Singapore’s Priorities
A Q U A R T E R LY P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E P E O P L E ' S A C T I O N P A R T Y
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THE SINGAPORE JOURNEY IN THIS ISSUE
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PAP MPs rebut WP on NCMP seat pg08 How Baey Yam Keng connects with youths What is in store for PCF pg18
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PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Lawrence Wong (Chairman) Desmond Lee Chee Hong Tat Seah Kian Peng Lim Wee Kiak Baey Yam Keng Zaqy Mohamad Janil Puthucheary Chiang Heng Liang Diana Pang Hamidah Aidillah Benjamin Tay Teo Lin Lee Adrian Liew Editor Chee Li Foong Editorial and Design Focus Publishing Limited (Tel: 6319-2392) Printer KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd Photos Singapore Press Holdings, istockphoto.com
MCI(P) 144/02/2015 Petir is published by the People’s Action Party Central Executive Committee. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior consent of the publisher. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the PAP or the Government. All rights reserved. PAP Headquarters Block 57B, New Upper Changi Road, #01-1402, PCF Building, Singapore 463057 Telephone: 6244-4600 Telefax: 6243-0114 Internet: www.pap.org.sg
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04 COVER STORY
The 13th Parliament
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A political system for the future
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NCMP not to “showcase” talent
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First-time MPs’ debut
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New GPC chairmen map out their aims
18 FEATURE
Continuing the good work of PCF
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The Turnaround MPs
President Tony Tan outlines the government’s agenda at the opening of the 13th Parliament.
The Prime Minister proposes significant changes to the key institutions in Singapore’s political system.
Petir gives an account of the debate in Parliament on the WP’s motion to fill the NCMP seat vacated by its Lee Li Lian.
MPs spoke on a myriad of issues during the debate on the President’s Address. We bring you a snapshot of what the first time MPs raised in Parliament.
The 12 GPC chairmen share with Petir their plans for the current term of Parliament.
New office bearers Lawrence Wong and Josephine Teo tell Petir their plans for PCF to keep it abreast of changing demographics, especially to cater to the needs of an ageing population.
Tin Pei Ling and Sitoh Yih Pin talk about their efforts in building trust with their residents who reciprocated by giving them strong support in GE2015.
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February 2016
Contents 18
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24 28 21 CONVERSATION GROUNDWORK 24 BRANCHING OUT
Making a difference – differently
Being adept at social media has helped Baey Yam Keng connect with youths.
Sprouting new branches
Although Gambas, Limbang and Punggol West are new branches, they have hit the ground running. Find out how these divisions managed it.
26 WOMEN'S WING
Reaching out to women inside and outside of the Party
28 BACKBENCHER’S BITE
Breaking the ice
New Exco is casting the net wider to get more women members into its fold.
New Fengshan MP Cheryl Chan dismisses the perception that she is an “ice-maiden”. She also shares how her singlehood acts an ice-breaker with her single residents.
Please send feedback, suggestions and comments to paphq@pap.org.sg.
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COVER STORY
The 13th Parliam
Keep Singapore Safe and Secure
Terrorism has become a dangerous and persistent threat and the bomb blasts in Jakarta on January 14 came uncomfortably close. A terrorist attack here cannot be ruled out. It will not only cause death and injury, but could also tear apart our social fabric. Singaporeans must stay united and resilient and keep working to deepen mutual understanding.
Defining national priorities: President’s Address to Parliament
In his address at the opening of the 13th Parliament on January 15, 2016, President Tony Tan said that good politics and leadership will enable the Government to focus on key areas in the challenging post-SG50 years.
Engage and Partner Singaporeans in Nation-Building
SG50 brought Singaporeans closer together. Currently, the SGfuture dialogues and the Committee on the Future Economy are two national platforms which will allow us to shape our future together. It is this partnership, collaboration and solidarity which will enable us to thrive as a sovereign, independent and special nation in the next half century.
Capable and Honest political leaders needed
The bedrock of Singapore’s future survival and success lies in capable and honest political leaders who take leadership renewal seriously, and are trusted by the people. These leaders will thrive in a system which allows them to develop and deliver on sound policies to benefit Singaporeans. While the system has worked well, it must be refreshed when circumstances change. The Government will study whether and how to improve it.
Renew the Economy
Singapore will grow more slowly as its economy is now more mature. With limited land, labour, an ageing workforce and global competition, it is crucial for us to find ways to stay relevant and competitive. This includes investments in education and nurturing lifelong learning via programmes like SkillsFuture.
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Foster a more Caring Society
The Government will keep healthcare affordable, accessible and of high quality. At the same time, people, especially senior citizens, will be encouraged to live healthily and well. A caring society is also one where people treat each other – from friends to foreigners – with warmth and dignity.
Transform Urban Landscape
Building the best home for Singaporeans entails more affordable high-quality public housing surrounded by beautiful environments. People will move around in ‘car-lite’, environmentallyfriendly ways like walking, cycling and taking public transport. Technology will be a major enabler in creating green, energy-efficient and connected living environments. Major infrastructure plans such as the Southern Waterfront City and the redevelopment of Paya Lebar Airbase will benefit future generations of Singaporeans, and transform the urban landscape.
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ment
Interesting
Facts and Figures about Parliament
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First session of the 1st Parliament of independent Singapore was held on December 8, 1965, four months after Singapore separated from Malaysia. Fifty-one MPs attended the sitting inaugurated by the Republic’s first President, Yusof Ishak. In the current 13th Parliament, there are 92 members in the House – 89 MPs and three NCMPs. Twentyone are first time MPs.
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Of the 89 MPs, 21 are women and 68 are men. The average age of all MPs is 48.4. The most senior MP is Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (Marine Parade GRC) at 74 years old, while 32-year old Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson SMC) is the youngest.
Seating plan for 13th Parliament PARLIAMENT CHAMBER Speaker Chee Hong Tat
Lawrence Wong
Halimah Yacob
Ong Teng Koon
Leon Perera
Desmond Lee
Chan Chun Sing
Charles Chong
Fatimah Lateef
Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Sam Tan Chin Siong
Grace Fu
Lim Biow Chuan
Edwin Tong
Daniel Goh *
Sim Ann
Gan Kim Yong
David Ong Kim Huat
Foo Mee Har
Melvin Yong Yik Chye Joan Pereira Desmond Choo
Amy Khor Janil Puthucheary
Teo Ho Pin
Josephine Teo
Muhd Faishal Ibrahim
Ong Ye Kung
Baey Yam Keng
Chia Shi-Lu Sitoh Yih Pin
Khaw Boon Wan
Zaqy Mohamad
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Denise Phua
Lee Hsien Loong
Seah Kian Peng
Teo Chee Hean
Low Thia Khiang
K. Shanmugam
Liang Eng Hwa
Ng Eng Hen
Lee Bee Hwa
Ng Chee Meng
Amrin Amin Chong Kee Hiong
Lim Swee Say Lim Hng Kiang
Indranee Rajah Mohd Maliki Osman
Sun Xueling
Lim Wee Kiak Cedric Foo
Darryl David
Lily Neo
Rahayu Mahzam
Sylvia Lim Jessica Tan Yaacob Ibrahim
Christopher De Souza
Vivian Balakrishnan
Alex Yam
Teo Ser Luck
Heng Swee Keat
Patrick Tay Teck Guan
Ang Hin Kee
Lam Pin Min
S. Iswaran
Vikram Nair
Tin Pei Ling
Koh Poh Koon
Tan Chuan-Jin
Goh Chok Tong
Ang Wei Neng
Low Yen Ling
Masagos Zulkifli
Lee Yi Shyan
Gan Thiam Poh
Heng Chee How
Louis Ng Kok Kwang
Zainal Sapari
Cheryl Chan Tan Wu Meng Pritam Singh Chen Show Mao Muhd Faisal Abdul Manap
Yee Chia Hsing
Henry Kwek Hian Chuan Saktiandi Supaat Cheng Li Hui
* As WP's Lee Li Lian declined the NCMP seat, Daniel Goh was offered the seat following an amendment to a motion filed by WP.
