PAP will set record straight on Punggol East’s accounts: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) will issue a “definitive clarification that puts on record and out of doubt” what the financial position of Punggol-East ward is, said its organising secretary Ng Eng Hen.

During a rally last night (Sept 5), Workers’ Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang held up a printout of the ward’s accounts, charging that it showed a deficit of S$280,000 when it was handed over to the WP after the 2013 by-election. The PAP had said earlier the accounts had a surplus.

Pointing out the party has “very good audited accounts”, Dr Ng, who is also the Defence Minister, said: “The party senior leaders will be putting on record the facts and the facts will speak for themselves. If Mr Low agrees with the facts, he may have to issue a correction.”

He added: I hope he’s gentlemanly enough to accept he was wrong in this regard.”

Dr Ng also addressed WP’s charge that policies could change if they get too strong a mandate during the general election, pointing out that this is a “ploy” by the opposition and “cat and mouse games” during political rallies and the general election.

“The PAP must be daft to bully Singaporeans after one election and get punished by the next. Why in the world would we do that when we have worked so hard to win their confidence, to roll out programmes?”

He said the party has been here for 50 years and intends to continue to be here as long as Singaporeans accept it, so it has to “think long term”. How the PAP decides policies is not based on how many opposition members there are in Parliament, he added.

Dr Ng, who is anchor minister for Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency, also gave an assessment of the party’s new candidates so far, saying that the reception from residents has been warm and their early deployment on the ground has “borne fruit”.

Going forward, the party knows a new generation has arisen, said Dr Ng, and the next Government would have to be more collaborative. The PAP is looking at making policies more flexible for more diverse segments and greater institutional links with various groups, he added.