[SINGAPORE] Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (May 1) urged Sengkang residents to reflect on who they truly want as their MPs, even if they hope for more alternative voices in Parliament to serve as checks and balances.
Speaking at the People’s Action Party (PAP) rally for the constituency – where the Workers’ Party (WP) is the incumbent – at North Vista Secondary School, PM Wong said he understands those sentiments.
“To these residents, I will say, you can be assured that there will be alternative voices in Parliament,” he told the crowd on the final day of hustings ahead of the May 3 general election.
“After all, the Workers’ Party now says it has safe seats, to quote one of its candidates… Sure to win, basically, from their point of view,” he said.
He added that there are “multiple hotly contested seats” this general election, not just in Sengkang GRC.
“Some of these constituencies, you may have the opposition breaking through, and they will add to the opposition presence in the Parliament,” he said. “So the opposition presence in Parliament is here to stay.”
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“The more important question, which I would put to all Sengkang residents and voters, is this: Who in your heart of hearts do you really want to serve yourself and your families, and to represent you in Parliament?”
He said a key consideration to him is “character”, adding that he vouches for his team.
He also countered the argument that it does not matter if the opposition takes over an estate, because upgrading programmes are extended all over Singapore.
“Having national upgrading programmes across the island is just the baseline – that’s only the minimum,” he said. “Don’t settle for the minimum.”
He added that “a good team in charge can make a difference”. Sengkang residents, having been served by the PAP and WP, have “a very good basis to compare”.
Building together
Turning to the uncertain economic climate, he reiterated that the road ahead will not be easy, and that the “storms” cannot be avoided as they are global.
“But we can choose how we respond to the storm,” he said.
“We can give in to anger and cynicism and division, which you sometimes hear in opposition rallies, or we can choose compassion, solidarity and strength.”
“We can choose to pull apart, or we can choose to pull together,” he said. “What the PAP offers is very clear: We choose to build, we choose to work together, we choose to unite.”
The PAP is “not a perfect party” and has made mistakes, but has “always been upfront with” citizens. And while the party may not promise to solve everything, it promises to always walk with Singaporeans, he said.
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