GE2020 constituency broadcasts: What Jalan Besar GRC candidates have to say

SINGAPORE — The third day of constituency political broadcasts kicked off with candidates for the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency (GRC) from both the incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP) and the opposing Peoples Voice (PV) party setting out their proposals for the constituency on Sunday (July 5), ahead of the July 10 polls.

PAP’s team is led by Mrs Josephine Teo, 51, who moved over from Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. She could become the first female minister to helm a GRC if elected.

Her teammates are incumbent Members of Parliament Heng Chee How, 58, and Denise Phua, 60; and new face Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah, 41, a polytechnic senior lecturer.

PV fielded its party leader, lawyer Lim Tean, 55; blogger Leong Sze Hian, 66, medical administrator and entrepreneur Michael Fang, 43; and halal certification auditor Azlan Sulaiman, 49.

The PAP candidates on Sunday spoke of the kampong spirit in Jalan Besar and how the GRC has undergone rejuvenation to be a mix of new and old.

Mrs Teo also noted that it is the only GRC served by five major MRT lines, adding that there are many volunteers and programmes to support the residents.

Meanwhile, PV’s Mr Lim, who spoke throughout his team’s address, called on voters of Jalan Besar GRC to treat the July 10 polls as a referendum on the “competence and leadership” of Mrs Teo, who was the Manpower Minister.

Mr Lim said Mrs Teo is “singularly responsible” for the explosion of Covid-19 cases in the foreign workers’ dormitories as she had not identified the dangers of coronavirus infection spreading in densely-crowded dormitories after the first foreign worker got infected in February.

Jalan Besar GRC, which was dissolved in 2011 but reformed in 2015, took in parts of Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC around Balestier Road this General Election (GE). The GRC is home to close to 100,000 voters.

In these constituency political broadcasts, candidates vying for single-seat wards have three minutes each to speak. Those contesting in four- and five-member GRCs 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

• Mrs Teo noted that Mr Heng and Ms Phua have more than three decades of service in Jalan Besar, while Mr Wan Rizal has been a community leader for 10 years.

• Mrs Teo added that while she is new to Jalan Besar, her 14 years as a Bishan-Toa Payoh MP has taught her much about what it means to serve residents..

• Mr Heng said that as he and Ms Phua have served in the area for many years, they have established “great trust” and close rapport with the residents over time.

• With the “depth of the relationship” which “feels almost like family”, the PAP candidates understand the needs of residents and how to help them.

• Ms Phua said that in the past five years, six new MRT stations were built and nine markets were renovated; among other things, while new flats were also built. “But our job is not finished,” she added.

Wrapping up her team’s broadcast, Mrs Teo said that the Covid-19 crisis has threatened the lives, jobs and future of residents, adding: “The PAP team in Jalan Besar is determined to walk this journey with you and to support you in every possible way… Let us continue to create our stories, our hopes, our homes together with you."

PV’S PROPOSALS

• Mr Lim said he has a “formidable team” who is able to take care of the needs of Jalan Besar residents and run its town council properly.

• He said he has with him Mr Leong whom he described as “one of the foremost human rights campaigners in Singapore”.

• Also on his team is Mr Azlan, a halal consultant, and Dr Fang, a medically trained doctor.

• Quoting Mrs Teo as having said that inequality is a sign of the economy’s success, Mr Lim said many cleaners live in Jalan Besar and earn S$1,200 a month on average while the prime minister earns S$2.2 million a year. “That is about 159 times what a cleaner earns,” he said.

• He said he founded Peoples Voice because he wanted to make Singapore a home again. “Peoples Voice is a democratic party with direct democracy at its heart,” he said.

Mr Lim said: “Jalan Besarians, I hope… you will use your vote on July 10 as a referendum on Josephine Teo’s competence and leadership. If you do not think that her leadership is what you want in Parliament, may I suggest that there is another choice, and that you should vote Peoples Voice.”