PAP kicks off candidate introductions with Bishan-Toa Payoh slate

SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) today (Aug 12) kicked off the introduction of its slate of candidates for the coming General Election, with PAP organising secretary Ng Eng Hen — who unveiled his team for Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency — declaring that the mood on the ground is “good” for the ruling party. 

Citing a range of initiatives such as the Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life, the Bus Service Enhancement Programme. and improvements to housing which the Government has introduced in the last four years, Dr Ng nevertheless said: “But I tell all our MPs...never take it for granted, continue to be sincere and work hard, treat your residents like your relatives.” 

Dr Ng, who is also the Defence Minister, had announced said that the PAP would depart from past practice and reveal its line-up of candidates across the 29 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and Single Member Constituencies (SMCs), barring last-minute changes.

The introduction of PAP’s candidates will take place over the next fortnight, leading up to the National Day Rally on Aug 23. 

Today, at a press conference of several firsts - among other things, it was the first time PAP formally introduced candidates at a coffee shop - Dr Ng said the choice of venue “reflects our message that this is what elections are about”. “We wanted to do it in the heartlands to put across the message that elections are about electing MPs who can take care of you and your town,” he said, as curious onlookers gathered at the coffeeshop at Block 178 Toa Payoh Central and whipped out their smart phones to take pictures and videos. 

Previously, the introductions would be done at the PAP headquarters at New Upper Changi Road.

Political analysts felt it was a “shrewd” move by the PAP to introduce candidates at a heartlands setting.  

Associate Professor Alan Chong of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies said it showed that the PAP is learning from previous elections where there were perceptions that its candidates were “too aloof”. 

Adding that “being seen as out of touch can easily sink a campaign” in the coming GE, National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser said: “MPs are elected to represent and serve the constituents. It therefore makes sense for potential MPs to be among their potential constituents, symbolically represented by a coffee-shop, where people gather to eat, talk, and bond.” 

Today was also the first time the PAP introduced its new faces as part of their GRC teams. For Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, more than half the five-member team will be made up of new candidates. They are Mr Chee Hong Tat, 41, former second permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the Thomson-Toa Payoh division; Mr Saktiandi Supaat, 41, head of foreign exchange research in Maybank for the Toa Payoh East division; and Mr Chong Kee Hiong, 49, chief executive officer of OUE Hospitality REIT Management for the Bishan-East division.

From left: Mr Chee Hong Tat, Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Photos: PAP)

Dr Ng, who is the anchor minister and looks after Toa Payoh Central, and Senior Minister of State (Transport and Finance) Josephine Teo, who is in charge of Bishan North, make up the rest of the slate. 

Making way for new blood are former Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, Mr Zainudin Nordin and Mr Hri Kumar Nair. 

Dr Ng acknowledged that it was “a serious challenge” that more than half of his team were new faces. “We ask the residents for patience, but we want to assure them that Josephine and I will work harder to serve them, and hope they will support us,” said Ng, who would hold some of his Meet the People sessions in Toa Payoh East. 

He added that Mrs Teo would help guide Mr Chong while Mr Chee was a civil servant and would be “somewhat more familiar with the system”. 

On whether Mr Chee - who is among the highest ranking former civil servants to enter the political fray this time round - could be a possible office holder, Dr Ng said: “Ultimately, you know, succession depends not only on the Prime Minister and the incumbent Cabinet Ministers. Succession depends on ultimately, Singaporeans’ choice.”

Dr Ng’s team is expected to face a contest from a joint slate put up by the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) and the Democratic Progressive Party.

In the 2011 GE, the PAP won in the constituency with 56.9 per cent of the votes, against an SPP team led by veteran Opposition figure Chiam See Tong. The SPP has not decided whether to field Mr Chiam, who is now 80, again. 

Dr Ng said he takes the competition “very seriously”. On the clamour for opposition voices in Parliament, he said that these “must be equally credible and come from people who show integrity”.

On the timing of the elections, Dr Ng rejected suggestions that the PAP was capitalising on the Golden Jubilee celebrations and the death of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, which generated an outpouring of grief earlier this year. “We have begun preparations for the General Election in earnest for four years. The record speaks for itself. We did not cobble up this team on a whim,” he said.

“We thought very carefully about where we put our candidates, who best fits the profile, but we still have to govern in the meantime...it’s not easy being organising secretary as well as having to oversee the National Day Parade celebrations, so I just ask for a little sympathy,” he said with a smile.

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