LEGENDS Cabinet Minister Senior Minister of State or Minister of State Parliamentary Secretary Opposition
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Government Paliamentary Committee chairman
A weapon of war during medieval times, Parliament’s mace now symbolises sovereign power and authority. The mace’s design includes a winged lion, fishes, Chinese junks and Sir Stamford Raffles’ family coat-ofarms.
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Intan Azura Mokhtar
Png Eng Huat
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Most Bills passed by Parliament are scrutinised by the Presidential Council for Minority Rights which makes a report to the Speaker if there is any measure in a Bill which affects any racial or religious community. If approved by the Council, the Bill will be assented to by the President after which it is gazetted in the Government Gazette to become a law.
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Lecterns can be electronically raised by 30 cm to accommodate the varying heights of MPs when they address the House.
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Parliament has its own lingo. “Aye” is an old English word for voting “yes” while “hear, hear” is the expression to applaud a speech. Members may also clap their hands or rap on the sides of their seats to indicate applause.
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Speaker of Parliament
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COVER STORY
A political system for the future
Singapore must have good policies and good politics that will enable the country to prosper and progress over the next 50 years, says PM Lee
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ignificant changes to Singapore’s political system are on the cards as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took pains to explain why the country needs to have both good policies and good politics to succeed for the long haul. Mr Lee, who is also the PAP SecretaryGeneral, talked about three key institutions – the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme, the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system and the Elected Presidency (EP) in his speech to Parliament on January 27. Petir takes a closer look at each of these institutions and the rationale behind the changes.
Equality for NCMPs, more opposition voices The Constitution will be amended to give NCMPs the same voting rights as their elected counterparts, said Mr Lee. Currently, NCMPs – appointed from the batch of losing candidates with the best results in a general election (GE) – are allowed to speak in all debates, move motions and file parliamentary questions. However, they are unable to vote on several matters – constitutional changes, sup-
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ply and money Bills, votes of no-confidence in the government, and remove a President from office. With the amendment, the NCMPs will be given the same voting rights as the constituency MPs. Mr Lee said NCMPs would be “equal in powers although not in responsibility and scope to constituency MPs” because they do not have a specific group of voters to look after. The upcoming changes would mean that there would be no reason to perceive NCMPs as “second-class”. In another major change, the minimum number of opposition members, including NCMPs, will be raised to 12 – an increase from the current nine – from the next GE onwards. Mr Lee described it as a reasonable figure in a House of about 100 members, given that at least 30 per cent of citizens vote against the government at every election. Together with the nine Nominated MPs, this will ensure at least 21 faces who are not from the ruling party, said the Party Secretary-General.
Smaller GRCs, more SMCs When Mr Lee appoints the next Electoral Boundaries Review Committee before the next GE, he will instruct it to further reduce
the size of GRCs and create more single-seat wards. In doing so, there is a need to “strike the right balance” between the economies of scale of larger GRCs, and the much closer connection between MPs and residents in smaller ones. There are currently 16 GRCs and 13 SMCs, for a total of 89 MPs. The average number of MPs in each GRC is now 4.75, down from an average of five in 2011.
Updated benchmarks for presidential hopefuls The qualifying criteria will be tightened for those who want to be Singapore’s next President. A new Constitutional Commission headed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon will make recommendations and present them to the Government by the third quarter of 2016. Current rules state that a candidate should have once held key public appointments such as Speaker of Parliament or Chief Justice or Cabinet Minister, or have had experience running large companies with a paid-up capital of at least S$100 million. Mr Lee said he agreed with a sugges-
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tion by Eddie Teo, the chairman of the Presidential Elections Committee, who pointed out the criterion of S$100 million in paid-up capital was set more than 20 years ago, so it was unclear if that threshold continues to reflect the original intent of the requirement. In his speech, Mr Lee noted how inflation alone meant that S$100 million in 1990 would be about S$158 million today. Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product in 1990 stood at S$72 billion, but has since grown to S$399 billion as of 2015. Mr Lee cited the example of Singtel, a company whose paid-up capital was S$500 million in 1993. Today, it stands at S$2.64 billion. He agreed with Mr Teo’s assessment that the smallest companies in Singapore with a paid-up capital of S$100 million would fall well short in both size and complexity, based on the existing set of benchmarks.
Minority race as President Separately, the PM shared that the government was looking at having a mechanism to ensure that a minority candidate could be periodically elected as President if Singapore did not have a particular minority race as the Head of State for some time. He added that it would be much harder for minorities to get elected given that future presidential elections are likely to be contested. The next election is due by August 2017. The Constitutional Commission will also examine if the views of the Council of Presidential Advisors, the six-member panel that advises the President, should be given greater weight. Mr Lee said this would ensure that Singapore’s governance system becomes more stable over time.
PM: The five principles of Singapore’s political system High quality government
Accountability, honesty, competence and effectiveness are the qualities that the government must have. As a small country with no resources or hinterland, Mr Lee said that excellence and integrity must always remain a competitive advantage for Singapore.
Open and contestable elections
Singapore must always have free and fair elections, and it must not be forbiddingly expensive for people to stand and contest elections. “One of the greatest things we have done is to keep our system open, to make sure that we keep money out of politics and it does not cost a lot of money to contest elections.”
Accountability
This will ensure that the Government is always kept on its toes, and will always be motivated to look after the interests of Singaporeans. The country must have a system where the Government does not, over time, become complacent, go soft or become corrupt.
Uphold a multi-racial society
Multi-racialism is fundamental to Singapore’s identity as there are three major races and all the world’s major religions. “Race and religion will always be fundamental tectonic fault lines for us. If we ever split along one of these fault lines, that will be the end of us,” said Mr Lee.
Incorporate stabilisers
Singapore needs stabilisers to protect the reserves and safeguard the integrity of the public service. These two elements provide safety, security, assurance and resources for the future. While the Government has to be responsive to the people’s will, there must also be safeguards in case the country is swept off course by a transient public mood or an erratic government. “By the time you change your mind and realise it is unwise, it is too late to come back,” said Mr Lee.
“Good politics make sure that we will elect governments who will develop good policies, who will expand our common space and strengthen our society for the future. If we have good politics, then we have the best chance of having our system continuing to work for us, instead of against us, over the long haul.” February 2016
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COVER STORY
NCMP not to “showcase” talent PAP MPs slam WP’s manoeuvring to fill NCMP seat
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n January 29, Parliament voted to fill the Non-Constituency MP seat that was vacated by former Punggol East MP Lee Li Lian. This was after a lively twohour debate involving members of both the PAP and the opposition Workers' Party (WP), with the latter abstaining from the vote after an amendment was added to the motion by Government Whip Chan Chun Sing.
How the issue arose In GE2015, Ms Lee was the losing opposition candidate with the highest vote share, which made her eligible for one of three available NCMP seats. Shortly after the polls, she declared that she would not take up the post, her reason being that it was not possible to be a fulltime NCMP and it would be unfair to her future employer. She also wanted to spend more time with her family.
Khiang moved a motion for Ms Lee's seat to be declared vacant. It was seconded by its five other elected MPs. The party later said it wanted Dr Daniel Goh, a member of its East Coast GRC team, to fill the seat.
WP files motion
Changes ahead
At the opening of the 13th Parliament on January 15, WP secretary-general Low Thia
WP chief responds
On January 27, the third day of the debate on the President’s Address, Prime Minis-
That same night on January 27 at his meet-the-people session, WP secretary-general Mr Low noted that even if NCMPs had equal voting powers, they are different because they do not have their own electorate to serve. As such, a party with an NCMP does not gain any advantage or political muscle. “An NCMP is just duckweed on the water of a pond. You don’t have roots, unlike elected MPs where you have a constituency, you run a Town Council, you are in close touch with your residents, and you can sink roots there,” he said. “To strengthen the political system, you need competition. Like what the PM said, contestable politics. I’m not sure whether or not (having more NCMPs) in the long run will help.” Mr Low also painted a scenario where opposition parties would contest elections in the hope of getting into Parliament as an NCMP. That would be ironic, he added, as the opposition would only be a “vase”, and there would not be a real functional democracy and contestable politics.
