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GE2020 constituency broadcasts: What Marine Parade GRC candidates have to say

SINGAPORE — Candidates contesting Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP) made their respective pitches on the third day of the constituency political broadcasts on Sunday (July 5).

Candidates from the People’s Action Party (top) and the Workers' Party (bottom) are contesting for five seats in Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency.

Candidates from the People’s Action Party (top) and the Workers' Party (bottom) are contesting for five seats in Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency.

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SINGAPORE — Candidates contesting Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC) from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP) made their respective pitches on the third day of the constituency political broadcasts on Sunday (July 5).

For the PAP, its team in the constituency comprises incumbents Tan Chuan-Jin, 51; Edwin Tong, 50; and Seah Kian Peng, 58. They will be joined by two newcomers: Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman, 48; and Dr Tan See Leng, 55.

Dr Tan takes the place of Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who has been synonymous with the area after helming the constituency for 44 years. The 79-year-old announced on June 24 that he was retiring as a Member of Parliament (MP). Former Marine Parade GRC MP Fatimah Lateef has also stepped down.

With a new slate of faces in his team, Mr Tan said the PAP’s commitment to serving Marine Parade residents to the best of its ability does not change. Said Mr Tan: “In Marine Parade GRC, we are fully committed to making sure that in everything that we do, our people, you, our residents, remain at the centre of everything that we do.”

The opposing candidates from WP are Mr Yee Jenn Jong, 55; Mr Ron Tan, 35; Mr Fadli Fawzi, 39; Mr Azhar Abdul Latip, 34; and Mr Nathaniel Koh, 36.

This is the second time that the WP is vying for the constituency. In the 2015 General Election, the WP lost to the PAP, garnering 35.93 per cent of the vote.

"The Workers’ Party is back," said Mr Yee. "We have never left. Over the past few years, despite the challenges of not having been elected, we have initiated various community projects in this GRC. We continue to visit residents. We are touched by your encouragement and support.”

In these broadcasts, candidates in four- and five-member GRCs have 12 and 15 minutes of airtime respectively. Those vying for single-seat wards each have three minutes to speak.

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

  • There will be two new MRT stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line, including an MRT station in Joo Chiat, said Mr Tong. These stations will help enhance connectivity and ease of travel.

  • New polyclinics will also be located at Still Road and at Braddell Heights, which will also have a new kidney dialysis centre. Estate Upgrading Programmes for Siglap estate and Frankel estate have been secured as well, said Mr Tong. Of these upgrading programmes, he said this was the result of several years of lobbying with the Government and in Parliament.

  • Other improvements include the redevelopment of East Coast Park, and a recently renovated PAP Community Foundation Joo Chiat.

  • In terms of social programmes, Dr Tan said the Caregiver Support Network will be rolled out as a pilot in the next few weeks after a year of planning. The programme will provide respite care for caregivers, a social support network, training programmes, as well as financial assistance for low-income families.

  • Mr Fahmi Aliman also pledged to help guide residents on assistance schemes and skills programmes, such as career fairs and the job placement centre at Wisma Geylang Serai.

  • Aside from more services and estate enhancements, the PAP in Marine Parade GRC has always made the people its central focus, Mr Tan said as he urged residents to support the team.

Mr Tan said: “We will explore new ways to bring people together as a community. We will outreach to those who are vulnerable and help them. In fact, we ask you to join us to help others. As we help others, we change, and as more of us change, society changes along with us and we can build a fundamentally different and a better society here at Marine Parade GRC, and in Singapore.”

WP’S PROPOSALS

  • Seeking to reassure voters that their estate will be taken care of, Mr Fadli said that the party has accumulated enough experience with Hougang SMC and Aljunied GRC. Mr Fadli himself has served as a town councillor in Aljunied-Hougang for the past six years.

  • Mr Fadli said the party has created a new accounting software that will help manage town council matters. “This will ensure that the handover process will be smooth and that services to residents will not be disrupted,” he said.

  • If his team is elected, Mr Fadli said the constituency will be kept clean, the lifts will work, and the residents will still get to enjoy the amenities in the neighbourhood.

  • However, he said WP wants to do more than provide efficient municipal services. They want to build a neighbourhood that is “inclusive, cohesive, and accountable”. This will be done through means that include paying attention to the vulnerable and those with greater needs, especially the elderly and the disadvantaged,

  • Mr Fadli said the party pledges to be “transparent and resident-centric on matters of estate governance” as a means to stay accountable to its voters.

  • During the broadcast, several WP members also said that the party will be the voice of the residents, if elected. “We will speak up on national issues, and help you with your local ones,” said Mr Koh.

"The PAP has told you that Singapore only has enough talent for a Team A, that only the PAP can run this place. My years of participation in the alternative camp tell me otherwise," said Mr Yee. "The Workers’ Party has raised many issues in parliament and in a responsible way. Our proposals are made with serious thoughts.”

Related topics

Singapore General Election SGVotes2020 Marine Parade GRC PAP Workers' Party political broadcast

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