SINGAPORE — In contrast to her People’s Action Party opponent Koh Poh Koon, Workers’ Party candidate Lee Li Lian yesterday spoke at length about national issues such as the high cost of childcare as well as the pressures of the education system, as she sought to show that she can also contribute on the national stage.

Apart from reiterating her proposal for “unrestricted” use of Medisave for those above 75, she also suggested that the Government study the feasibility of a through train programme for primary schools, so that students can bypass the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Ms Lee, 34, has previously spoken to the media about municipal concerns in Punggol East such as the lack of childcare centres and inadequate feeder bus services.

And while Dr Koh proposed a slew of improvements to the constituency in his first rally on Friday, Ms Lee - a trainer at a financial institution - instead focused on national issues at her maiden rally yesterday for the Punggol East by-election.

She noted that fees of childcare centres islandwide have increased, on average, by 34 per cent in the last five years – from an average of S$680 a month for a full-day infant care and childcare programme, to an average of S$914 a month.

This, despite the number of childcare centres rising from 743 to 1,009 over the same period, and the two anchor operators — PAP Community Foundation and NTUC My First Skool — enjoying government subsidies amounting to an estimated S$69 million a year. She said: “If NTUC and PCF enjoy such huge public subsidies, why are childcare centre fees going up?”

On the education system, she said: “We are seeing unhealthy stress levels... We have students committing suicide because they did not do well enough for their exams. An estimated 1 in 10 children aged 6 to 16 suffer from mental health disorders.”

She said that while “it is good that the Ministry of Education has decided not to name the top PSLE students in the media, to help reduce competitiveness and stress, much more can still be done.”

Said Ms Lee: “PSLE is still a high-stakes examination. If you do not do well at PSLE, you will always be struggling to catch up with your peers because of secondary school streaming.”

She added: “The formative years of our children should also be better spent on nurturing their many talents and interests rather than forcing preparations for high-stakes examinations on them.”

For the group at the other end of the spectrum, Ms Lee said by not restricting the use of Medisave for those above 75, it will also “ease the burden on families who have to take care of elderly parents and young children as well”.

She said: “Life expectancy in Singapore is 82 years. If our seniors cannot use their Medisave funds for immediate medical needs when they are 75 years old, when can they use it?”

Sharing her experience helping Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh on the ground, Ms Lee said she met young families which cannot afford to buy their own flats, elderly Singaporeans struggling to pay their medical bills and parents concerned about the rising costs of education.

“I worry if our children can afford to live in Singapore 20 years down the road,” she said.

Lending his support to Ms Lee’s bid to enter Parliament, Mr Singh described her as someone who takes an interest in people, and who makes time and effort to understand them.

Said Mr Singh: “The relationships that people like Li Lian make are based on empathy, friendliness and understanding; and these are very healthy qualities for anyone who wants to be a Member of Parliament. ... the residents of Punggol East will also benefit from these qualities.”

He added: “It is my firm belief that she will be an MP that you can relate to, and one who will look after you.”