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ter Lee Hsien Loong announced a slew of proposed changes to the political system. Among them: The minimum number of opposition MPs, including NCMPs, will go up from nine to 12 at the next GE. During this current term, the Constitution will be amended to give NCMPs the same voting rights as elected MPs.
PAP MPs rebut
On January 28, a number of PAP MPs took turns to rebut Mr Low. On WP’s “duckweed” Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong GRC) took issue with his “duckweed” comment, stressing that there was nothing to stop NCMPs from walking the ground to gather feedback and learn about the concerns of residents. On opportunities for NCMPs Edwin Tong (Marine Parade GRC) said that being an NCMP did not deprive a candidate of the opportunity to contest freely for the right to run a constituency. As the scheme gives losing candidates another chance to enter Parliament, Mr Tong noted how the WP had also used it over the years to advance its own political agenda. On exposure for NCMPs “The NCMP scheme not only introduces greater diversity and debate in Parliament, it helps opposition members gain exposure and experience. I, therefore, cannot see the basis on which the Workers’ Party continues to mount this complaint,” said Mr Tong. On how PAP understands electorate Heng Chee How (Jalan Besar GRC) weighed in on Mr Low’s calls for a political system that is conducive to the growth of alternative parties as an “insurance policy”. The proposals put forth by PM Lee shows that the government already recognises the need for a diversity of views. “That is a practical example of a political party that understands what the people want, and is taking steps to ensure that what they want is reflected,” pointed out Mr Heng.
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Use NCMP scheme to form shadow Cabinet By Tan Wu Meng, MP for Jurong GRC
The electorate votes Opposition for many reasons: the search for an alternative voice, or they may want a different team managing the town council and perhaps even the government. The NCMP system recognises these diverse perspectives, and helps move beyond the polarising idea of “either you are completely with us, or you are completely against us”. The NCMP system also ensures diversity in Parliament if there is a freak election where the same political party wins all the constituency seats. It is hard to reconcile how an Opposition party would speak against the NCMP system, while seeking at the same time to fill an NCMP seat left vacant by one of their own. Twelve guaranteed Opposition seats in Parliament is no small matter. The first cabinet of Singapore had fewer than 12 ministers. Twelve capable men and women in Opposition with integrity, ability and verve can form a shadow cabinet to take clear stands on all issues of the day, debating both the easy and difficult issues. They can use a parliamentary track record as a platform to win GRCs and thereby prove their Town Council management acumen – and from there seek to replace the Government.
Tighten “transfer” rules By Vikram Nair, MP for Sembawang GRC
The Prime Minister’s proposal for the number of NCMPs to be increased to 12, along with giving NCMPs equal rights to vote on all issues in Parliament is a significant constitutional amendment. It means, regardless of the election outcome, some 20% of seats in the House will be filled by people not from the ruling party. In my first term in Parliament, I had seen NCMPs contribute to and participate in all the important debates. Even in debates where they could not vote, such as the annual budget, all NCMPs participated fully. The right to speak in Parliament is a privilege, and in the case of MPs and NCMPs, it is a privilege earned at the ballot box. In GE2015, the Workers’ Party’s Ms Lee Li Lian declined her NCMP seat so that her party could ”showcase” Mr Daniel Goh, another potential candidate. This was the first time in Singapore’s history that an NCMP declined her seat so as to allow another party member to be ”showcased”. This is troubling because it disregards the election results and permits political parties to decide which candidates they wish to have take up the NCMP position. I hope the future constitutional amendments to enhance this scheme by both increasing the numbers and voting rights of NCMPs will be accompanied by tighter rules on the ability of political parties to ”transfer” this right as they please to members who would not have otherwise qualified to be NCMPs.
WP’s inconsistencies
Which is WP’s real face?
For many years, ordinary Singaporeans and PAP activists alike recognised the importance in the diversity of views. Within the party, the PAP Policy Forum was formed to provide a voice to ordinary party members. Among PAP parliamentarians, the Government Parliamentary Committees were formed to provide a voice to backbenchers. To take it further, the NCMP was introduced to provide a voice to the electoral minority. The introduction of voting powers to MPs who failed to win a majority is an innovation that deviates from the traditional Westminster parliamentary system. It is an extraordinary measure that should only be used in a parliament where the ruling party has a super majority. If the Opposition is genuine about the well-being of this country, it should make the best of the NCMP system. The PAP has no obligation to help the Opposition win constituencies, as it sincerely believes that PAP MPs take better care of residents, a belief that is shared by most voters. It is thus puzzling that the WP would abstain from the motion to field its own candidate for its vacated NCMP seat.
Mr Leon Perera said on Facebook that the PAP and its MPs should “agree to disagree without calling each other names, running each other down and scoring partisan points endlessly’’. But in Parliament when speaking about NCMPs, Mr Low Thia Khiang called Mr Cedric Foo “arrogant” for pointing out a fact. The fact that it was the NCMP scheme which gave Mr Leon Perera a seat in Parliament. On the same day, Mr Low in Parliament described PAP MPs as “hypocrite”. So who is running others down? Who is scoring partisan points endlessly? Which of the two faces is the real face of WP? This latest episode shows that the WP says one thing and does another, sometimes on the same day. And when caught on the back foot, WP hides behind talk of ideals, while doing the very things they claim to condemn.
By Zheng Shunsheng, PPF 6th Council member, Bukit Batok East branch
By Thomas Tan, activist from Punggol East Branch
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COVER STORY
PAP makes position clear
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arious party members took part in the 90-minute debate on the WP’s motion on January 29. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing (Tanjong Pagar GRC) said that while the PAP wants to see the third NCMP seat filled, what was troubling was the manoeuvering by the WP. “When one takes up the NCMP scheme, I hope it’s for the correct reason, which is to serve Singapore. I hope it’s not for the wrong reason – to showcase our talent. We don’t want the NCMP scheme to be a revolving door,” said Mr Chan, who is the Government Whip.
PAP MPs: Review rules on NCMP seat “transfer” Others called for the rules governing the “transfer” of NCMP seats to be reviewed. Deputy Speaker Charles Chong (Punggol East SMC) reminded the House that there are established rules in place, be they in the Parliamentary standing orders, legislation or Constitution. “Where there is a framework within which we must work, everyone involved should respect it and not try to find ways to game the system,” he said.
He added that it was an opportune time for the government to review the provisions related to filling a vacant NCMP seat to prevent abuse, in particular the practice of “transferring” an NCMP seat to a candidate from a different constituency. Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC) made the point that “transferring” the NCMP seat to another candidate undermined the legitimacy of the role. In this case, Ms Lee Li Lian’s vote share in Punggol East was nearly 9 per cent higher than what the WP’s East Coast GRC team managed. “There is a rule to allow the best performing loser to be qualified as an NCMP. If, to a certain extent, we change the NCMP system into proportional representation, will it still be in line with the spirit of our institution?” she asked. Mr Chong and Dr Lee also noted that there are political merits for any party to take up the NCMP scheme. The WP has brought in new members to Parliament in this way, such as Sylvia Lim in 2006 and both Yee Jenn Jong and Gerald Giam in 2011.
