Entrust S’pore’s future ‘to the party that cares for people and country’

SINGAPORE — It is easy for the Opposition to dangle cash handouts to woo voters, but such a move is akin to turning the election into an auction, said labour chief Chan Chun Sing last night (Sept 3), as he urged voters to entrust the future of the country to the hands of those who will care for the people and country.

“Some of them promised you S$300 a month, no questions asked. I say, please don’t insult my residents. You think what, they are here to be bribed?” he said, referring to the Reform Party’s campaign pledge to give Singaporeans below the age of 16 a S$300 monthly child benefit.

“If you offer $300, are you making this election an auction? … We are here to entrust our future to the hands of those people who will take care of the residents and take care of the country,” added Mr Chan at the first People’s Action Party (PAP) rally for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and Radin Mas Single Member Constituency.

The government’s approach to looking after the needy despite finite resources has been to direct the most resources to those who need them most, including the lower-income and the sandwich class, he said. “And that is how we will continue to help fellow Singaporeans who are most in need. Not people who anyhow promise and say that we give everyone $300.”

His experience in the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has shown him that it is not money or grand speeches that Singaporeans need, but people who can “encourage them when they are most down and out,” he said.

Mr Chan, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and the PAP’s anchor minister for Tanjong Pagar GRC, also outlined three broad questions which he said should guide Singaporeans in electing their Members of Parliament. First, residents should look at who cares for them and the family — is it those who have been taking care of their interests and needs, or those who turn up every four years?

“Even for me, if I have not walked the ground, if I have not served you truthfully, today I will not dare to stand here, touch my heart and to ask for your support to give us the mandate for five more years,” he added.

Second, will the candidates take care of the country, and third, are they able to put Singapore in good standing on the international front, he added.

Mr Chan also urged voters to “think twice” if opposition parties promise to spend the country’s reserves, adding that the government has the responsibility to ensure that younger Singaporeans do not have to bear the burden of caring for a large ageing population.

“This is about being responsible, this is about long-term. If we don’t take care of our young by saving now, by the time 2030 comes … our young will have to shoulder the burden of all these challenges themselves and some of our young may decide they have a better future elsewhere. Is that what we want?” he asked.

To people who have asked him why he wanted to continue in politics despite being mocked or criticised by some Singaporeans and having to sacrifice time with his family, Mr Chan said during his Mandarin speech that he could not bear to give up on the country and Tanjong Pagar GRC that founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had built up together with the pioneer generation. Mr Chan also spoke in English and Malay.

“PAP has led this country for more than 50 years. But we have never rested on our laurels. Our country may not be perfect but we are determined each and every day to make it less imperfect, not for ourselves, but for our children and future generations to come.”

Mr Chan also urged voters to choose a team that would put Singapore in good standing on the international front and inspire confidence. “When PAP is with the people, thinking long-term, doing the correct things for today and tomorrow … taking care of the country, that would be the biggest confidence boost we can give to anybody looking at us to tell them that … Singapore will thrive 50 years and more because we are one united people,” he said.

Among the eight speakers at the rally last night, including Mr Chan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, were Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) Indranee Rajah and PAP newcomer Melvin Yong.

Touching on Singapore’s education system in her speech, Ms Indranee emphasised that the government ensures a good future for generations through its holistic education system.

“We make sure it’s a holistic education, it’s not just about grades because different people have different strengths and abilities … That is why we have multiple pathways to success; that is why we have different ways you can progress and that is why this is a place where no matter your starting point, you will always be able to move ahead (and) progress,” she said.

Refuting opposition claims that Singaporeans were not at the heart of the PAP’s policies, she added: “The MOE motto is ‘moulding the future of a nation’. Every principal is reminded when they are appointed that the future of the nation passes through your hands. So when anybody tells you that Singaporeans are not centre or first, that is not true.”

Mr Yong, who was an assistant commissioner of police until last month, said the security of Singapore has always been his mission. Noting that Singapore will face more challenging security issues in future, he said Singaporeans must remain united to guard against threats to society.

“Which team would you entrust our future to? The PAP makes promises, keeps promises and delivers promises for the past 50 years. And we want to do the same with you and for you again, and we need your strong support and mandate,” he added.