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GE2020 constituency broadcasts: What Sembawang GRC candidates have to say

SINGAPORE — Candidates from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and National Solidarity Party (NSP) who are vying for Sembawang Representation Constituency (GRC), set out their proposals to voters in a constituency political broadcast on Tuesday (July 7), three days before Singapore heads to the polls.

Candidates from the People’s Action Party (top) and the National Solidarity Party (bottom) are contesting five seats in Sembawang Group Representation Constituency.

Candidates from the People’s Action Party (top) and the National Solidarity Party (bottom) are contesting five seats in Sembawang Group Representation Constituency.

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SINGAPORE — Candidates from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and National Solidarity Party (NSP) who are vying for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), set out their proposals to voters in a constituency political broadcast on Tuesday (July 7), three days before Singapore heads to the polls.

The PAP team is led by Mr Ong Ye Kung, 50. The other four members are incumbent Members of Parliament Vikram Nair, 41, and Dr Lim Wee Kiak, 51, as well as newcomers Mariam Jaafar, 43, and Poh Li San, 44.

Mr Ong said that his team embodies three values when serving residents: Their understanding of Sembawang’s character and history, innovation and being consultative. These values, he said, have guided how the team has put into action what the residents wanted in a “meaningful, concrete” way.

Some new developments that the team has planned include: Our Sembawang community hub in Bukit Canberra, a new 2,200-bed healthcare campus in Woodlands and a 28km northern park connector linking Woodlands regional centre to Woodlands Waterfront Park.

Mr Ong pledged that for every project the team undertakes in Sembawang, it will give it “tender loving care” and make sure the project embodies the special characteristics of the constituency.

“We will make this a special place in Singapore. More facilities, more convenient, yet green, rustic, historical and a unique place,” Mr Ong said.

The NSP team contesting the GRC comprises Mr Spencer Ng, 40, Mr Sebastian Teo, 73, Mr Ivan Yeo Tiong Boon, 72, Mr Yadzeth Hairis, 57, and first-time candidate Sathin Ravindran, 27.

Mr Ng, Mr Yadzeth and Mr Sathin represented the party at the broadcast.

Mr Ng laid out the changes that his team will make at the national and constituency level if they win the polls, including the abolishment of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement if it is found to create unfair competition for Singapore professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in the workforce.

On its plans for Sembawang, Mr Ng said that the party will construct more barrier-free facilities for persons with disabilities and host both physical meet-the-people sessions as well as virtual ones.

“These are just some of the long list of exciting developments that we have in store for our Sembawang GRC residents. So for a better tomorrow, let’s do the next right thing. Help us build the true ‘kampung spirit’,” Mr Ng, who spoke in English and Mandarin said.

Sembawang GRC has more than 147,800 voters.

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

  • The Our Sembawang community hub will be built, equipped with a hawker centre, swimming pool, gym, indoor sports hall, childcare and eldercare facilities as well as a polyclinic, set among fruit trees and organic farming gardens.

  • Now under construction is the Woodlands healthcare campus. At 2,200 beds, it is set to be one of the largest medical facilities in Singapore, Dr Lim said.

  • A 28km northern park connector will also be built, with cycling and pedestrian paths linking Woodlands regional centre to the Woodlands Waterfront.

  • Ms Mariam said in Malay that “the story of Sembawang is not just about infrastructure development”, that it is also about the development of the town’s “software”.

  • Ms Poh, who spoke in Mandarin, talked about the difficulties faced by residents because of the Covid-19 pandemic. For those rejected from receiving government subsidies, she said that the team had used community welfare funds to alleviate some of their expenses, such as through providing shopping and meal vouchers.

  • Speaking in Tamil, Mr Nair noted that although Sembawang has developed since its early years as a village, it still holds onto its heritage by preserving areas such as the Sembawang Hot Spring Park and Sembawang beach.

Mr Ong said: “So this is our team, our vision, our projects, our ideas and our ethos. Every family is important in Sembawang. Every resident matters, and together, we can work and make Sembawang a unique and special place in Singapore.”

NSP’S PROPOSALS

  • Mr Ng said that the party wants to make housing affordable for future generations of Singaporeans. It wants to subsidise the cost of owning a flat. The party also wants to conduct a study to increase the livable space of a Housing and Development Board flat.

  • He said that the party wants to stop increases to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is expected to go up from 7 per cent to 9 per cent sometime between 2022 and 2025. It also wants to remove GST for basic necessities such as rice, cooking oil and baby milk formula.

  • At a constituency level, Mr Ng said that the party will build elder-friendly facilities in housing and common areas. These include grab bars, low-rise steps and a pair of resting stools every 150m along main walkways with covered shelter.

  • Mr Ng said that his party also wants to install solar cells to power common facilities so as to lower conservancy charges for residents.

  • Speaking in Malay, Mr Yadzeth noted that the cost of living had risen for Singaporeans. The cost of healthcare had also risen to a point where Singaporeans are afraid to fall ill, he said. 

  • Mr Sathin said that more help could be given to families with financial difficulties so that children can focus on their studies instead of trying to make ends meet at home. He also called for more grants to be given for tertiary-level students so that more Singaporeans have the opportunity to further their studies.

Mr Sathin said: “We want a more proactive than reactive government. We don’t want a government who only reacts. They need to be constantly pushed and questioned. We need to have more transparency, accountability, checks and balances.” 

Related topics

political broadcast Sembawang GRC Singapore General Election SGVotes2020 PAP NSP

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