PAP inserts clause Towards the end of the debate, Mr Chan
“The honour and privilege to join this House is for service to the nation. It is not for us to showcase ourselves. It is not for us to showcase our party talents. If we do that, we come in with the wrong end in mind.” - Government Whip Chan Chun Sing, responding to Ms Lee Li Lian's point about turning down her NCMP seat to give another colleague a chance to be “showcased”.
inserted a clause to the motion. It stated that Parliament “regrets that Ms Lee Li Lian, having stood as a Workers' Party candidate and received the highest vote share among all losing opposition candidates, has now decided to give up her NCMP seat to another candidate from her party with a lower vote share, contrary to the expressed will of the voters. And that the WP supports this political manoeuvre to take full advantage of the NCMP seat, even as its secretary-general criticises NCMPs as just duckweed on the water of the pond”.
WP abstains Both Mr Low and WP chairman Sylvia Lim requested their party's objection to the amendment be noted when Speaker Halimah Yacob called for a vote at the end of the debate. In a twist of irony, the WP eventually abstained from voting on its own motion. All the PAP MPs present voted in favour of the amended motion.
Shanmugam to WP: Be honest
Minister of Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam (Nee Soon GRC), speaking at a community event two days after the debate, called on the WP to be honest about its intentions. “The Workers’ Party should just come out and say: ‘Look, we would prefer a direct choice being given to the voters between the PAP and the Workers' Party, or some other opposition. But we don’t like the people being given an additional choice, which is you vote for the PAP and you still get an opposition candidate. Nevertheless, we benefit from it and therefore we want to fill the third seat’, ” he said.
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COVER STORY
First-time MPs’ debut A total of 62 MPs spoke during the five-day debate on the President's Address, and it was a special occasion for 18 of the PAP's newly-elected MPs as they delivered their maiden speeches in the House. They raised issues ranging from education, flexible work arrangements for new mothers, tripartism, as well as their concerns on the future of the Singapore economy. Petir takes a snapshot at some of the suggestions and ideas from these first-term parliamentarians. “One of our key success factors has been our ability to stay connected to the world, and be open to new ideas and talent from abroad. The critical thing is that when we open up, we do not lose our identity and we must continue to ensure that Singaporeans remain at the core of everything we do. There will be tensions, but we must find a way to strike a good balance between these objectives.” - Minister of State for Communications and Information & Health Chee Hong Tat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), on why Singapore must remain connected to the world and open to talent.
“We must continue to emphasise integrity and stand firm against corruption. But we must also exercise judgement and discretion. This is because the world is now too complex to be reduced to rules and numbers. Abiding by rules is part of standard operating procedure, but so too, must be the exercise of judgement. Singapore is successful today partly because at the crossroads of our nation’s history, our founding fathers and pioneer leaders made the right and important judgement calls. In time to come, robots and computers will take over many human functions. But one thing they can never take over is our ability as humans to exercise judgement.”
“How do we calibrate the relationship between Government and industry to ensure the optimal amount of intervention and creative tension exists? Our SMEs are like warriors on the battlefield. In a competitive business world, enterprises must continually seek breakthroughs in technology and seek unique weapons.” - Minister of State for Trade and Industry & National Development Koh Poh Koon (Ang Mo Kio GRC), on a more conducive eco-system for entrepreneurs to thrive.
“Pride and love for our country and fellow Singaporeans should not be just feelings that arise only because of the occasion and atmosphere. That type of sentiment is not bad, but it does not last for the long haul, and does not anchor a nation. What we need is a steady and strong heartbeat that will take us forward in our journey.” - Acting Education Minister (Schools) and Senior Minister of State (Transport) Ng Chee Meng (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), on the importance of the Singapore Heartbeat.
- Acting Education Minister (Higher Education & Skills) and Senior Minister of State (Defence) Ong Ye Kung (Sembawang GRC), on how the country must evolve in its policy-making to suit different circumstances.
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COVER STORY “It is not just physical borders. Internally, we have to strengthen our mental and emotional borders to ensure they are impenetrable to individual elements. If we learned anything from how we fought the Communists in the 1960s, it is that legislation, policies and weapons alone are not enough. We have to involve the community. We have to win hearts and minds. We have to stand as one united people.” - Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin (Sembawang GRC), on staying united.
“Our community centres can organise more activities which require participants of different races to team up and work together over a period of time. For example, have cooking contests comprising several rounds so that participants have to practice and create several dishes over a few weeks would promote mutual understanding through cooperation.” - Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC), on greater effort to strengthen social harmony through community bonding, against the backdrop of global extremism.
“Tripartism has served us well. It is a powerful weapon in our economic defence. But we should not allow it to remain a secret weapon known and practised only by a few. I would urge for tripartism to be included in our national education.”
“One way is to provide more publicity and create greater awareness for our National Jobs Bank and CaliberLink, which provides training, advisory and employment assistance for our local Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs).”
- Melvin Yong (Tanjong Pagar GRC), on the unique relationship between the government, unions and employers in Singapore.
- Chong Kee Hiong (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), on helping the unemployed find jobs, especially the newly retrenched.
“If we, as a nation, are serious about ensuring that all Singaporeans have equal employment opportunities, we must also have the power to impose meaningful sanctions upon errant employers, as the laws in Australia and Finland allow.”
“In a 16+8 model, a female employee who has just given birth has 16 weeks of maternity leave and eight more weeks of flexi-work arrangement which may include telecommuting and staggered work. This will help a mother to ease her transition from caring for a new born full-time and having to return to work.”
- Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), calling for more powers for the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices to weed out workplace discrimination.
- Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC), a first-time father who hopes that new mothers can enjoy a period of flexible work after their maternity leave.
“If we don't help SMEs weather the storm, they may no longer be around to tap on opportunities for growth when the economy recovers. Let's not forget that every successful business was once small, and I believe we should have the business environment to let a thousand flowers bloom.”
“I hope that we will be a nation of multi-generational neighbourhoods, where we take care of one another and where our elderly and young can mingle and share their lives and experiences. As we strive to be a Smart Nation, I hope we can also be a compassionate and cosy home for all Singaporeans.”
- Yee Chia Hsing (Chua Chu Kang GRC), on the need for a review on the quantum of foreign worker levies amid the weaker economic environment.
- Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC), on greater inter-generational integration.
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“Many of our economic agencies are pro-business, but many regulations fall outside their purview. Regulations should protect the essential. But in most areas of the new economy, Singapore can strike a better balance between stability and opportunity.” - Henry Kwek (Nee Soon GRC), arguing for more opportunities for Singaporebased businesses and start-ups.
“We can create integrated social hubs within each living community, for residents to live, work, socialise and revive the kampung spirit. I term this the 3G village, with care and respect for all ages and everyone with a meaningful role to play.” - Cheryl Chan (Fengshan SMC), on the creation of such hubs for seniors to allow them to age gracefully.
“How do we get Singapore ready to survive an exceptional perfect storm of regional skirmishes, the fallout from a slowing global economy, a fragile social fabric and divisive local politics? No party can do it alone. If I may suggest, not even the PAP, no matter how many seats we have in Parliament. No matter how strong our mandate, we must become a cohesive greater society. All of us, one family. And in this, we all have a role to play. I do not think the answer is less government involvement. Government, politics, citizens – they all have a role in building this.”
“I believe that we need to attract the best talent from around the world and bring in new knowledge and skill sets that are not available locally. However, I would urge the Government to consider introducing language and other assimilation requirements for Permanent Residents before they are granted Singapore citizenship. These measures would undoubtedly help new citizens assimilate and integrate better into our social and community fabric, and that in turn would allow them to better contribute to Singapore's growth and development.”
- Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC), on how everyone has a role to build a cohesive Singapore.
- Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who wants English proficiency to be mandatory for new citizens.
“Today, as our needs, interests and perspectives become more diverse, how do we go beyond ourselves and beyond narrow self-interests? We see issues through the lenses of our own backgrounds and experiences. When there are differences, can we look beyond our own perspectives and find the generosity to love and accept another human being? To go past all that divides us and believe in a common humanity and a shared destiny as Singaporeans.”
