party for bilateral talks.
Mr Cheo continued: “Everyone was surprised (by our decision to contest in MacPherson). Even experts thought we wouldn’t enter a three-corner fight. But this is life and death. If we keep backing down, residents and the general population will think we are very weak. An MP cannot be weak — how are you supposed to speak up for residents if you are weak?”
Despite having been relatively quiet on the campaign trail so far, Mr Cheo thinks he will do well enough to keep his election deposit, adding that residents in MacPherson recognise him because of his experience as an MP and from his time on the trail in Marine Parade in 2011. “Maybe it’s the Workers’ Party that will end up losing its deposit?” he added.
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