GE2020 constituency broadcasts: What Bukit Batok SMC candidates have to say

SINGAPORE — Mr Murali Pillai from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and Dr Chee Soon Juan from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday (July 3) delivered their election pitches to Bukit Batok residents in a constituency political broadcast.

Both are set for a rematch in the coming General Election (GE) after facing off in the 2016 by-election, which Mr Murali won with 61.23 per cent of the vote.

Mr Murali, 52, plans to build a “stronger community with a brighter future”. He has also set up a fund to help low-income families.

On the other hand, Dr Chee, 57, reiterated calls for elected Members of Parliament (MPs) to perform their duties on a full-time basis, arguing that part-time MPs may sometimes overlook procedures and, in turn, jeopardise the safety of the residents.

In these broadcasts, candidates vying for single-seat wards have three minutes each to speak. Those contesting in four- and five-member Group Representation Constituencies have 12 and 15 minutes respectively in total.

The broadcasts are being aired on Channel 5, CNA938, cna.asia, 8world.com, CNA YouTube, CNA Facebook and TODAY at 7pm from July 3 to 8.

PAP’S PROPOSALS

• Mr Murali said that Singapore faces an “uncertainty like never before” from the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the 26 lives the virus has taken, one of them was a Bukit Batok resident.

• He recalled the man’s widow reaching out for help. He was a taxi driver and the main breadwinner of his family, and has a grandchild with special needs.

• As part of his plan to help low-income families in Bukit Batok, Mr Murali has set up the Helping Hands Fund, which has been used to help the widower.

• He also laid out plans to make Bukit Batok a stronger community “with a brighter future”.

• “It is not enough to just have a plan, you need to have the ability to execute, you need to have leadership, you need to have the right people and resources and… I would like to lay down before you my record of service for 20 years in Bukit Batok, four of which was as your MP,” he said.

SDP’S PROPOSALS

• Dr Chee reiterated calls for elected MPs to serve residents full-time and hit out at Mr Murali for choosing to juggle his responsibilities as an MP with his full-time job.

• Part-time MPs may overlook certain procedures and safety issues that residents are facing, he said.

• If elected, Dr Chee promised Bukit Batok residents that he would publish an interim financial report, report on the handover process, announce the budgetary plan for the town council and produce a 12-month work plan — all within the first 100 days of being elected.

• He would also set aside a portion of his MP allowance to fund activities for the elderly, set up a trust fund to assist low-income households and run enrichment programmes for students to help them develop analytical skills.

• Dr Chee said: “I will do the work as the MP for Bukit Batok on a full-time basis. I will not contract out my responsibility to a managing agent... Instead, I will personally see to it that only the most qualified and experienced professionals handle the job and they will be directly answerable to me.”