“There is a need for faith in the maturity of the Singapore people and a realisation that the preservation of our individual identities or practice of our respective religions does not necessarily mean that our common spaces are encroached or that we are distancing ourselves from each other. Perhaps there is a need to redefine the common space. Perhaps there are new norms that Singaporeans can agree upon. We must allow for such discussions to flourish and work towards achieving consensus. It's important for the Government to take steps to encourage open discussions on these issues so that any prejudices and misunderstandings can be eradicated immediately. There should also be reminders to condemn and stop Islamophobia.”
- Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), highlighting that the broad social mobility, cohesion and racial harmony that Singapore enjoys is the result of the generosity that citizens show each another.
- Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong GRC), on how Singapore can draw strength from its diversity.
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COVER STORY
New GPC chairmen map out their aims Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs) were introduced to act as a form of shadow opposition by looking at legislation and programmes run by the ministries. The 12 GPC chairmen tell Petir their plans. 1. Communications and Information
7. Health “We plan to look more closely at posthospital care, which overlaps with meeting the challenges of an ageing population.”
“The reoganisation of the Infocomm Development Authority and Media Development Authority brings new prospects to the people and industry.” Zaqy Mohamad (Chairperson)
Sun Xueling (Deputy Chairperson)
2. Culture, Community and Youth
Lim Wee Kiak (Deputy Chairperson)
3. Defence and Foreign Affairs “For our foreign policy, each of the relationships we build up with other countries opens doors for Singaporeans and businesses in significantly larger markets and can provide important avenues for growth. For defence, we must leverage on better technology and Vikram Nair a better educated population to ensure (Chairperson) our army remains potent.”
“We need a strong budget so that we have a well-equipped Home Team to maintain domestic security, to detect and deter threats beyond our shores. For law, we have a strong team partnering various community organisations to preserve our communal ties and overcome such Christopher threats and adversities.” De Souza (Chairperson)
Amrin Amin (Deputy Chairperson)
Patrick Tay (Chairperson)
5. Environment and Water Resources
Alex Yam Ziming (Chairperson)
Gan Thiam Poh (Deputy Chairperson)
Seah Kian Peng (Chairperson)
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“We should find ways to strengthen families and marriages as a good scorecard here will lead to fewer social issues down the road. We need to give our young a good start and do more for the disadvantaged.”
Tin Pei Ling (Deputy Chairperson)
12. Transport “Our key focus will be public transport, which directly affects the lives of a majority of Singaporeans daily. We'll ensure our public transport system is affordable, reliable and efficient for all.”
“We need to find new ways to grow the economy, not just adding value but creating value as well.”
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Chong Kee Hiong (Deputy Chairperson)
11. Social and Family Development
6. Finance and Trade and Industry
Liang Eng Hwa (Chairperson)
Zainal Sapari (Deputy Chairperson)
“Our housing policies must take care of our community, especially young couples, singles, low-income and the vulnerable.” Intan Azura Mokhtar (Deputy Chairperson)
(Chairperson)
“Amid slower employment growth and unemployment, we need to make our people future-ready and future-proof, strengthen the Singaporean Core, retirement adequacy and watch the income gap closely.”
10. National Development
“It was a brilliant move to make MOE a key player in the national SkillsFuture movement to drive lifelong learning.”
“We'll push for more community participation on recycling, waste management, littering, energy consumption, smoke emission, noise pollution and water conservation. And find a long-term solution to the Lee Bee Wah trans-boundary haze.”
Edwin Tong (Deputy Chairperson)
9. Manpower
4. Education
Denise Phua (Chairperson)
Lily Neo (Deputy Chairperson)
8. Home Affairs and Law
“Let's look at what we must do to remain a cohesive, resilient and vibrant community for the next 50 years.” David Ong (Chairperson)
Chia Shi-Lu (Chairperson)
Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Deputy Chairperson)
Sitoh Yih Pin (Chairperson)
Ang Hin Kee (Deputy Chairperson)
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FEATURE
Continuing the
good work of PCF
LAWRENCE WONG
The writer is chairman of the management council of the PAP Community Foundation. He is the Minister for National Development.
T
he PAP Community Foundation (PCF) has come a long way since it was established 30 years ago. In fact, the work of PCF began much earlier in the 1960s with makeshift kindergarten classes. Today, we’re not just the biggest preschool operator in Singapore (with 369 kindergartens and childcare centres), but also the provider of many other social services to the community. We will continue to build on these strengths, to fulfil our role as the charitable and social arm of the PAP. For our pre-schools, we will continue to ensure quality and affordable education in our kindergartens and childcare centres. One indicator of quality is the SPARK accreditation standard issued by the Early Childhood Development Agency. Already, around 60 per cent of our centres are SPARKcertified. We aim to reach 100 per cent over the next five years. Beyond pre-school, we are studying the possibility of providing more student care services. At the same time, we have started our first Senior Care Centre, and will continue to expand this and other elderly programmes to meet the needs of a rapidly ageing population. To do all these things well, we will need resources. As a non-profit organisation, it will always be a challenge to generate sufficient funds. But the PAP Ministers and MPs chip in by undertaking fund-raising activities every year. Besides supporting the PCF charitable activities, some of these funds are also donated to other charities in the community. In addition, PCF itself will continuously
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Mr Wong and Mrs Teo officiating at a new kindergarten run by PCF which has provided affordable education to generations of Singaporeans.
review and prioritise its resources to ensure that they are put to best use for community needs. For example, in some mature estates where there is less need for pre-schools and more demand for eldercare services, we can convert the kindergartens to senior care centres. Ultimately, our people in PCF are key to what we do. We have more than 6,000 PCF staff in total, who put heart and soul into their work every day. We also have thousands of volunteers who help in many areas across our range of services. Our staff and volunteers come from different backgrounds. But we all share a common cause – to provide quality services
Let me lend you a helping hand, Mr Wong seems to be telling his young charges.
at affordable cost and build a more caring society. As we embark on our next phase of nation-building beyond SG50, the PCF mission is more relevant than ever.
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PCF’s journey
Back to “school” for Mrs Teo.
Upcoming PCF plans BY JOSEPHINE TEO
kindergartens and childcare centres.
One of our key programmes is to accelerate the conversion of kindergartens to childcare centres offering full-day care services. We have identified nearly 50 locations where full-day childcare services could be provided over the next three years. PCF will also be setting up new childcare centres: this includes a large centre in Woodlands for 300 children. We are continuously improving our curriculum. This year, our priority is to further strengthen our mother tongue (MT) curriculum, a feature that is much appreciated by parents. We will collaborate with MT language authorities in Singapore to update our teaching techniques and the materials our teachers use. In addition, our first senior care centre at Changi-Simei has started trial operations and we aim to set up another centre in a suitable location. We also believe children with special needs, particularly from needy families, require continued attention. The reach and effectiveness of our assistance programmes are being reviewed to see how they can be further improved. In 2015, PCF provided focused attention to about 1,000 students with special needs. Those with mild special needs were supported through the Development Support Programme (DSP). Children with moderate to severe special needs were helped by the separate Special Education Needs Programme. As we expand the screening of children with special needs to more centres, we expect more students to be enrolled in these programmes. A DSP Satellite Centre in Choa Chu Kang will be operational by June this year to support such children in the northwest region of Singapore. A team of Learning Support Educators based at the centre will strengthen staff capabilities and collaboration with pupils’ parents through, for example, more workshops and training sessions. There is also an ongoing recruitment drive to find trained staff for the increasing number of centres. We are building on the enhancements introduced in the last few years to give our staff more opportunities to grow their careers with PCF.
In 2015, the first senior care centre was set up in Changi-Simei. In the years ahead, PCF plans to set up 10 to 15 such centres island-wide, offering services such as rehabilitation, dementia care, social day care and nursing care at affordable rates.
The writer is chairman of the PCF executive committee. She is Senior Minister of State, PMO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Transport.
