SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on the last day of the campaign, said the PAP should trust and respect the choice of voters. He said that Gen-Y voters should be trusted to vote sensibly, but added they also need to think about the long-term interests of the country.
It's okay if you vote for opposition.
Giving an assessment of the campaign at a news conference, he said his team in Marine Parade has run a comprehensive one and it has received a warm reception which he hopes will translate to votes.
The National Solidarity Party is giving the Marine Parade team its first contest in 19 years.
Mr Goh cautioned against underestimating the strength of the opposition, though he felt there was nothing substantive in the NSP manifesto. He pointed to several "dangers" in the NSP's manifesto, such as restructuring the army and cutting the duration of National Service.
Mr Goh added proposals like a mentorship initiative for students and programmes for the elderly are already available in the constituency, put in place by the PAP.
Mr Goh said: "The main thing I would put forward to voters in the GRC is who can serve you better? Compared team for team, compare the leader of the team with the leader of the team. I have a very strong team here...two old MPs, both in the sense they have done one term and two fresh faces. This is my team.
"The other side, I think they have Ivan Yeo as the leader and a few others. So you compare leaders for leader, Ivan Yeo and me, I would say I am stronger as a leader in terms of international reputation, running a country, running a GRC."
On his opponent's comments that it has seen many hardship cases in Marine Parade, Mr Goh said it is the job of an MP to look at individual cases - and his team will ensure no one falls through the cracks.
"There are cases, which I admit, maybe we have not done well enough, we could do much better maybe we should review but they (NSP) are attacking your micro elements. On the whole have we done a good job?"
The last day of campaigning saw all members of PAP's team Marine Parade canvassing the ground. Mr Goh himself took the opportunity to hit nine blocks right after the news conference.
His message for voters, amid the sound and fury of campaigning, was to think beyond short-term problems like housing issues and the inflow of foreign workers, and also consider the long term challenges facing Singapore, such as economic competitiveness, creating jobs, addressing the low fertility rate and taking care of the needs of an ageing population.
Mr Goh said: "When you wake up on the morning of May 7, ask yourself the following questions...who can form the best government to solve these immediate and long term problems? Who can run the town council to look after your estate and what programmes can they offer to improve your well being?"
And as the party is focusing the message on young voters, Mr Goh said he has been told it is a generation that wants to see fair play and accountability.
He said: "That's what they told me - they said we are Gen Y, we are rebellious! They used the term which I did not use, they said we are rebellious by nature and they want space to do their own thing, so how can we handle it? I am signalling to the PM: 'This is a very important generation, you better learn how to handle them.'"
He means he will not help the PM. He is on our side !
Voters under the age of 35 make up about 28 per cent of the electorate.
It's okay if you vote for opposition.
Giving an assessment of the campaign at a news conference, he said his team in Marine Parade has run a comprehensive one and it has received a warm reception which he hopes will translate to votes.
The National Solidarity Party is giving the Marine Parade team its first contest in 19 years.
Mr Goh cautioned against underestimating the strength of the opposition, though he felt there was nothing substantive in the NSP manifesto. He pointed to several "dangers" in the NSP's manifesto, such as restructuring the army and cutting the duration of National Service.
Mr Goh added proposals like a mentorship initiative for students and programmes for the elderly are already available in the constituency, put in place by the PAP.
Mr Goh said: "The main thing I would put forward to voters in the GRC is who can serve you better? Compared team for team, compare the leader of the team with the leader of the team. I have a very strong team here...two old MPs, both in the sense they have done one term and two fresh faces. This is my team.
"The other side, I think they have Ivan Yeo as the leader and a few others. So you compare leaders for leader, Ivan Yeo and me, I would say I am stronger as a leader in terms of international reputation, running a country, running a GRC."
On his opponent's comments that it has seen many hardship cases in Marine Parade, Mr Goh said it is the job of an MP to look at individual cases - and his team will ensure no one falls through the cracks.
"There are cases, which I admit, maybe we have not done well enough, we could do much better maybe we should review but they (NSP) are attacking your micro elements. On the whole have we done a good job?"
The last day of campaigning saw all members of PAP's team Marine Parade canvassing the ground. Mr Goh himself took the opportunity to hit nine blocks right after the news conference.
His message for voters, amid the sound and fury of campaigning, was to think beyond short-term problems like housing issues and the inflow of foreign workers, and also consider the long term challenges facing Singapore, such as economic competitiveness, creating jobs, addressing the low fertility rate and taking care of the needs of an ageing population.
Mr Goh said: "When you wake up on the morning of May 7, ask yourself the following questions...who can form the best government to solve these immediate and long term problems? Who can run the town council to look after your estate and what programmes can they offer to improve your well being?"
And as the party is focusing the message on young voters, Mr Goh said he has been told it is a generation that wants to see fair play and accountability.
He said: "That's what they told me - they said we are Gen Y, we are rebellious! They used the term which I did not use, they said we are rebellious by nature and they want space to do their own thing, so how can we handle it? I am signalling to the PM: 'This is a very important generation, you better learn how to handle them.'"
He means he will not help the PM. He is on our side !
Voters under the age of 35 make up about 28 per cent of the electorate.
