Plans to go ahead even if PAP loses: George Yeo
By Amresh Gunasingham
THE People's Action Party's (PAP) team leader in the hotly contested Aljunied GRC has assured residents there that programmes such as the extension of the North East MRT Line would carry on regardless of whether the team was re-elected.
Other plans such as lift upgrading for housing estates that had already been announced would also go ahead, added Mr George Yeo, who leads a five-man team contesting the GRC against a Workers' Party 'A' team that includes its chief Low Thia Khiang, Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Chen Show Mao.
But beyond this, voters would have to make a choice between the PAP's plans and those of the opposition, he said on Friday.
Mr Yeo, who is the Foreign Minister, was responding to comments made earlier in the day by the WP leader Low, who had called on the PAP team to say whether it would still implement its manifesto in Aljunied even if it lost the GRC, so that voters could make a choice ahead of the May 7 polls.
Speaking to reporters on Friday night, Mr Yeo said that, such programmes aside, much depended on how local officials tackled issues on the ground.
'Take the NE line. There will be four stations serving residents in Aljunied GRC. How these stations are linked to various shopping areas and housing estates will be activities undertaken by local town councils and national agencies.'
He also cited another example of when local officials worked with the National Environment Agency earlier this year to eradicate an insect infestation in an estate in Bedok Reservoir: 'So we have a track record that people are aware of, from which we hope to have gained their trust.'
Mr Low had said that voting for the opposition did not mean having to make a choice between issues such as estate upgrading and a desire for greater checks on the ruling party's power in Parliament.
By Amresh Gunasingham
THE People's Action Party's (PAP) team leader in the hotly contested Aljunied GRC has assured residents there that programmes such as the extension of the North East MRT Line would carry on regardless of whether the team was re-elected.
Other plans such as lift upgrading for housing estates that had already been announced would also go ahead, added Mr George Yeo, who leads a five-man team contesting the GRC against a Workers' Party 'A' team that includes its chief Low Thia Khiang, Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Chen Show Mao.
But beyond this, voters would have to make a choice between the PAP's plans and those of the opposition, he said on Friday.
Mr Yeo, who is the Foreign Minister, was responding to comments made earlier in the day by the WP leader Low, who had called on the PAP team to say whether it would still implement its manifesto in Aljunied even if it lost the GRC, so that voters could make a choice ahead of the May 7 polls.
Speaking to reporters on Friday night, Mr Yeo said that, such programmes aside, much depended on how local officials tackled issues on the ground.
'Take the NE line. There will be four stations serving residents in Aljunied GRC. How these stations are linked to various shopping areas and housing estates will be activities undertaken by local town councils and national agencies.'
He also cited another example of when local officials worked with the National Environment Agency earlier this year to eradicate an insect infestation in an estate in Bedok Reservoir: 'So we have a track record that people are aware of, from which we hope to have gained their trust.'
Mr Low had said that voting for the opposition did not mean having to make a choice between issues such as estate upgrading and a desire for greater checks on the ruling party's power in Parliament.