1960s
PAP Kindergartens were organised to prepare children for primary school. Classes were conducted in any space that was available and these included shop-houses and even the stage used for Chinese opera or “wayang”.
1970s Growing popularity resulted in more PAP Kindergartens sprouting up throughout Singapore. 1980s In 1986, the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) was established as the charitable arm of the PAP.
All PAP Kindergartens were renamed PCF Kindergartens. Their facilities, curriculum and teaching approaches were also improved.
1990s In Project Pre-School from 1991 to 1994, PCF Kindergartens underwent further upgrading and improvement of physical facilities and curriculum.
In April 1991, PCF launched its first childcare centre, Sparkle*tots at Telok Blangah. 1992 saw the introduction of numerous training programmes to enhance the skills of PCF teachers. These included PCF Orientation Courses, PCF Fundamentals Courses as well as Music and Movement Workshops for kindergarten teachers. In 1999, the PCF Study Awards provided monetary study awards to deserving polytechnic students every year.
2000s More financial assistance schemes such as the PCF
Alumni Book Prize and the Headstart Fund were set up to support needy students. The schooling experience in PCF centres also became increasingly vibrant, caring and child-centred.
2010s By then, PCF kindergartens and childcare centres were offering modern, integrated teaching approaches and up-to-date facilities that were comparable to most private
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FEATURE
The Turnaround MPs BY KHUSHWANT SINGH
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin grew his slender 114vote victory over his opponent in Potong Pasir in GE2011 to a convincing win four years later. Ms Tin Pei Ling, who was elected into the Marine Parade GRC in 2011, turned from rookie MP to confident candidate who won the new MacPherson SMC all on her own with a solid 65.6 per cent of eligible votes.
B
oth Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Ms Tin Pei Ling talked to Petir about what kept them going despite setbacks that would have dented the confidence of many other people. For Mr Sitoh, his bleakest moment was the 2006 General Election. He said: “Potong Pasir had been an opposition stronghold for 27 years. Getting 47.6 per cent of the vote in my first try in 2001 contesting against the incumbent Chiam See Tong was rather respectable. It inspired me to work harder for the residents. But in 2006, I only got 44.2 per cent”. “It was a terrible blow,” he added. Still he persevered. Mr Sitoh, 52, said: “There is a Chinese proverb that you must stand up at the spot where you fell.” He was hoping to take on Mr Chiam again, but the opposition leader went to contest a neighbouring GRC in GE2011. Mr Sitoh campaigned instead against Mr Chiam’s wife, Lina, and won by a mere 114 votes in that election. To build on this slim lead, he and Mr
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ABOVE Ms Tin considers it her sacred duty to do her best to serve MacPherson residents. LEFT “Build relationships, one at a time” has helped Mr Sitoh grow his support in Potong Pasir.
Chua Kian Meng — the vice-chairman of the Potong Pasir Town Council — and their activists started a campaign to “build relationships, one at a time” with the residents. In GE2015, he secured 5,240 more votes than Mrs Lina Chiam, giving the Party a convincing victory this time. At about the same time, Ms Tin was hard at work in the MacPherson ward. She became its MP when she was voted in as a member of the Marine Parade GRC in 2011. She was then only 28 years old, and was criticised for being immature and for “riding on the coattail” of ESM Goh Chok Tong. She recalled: “It was the darkest period of my life. I was a lightning rod for criticism. Whatever I said, whatever I did, was never right. It really hurt. Some criticisms were fabricated.” In GE2015, she proved her critics wrong. By then, MacPherson was an SMC and she was on her own in a three-cornered fight. She started campaigning two weeks after giving birth to her first child. Her efforts paid off. She won 65.6 per cent
of the vote. Explaining the turnaround in her support, she said: “People want representatives who are genuine, and who won’t let them down. If something cannot be done, they trust that you have done your best. “This trust does not arise magically. You have to devote a lot of time and energy, meeting people, helping to solve their problems, building deep relationships that are ongoing. “I do this not for political reasons but from a sense of responsibility. After all, they entrusted their votes to me. I consider it to be my sacred duty to do my best.” She praised the efforts of her activists in helping her for the “extraordinary victory”. Also paying tribute to his team, Mr Sitoh agreed that building relationships with residents requires considerable commitment on the part of activists. “It all comes down to gaining their trust,” he said. The residents of Potong Pasir and MacPherson had shown the trust they have in their MPs at the place it matters most — the ballot box.
“I do this not for political reasons but from a sense of responsibility. After all, they entrusted their votes to me. I consider it to be my sacred duty to do my best.”
- Ms Tin Pei Ling
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CONVERSATION
BAEY YAM KENG Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth Age: 45 Family: Wife and three children, aged 11 to 15 Hobby: Jogging, arts
Making a difference – differently Baey Yam Keng made a mark by being himself. Petir catches up with him to find out about his position on various issues, including his use of social media.
H
e is a Member of Parliament who appears to be cut from a different cloth from his peers. Baey Yam Keng told Petir: “Many people say I am different because I am young, but I am 45 years old. I was 35 when I was first elected into Parliament and that could have created the impression that I am one of the young ones. I don’t seek to be different, I am just being myself.” In 2012, he resigned as managing director of global public relations firm H+K Strategies
Singapore office to serve full-time as an MP for Tampines GRC. Prior to Tampines, he was an MP in Tanjong Pagar GRC Mr Baey explained: “I was sent quite suddenly to contest in Tampines GRC in the 2011 GE. I was new to my constituency and had to start from scratch. After six years as an MP, I found I did not have much time left after performing my MP duties and running the PR firm. Family time was being sacrificed. I also felt I could do more both as an MP and MD.” He said: “I could not quit being an MP
BY KHUSHWANT SINGH
and let the voters down. Family was also important, so it had to be my corporate career that had to go.” As a full-time MP for about three years, Mr Baey devoted two weekdays every week to be in Tampines, on top of the weekly evening visits to residents’ homes, Monday meetthe-people (MPS) sessions, and grassroots activities. After last September’s general elections, Mr Baey has gone back to a full-time day job, this time as a Parliamentary Secretary at the
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CONVERSATION
Mr Baey speaks up on issues such as arts, culture, new media and censorship. He is adept at reaching out to young people through new media.
Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). He said his role was to support the Minister and to act as a liaison between MCCY and Parliament, especially with members of the Government Parliamentary Committees. While residents of Tampines GRC have noticed that he has scaled down the amount of time he devotes to the constituency, he said they understood he now has a full-time day job. He still does the MPS and house visits and continues to frequent his regular coffee shop in his constituency every Wednesday morning where residents drop by for chats
with him. “Residents can still approach me and I will do my best to solve their problems,” he said. Talking about his student days, he said that he had gone to London on an Economic Development Board (EDB) scholarship to do his degree in biotechnology and his Masters in biochemical engineering. That took four years and he then worked at the EDB London office for another three years. He and his wife frequented the museums during their spare time. It was an experience he treasures and as a backbencher, he mooted the scrapping of entry fees for museums here. His proposal was accepted.
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Mr Baey also spoke up in Parliament for dialects to be considered as part of Singapore’s Chinese heritage and not be “driven into extinction.” Asked if he is now in a better position to promote dialects since he is with MCCY, he said that he accepts and understands the government’s language policy. He added that MCCY supports the preservation and promotion of our culture and heritage, and that he looks forward to working with the Chinese clans and associations to do so. He said: “Dialects are not just about the language. They also incorporate the different kinds of cuisine, the special festivals and customs, which should be preserved.” Mr Baey, who became an MP in 2006, has also spoken extensively on issues related to the arts, culture, new media and censorship. His focus on such subjects has earned him quite a following.
