SINGAPORE - The Workers' Party (WP) held its second rally for the Punggol East by-election on Tuesday evening.
WP members told the audience that there is scope for more opposition voices in Parliament.
Several speakers also countered comments by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) that it is a fallacy to believe residents can have the best of both worlds.
MP Png Eng Huat shared the experience of Hougang, where he said the PAP grassroots adviser has the machinery of the PAP's grassroots activists behind him.
Several speakers defended the WP's performance in Parliament, saying the party's MPs have made a difference - for example, moving a motion on the childcare sector and questioning the ethnic integration quota policy for rental flats.
The speakers added that opposition MPs too work closely with government agencies to solve residents' problems.
The WP candidate for Punggol East, Lee Li Lian, addressed a variety of issues faced by residents in the ward, including the state of Rivervale Mall and a lack of feeder buses and coffeeshops.
"We need more facilities and amenities in Punggol East. These were highlighted in 2011 - did PAP listen? We will push on issues that matter until we see policy changes that serve you," she said.
She also said that Singapore must take care of the elderly, to "serve them like they served us". Public transport for those above 80 should be free and more elderly-friendly, she said.
Ms Lee wrapped up the rally, saying: "I am filled with hope for Punggol East. Let's work together to create a Punggol with character."
WP chairman Sylvia Lim also addressed the rally. She raised the controversial issue of the sale of computer software by PAP town councils to the Action Information Management, or AIM, a company fully owned by the PAP.
Ms Lim said: "In other words, if a PAP ward is lost to an opposition party, the contract may be terminated within a short time. Let us pause for a moment and ponder: why is there such a clause in TC (town council) contracts? I have been cracking my head over this. Will the service provider be unable to perform just because the MPs have changed? Or, is the clause there - in case constituencies are lost by the PAP - to trip up the incoming opposition MPs?"
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has since asked the National Development Ministry (MND) to review the transaction. He also said MND will take a broad-based approach, including re-examining the fundamental nature of town councils, with a view to ensuring high overall standards of their corporate governance.
Ms Lim said: "This episode illustrates the way Workers' Party works. We will press the government on matters of public interest using all tools available including the parliamentary process. At the same time, if the government recognises the problem and takes some action, we will want to allow it the opportunity to put things right. This also illustrates the values of political competition in furthering the public interest."
- CNA/ir
There is scope for more opposition voices in Parliament: WP
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There is scope for more opposition voices in Parliament: WP