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Harnessing the power of social media
Baey Yam Keng frequently posts his views on social media such as his public Instagram account, @baeyyamkeng, complete with selfies and personal anecdotes. For this, he has been flamed for being “vain”. Explained Mr Baey: “As a politician, you get used to criticism. You can’t please everyone. If my post consists of only serious stuff such as speeches, very few people are going to read it. I try to make it interesting so I include pictures and some insights of my personal life.” He added that social media is also a good way to raise awareness of what he does in his constituency. He said: “I spend two hours a week visiting residents. Typically, there is someone at home in about 40 per cent of the units, and not all family members are present.” “Those residents of the block will know of
my visit but other people whom I did not meet might wonder: ‘What is my MP doing?’ So by posting images and details of my visits on social media, I reach a much bigger audience.” Mr Baey has had a presence on social media very early in his political career. “As a backbencher, you are hardly featured by the mass media. I wanted to share my ideas with as many people as possible and also get their feedback so I turned to social media. It proved rewarding and I continued,” he said. So much so that when announcing his promotion from a backbencher to a Parliamentary Secretary, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said of Mr Baey: “He’s got good communication skills on how we can get our message across, how we can present it, how it can be put in the terms of new media if we need to, or mainstream media if we need to.”
“As a politician, you get used to criticism. You can’t please everyone. If my post consists of only serious stuff such as speeches, very few people are going to read it.”
A knack for connecting with youth PM Lee Hsien Loong said that you are adept in reaching out to the young. How do you do it? Young people are into new media so my postings on social media can reach out to them. They are also very passionate about issues such as the arts, censorship and sexual orientations, which are also issues I have addressed in my posts and in Parliament. How do you attract youths to participate in community activities? They want fun and flexibility so I
don’t insist they come every week to our activities. Instead, I plan ad hoc events for them and then include some element of fun. For example, when we are distributing rice and foodstuff to needy households in the precinct, I have a dress code in a certain colour. This makes the activity “more hip” in the minds of young volunteers and they are attracted to join. You often invite people to join your jogs or cycling trips? Yes, I do this quite regularly. I would invite them to cycle with me to Changi
Village for breakfast or for a jog around Marina Bay. Several residents and sometimes even non-residents come along. These are informal events but they can help everyone bond together. Since the invites are through social media, many of the participants are often young people, and I get to know them and they get to know me. And I jog about 5 to 7 km in the mornings, twice a week.
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G RO U N DWO R K
>
B R A N CH I N G O U T
Sprouting new branches Gambas, Limbang and Punggol West may be new party branches but they have hit the ground running to serve residents. Petir finds out how the teams managed to get going so quickly.
❶ GAMBAS
“W
A movie remake
e are totally new. We have no volunteers, no premises, no name, no MPS software, no funds. But the good thing with a new group is that we also have no baggage, no legacy, no old practices which we may not even know why we have to follow. We can start everything afresh, design new things. One of the first few things that I did was to gather enough people to help me. I have made many friends for the last five years, from Aljunied, Marsiling, unions and people whom I have known from all my previous jobs. For instance, I know my branch secretary Wong Hao when I was in Aljunied. I asked if he was willing to be the branch secretary of a new division. He agreed. I also received emails from residents who volunteered their help. And the group grew. We have a team of about 100 volunteers who help in different areas such as MPS, publicity, house visits and fund raising. I have had the privilege of serving in different branches previously. To join and serve an existing branch is like watching an old movie with lots of history and existing practices. Setting up a brand new branch
❷ PUNGGOL WEST
with people from different places and backgrounds is like watching a remake. You make use of what you have, make changes to improve on it to create something new. During one of the gatherings, we declared ourselves the 88th Division of the Party since there were 87 divisions and we are a new division.” Mr Ong Ye Kung, Branch Chairperson of Gambas Branch under Sembawang GRC. He is also Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence
Caring for volunteers
“W
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Recruiting and identifying like-minded activists to put in place the infrastructure – in the shortest time possible – was the team’s biggest challenge, said Branch Secretary Wong Hao. “This is an ongoing process as we continue to work the ground to recruit more activists to serve our constituents. What was most fulfilling was the camaraderie spirit that was slowly built up among the members, both old and new. “While we do not have a community centre like the other divisions, Mr Ong noticed that there is actually a communal space where constituents usually gather. So instead of rushing into building a community centre, he decided to have events at the heart of where they enjoy coming together.”
* Mr Wong was assistant Branch Secretary at Kembangan branch – since renamed Bedok Reservoir-Punggol – for 15 years and Branch Secretary at Kaki Bukit for two years, till his transfer to Gambas.
e are a new division and as such, have to wait for a suitable PAP Community Foundation centre to be renovated and ready for use as a meet-the-people (MPS) centre. “As newer estates tend to have less spacious void decks, we have to be more selective in our choice of an appropriate venue. Until then, we have been using another division’s premises to conduct MPS. “We are very active in our outreach efforts to the residents and use the opportunity to rally our volunteers together. My volunteers
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Recruiting like-minded activists
are residents in the area and Punggol residents are typically young working adults. “So my volunteers are mostly 25-35 years old and are young working parents. The amount of time they can commit to volunteerism is tight and in scheduling activities, we have to be mindful of their responsibilities to their families and their jobs.”
Ms Sun Xueling, Branch Chairperson of Punggol West Branch under Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
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G RO U N DWO R K
❸ LIMBANG
“M
>
B R A N CH I N G O U T
Bonding through GE2015
arsiling-Yew Tee GRC is the newest GRC carved out from three divisions – Marsiling, Woodgrove and Yew Tee. However, it is meant to be a four-man GRC. After discussions with the team, we decided to keep Marsiling and Woodgrove and divide Yew Tee into two parts, with the northern part retaining its name, and the southern part named Limbang after the name of the existing town. As it is a new division, we had volunteers from different parts of the GRC to help set it up, and to join us in the GE campaign. That experience during the GE really helped to bond the team together. After GE, we had more volunteers come forward to join us. Some of them are residents who wanted to do something to give
back to the community, and were keen to do so through the party and its activities. There will always be challenges in setting up a new branch, starting things from scratch. But these challenges also present opportunities to rally the team to work together and to think of new ways to serve the residents better. We are still learning and growing. But in a short time, we’ve built a strong core team of activists and volunteers. I’m very grateful for all the people who have helped us along the way, and who are now part of our Limbang family.”
Mr Lawrence Wong, Branch Chairperson of Limbang Branch under Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. He is also the Minister for National Development and was the MP for Boon Lay before GE2015.
Overcoming differences to achieve common goals For branch secretary, Mr Johnny Lim Peng Siah, PBM, the key takeaway for the new branch set-up was that party members and activists alike were able to overcome their differences in opinions to achieve a common goal. “We have to be able to communicate our ideas and move forward with the best possible solutions as many of our members had come from different branches. “Many volunteers are also new to party work, but with the support and patience of Mr Wong, we have been able to build a strong and cohesive unit,” said Mr Lim who has been helping with MPS at Yew Tee since 2001 before becoming a party member in 2007. * Mr Lim was assistant Branch Secretary at Yew Tee from 2009 till his transfer to Limbang.
“There will always be challenges in setting up a new branch, starting things from scratch. But these challenges also present opportunities to rally the team to work together and to think of new ways to serve the residents better.” - Mr Lawrence Wong, Adviser to Limbang Branch under Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC
Just like one of us Branch Secretary Haja Nizamudeen said the new team’s biggest challenge was to identify and establish the right operational centre to serve residents in the most optimal way while considering the multi-dimensional needs and geographical boundaries of the ward. He expects the new centre at Block 308B Punggol Walk will be ready by end February. It also helped that the freshman MP has had previous experience as a grassroots volunteer at Buona Vista. “She is just like one of us and makes the volunteering journey so pleasant – serving not just the residents but also taking care of the volunteers. As a mother, she is very much connected to the young parents and understands the plight of the elderly residents in our division,” said Mr Haja. * Mr Haja Nizamudeen was assistant Branch Secretary at Punggol Coast Branch before his transfer to Punggol West.
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G RO U N DWO R K
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WO ME N ' S WI N G
Reaching out to women inside and outside of the Party New WW Exco wants to boost political education within the Party, and attract new members.
O
ver the last four years, the PAP’s Women’s Wing (WW) has become less of a platform for social gathering and community service and more one for political education and activism. And this will be sharpened further in the years ahead.
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WW’s chairman Grace Fu wants to reach out to women who have not been involved regularly in branch work but would like to participate in areas such as policy feedback and debate. Ms Fu, the Minister of Culture, Commu-
nity and Youth, said they found out during GE2015 that many women volunteers were "supporters of the party but not working with us on a weekly basis." Due to their work and family commitments, these women do not have the time to
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Keeping WW exco grounded All four new women MPs elected in last year’s general election were incorporated into the Women Wing's executive committee. WW Chairman Grace Fu explained: “It is important to give them access to a network of WW branch chairmen and activists for them to know the leadership at local level and get a feel of the women-related issues on the ground.” One of the new MPs, Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC), Deputy District Adviser (Northeast), said she sees her role within the wing as an extension of her role as an MP. “Women perform many roles… My challenge will be to engage the women among the many roles they perform and be able to empathise, encourage and engage them.” Ms Cheng, 39, said her role within the Women’s Wing was two-fold. First, it is outward, reaching out and connecting with women in the North-east district so that their needs and perspectives are heard and reflected. The second is more inward, to guide and advise representatives of the district. The deputy CEO of an engineering firm hopes to push for work-life balance, to help the less fortunate and be a champion for family. Ms Cheng said: “I hope to spend more time identifying the deep issues and concerns surrounding women, their environment and loved ones, so that we can recommend effective policies and come up with good solutions to the Government and party leadership.” While the new MPs make up the Exco’s new faces, Ms Fu was keen for stability within the committee and kept the district level leaders. One of those who stayed on was Deputy District Representative (Central) Elaine Ho. Ms Ho, 33, started out in grassroots work when she was on maternity leave after her first child. “I’m the type who cannot sit still and I felt like I needed to do something more useful,” said the corporate lawyer. When she saw how her time and effort was helping people less fortunate than her like the needy and elderly, Ms Ho continued on even after rejoining the workforce. “Women are more inclined to stay on the safe side of things,” said the mother of two young girls. “But we want our voices heard more for a better future for our children and women of the next generation.”
“If we don't get them into the party, then we're potentially losing out on a wide range of views and ideas which we should be tapping on.” - Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth
“It’s really presenting to these women the fact that they can make a difference and helping them to identify how and where they can do so.” - Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State (Finance and Law)
be involved in branch work regularly and as a result, do not become members. "But they're keen to share their views on policies and give feedback. If we don't get them into the party, then we're potentially losing out on a wide range of views and ideas which we should be tapping on," pointed out Ms Fu. "We can give these women a platform to air their views and discuss policies." The Women's Wing was set up in 1989 to provide female members with a platform to take part in politics and its members meet once every three month. In line with the political focus, talks which take place during these gatherings may be on topics like the constitutional amendments and our political system, said Ms Indranee Rajah, a vice-chairman who oversees the wing’s outreach programme. She pointed out the internal outreach will also include training sessions to better equip
women activists in their branch work, like how to draft effective appeals during meetthe-people sessions. (MPS) Better matching of needs of the ground with the skill sets of the women will also create opportunities for them to join the party. Ms Indranee cited instances of how a lawyer’s legal skills came in useful during MPS while a dentist is leading a dental care outreach programme. “It’s really presenting to these women the fact that they can make a difference and helping them to identify how and where they can do so,’’ pointed out Ms Indranee.
Stepping up to the plate Recalling her own experience when she was invited to join the PAP and stand as a candidate, Ms Indranee, who is Senior Minister of State (Finance and Law) said: “This was in 2001 and there were only four women MPs then, too few. When I was asked, it was tempting to say No and stay in my comfort zone. “But then I thought, we do want more women MPs, and here I was being given a chance to contribute. I felt I had to step up to the plate,’’ she said. Assessing the progress made by women within the party, Ms Fu said: "Majority of our positions – from those at the branch level, eg the Branch secretary to the Exco levels, are still held by men." And while she sees more women taking up leadership positions at branch levels, she feels it is still not enough. "We have to encourage women to step up and we also have to encourage branches to give women the opportunities," she said. "But to make it work, we need to develop capabilities among the women members and give them more political education... equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge." Ms Fu, who recently became the first woman to lead a ministry, hopes that she is pushing the boundary for women who are interested in politics. "We had the first woman minister (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua), the first woman Speaker of Parliament (Madam Halimah Yaacob) and other firsts in the past." she said. "These should send strong signals to women that it’s not impossible for women to participate actively in the politics of Singapore. I hope more women will be encouraged to step forward and reach for their goals.”
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BACKBENCHER'S BITE WHO: Cheryl Chan, first-time MP for the newly-carved Fengshan SMC and Head of Secondary Industries (Corporate Strategy & Market Intelligence) with The Linde Group (Gas & Engineering). WHERE: Fengshan Market and Food Centre, Block 85, Bedok North Road. ON THE MENU: White carrot cake with chilli ($3), laksa ($3.50).
Breaking the ice BY WONG SHER MAINE
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s Cheryl Chan talks about her so-called “ice-maiden” image and how her singlehood became an ice-breaker with residents. TOPICS DISCUSSED ❶ Not a “sacrificial lamb” I was approached two years ago and knew that I could be fielded as a PAP candidate, so the idea that I was a “sacrificial lamb” is an inaccurate perception. Every seat is important to the Party and they would have made measured considerations before fielding any candidate. My predecessor and mentor, Mr Raymond Lim, had also put in a lot of effort in this area and he helped me tremendously in the lead-up to the election. During the GE itself, he checked every day if I needed support. The activists who were with me are also people I have worked with for the past 10 years. Before GE2015, I have been through two other elections with them. In that sense, my grassroots experience and familiarity with the activists and residents helped a lot. Still, the only expectation I had of myself was to lead the team and smoothly cross the finishing line. ❷ “Ice-maiden” image I am calm and cool, and that may have led
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to the impression that I am an “ice-maiden”. Perhaps it’s just the way I look. Those who have interacted with me or if you ask my residents will say otherwise! As an MP I have to meet many more people. Again, I don’t have to act in a particular way or be a different person. I feel that my actions occur naturally because I put my heart into my job. The residents are my friends. Even for the new faces that I encounter, we have modified our events so that I can spend more time interacting with them, not just casually shake hands. Over time, this rapport builds up into relationships. ❸ Singlehood as ice-breaker The uncles and aunties (the residents) are very concerned and they ask, “你在这里 花那么多时间, 你怎么结婚?” (“You spend so much time with us, how will you get married?”) I jokingly comment, “你介绍给 我就好!” (It’ll be good if you can introduce someone to me!”) The young singles are even funnier. They use my singlehood to relate to me. A young man said to me the other day during my house visit, “Ms Chan, I’m single just like you. Don’t you think the HDB ruling must change (for singles)?” It doesn’t offend me at all! The right person has not come along yet.
As with any public figure, it will be difficult for my other half to accept what I do. But I love children – I have a niece and nephew aged 5 and 7 respectively – and I see myself settling down when the time is right. ❹ Lonely elderly A third of Fengshan residents are over 50 years old, higher than the national average. These lonely elderly are not all necessarily poor or live in rental flats. Some live in HDB and private estates with busy children who work long hours. They think – “I don’t want to disturb my child since he’s so busy from work.” Parents always put their children first. It’s sometimes worse when a spouse passes on, then the remaining elderly person pretty much keeps to himself or herself at home with little activity. As a community, we want to enable them to contribute because they can and are willing to, as well as run programmes for them. For instance, some university students will be spending three weekends teaching the senior citizens here how to use smartphones, Facebook, Whatsapp and useful apps like SG Transport. It benefits both old and young.
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