GE: Low Thia Khiang welcomes "shift in PAP mindset" on opposition
By Ken Teh | Posted: 03 April 2011 2018 hrs <LINK rel=image_src href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpcQaaiV.jpg">
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Low Thia Khiang (middle, in blue) meeting residents during his walkabout</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=240><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc vAlign=top>
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SINGAPORE : Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang has welcomed comments by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam that a strong opposition is good for the People's Action Party (PAP) and Singapore.
He also noted another positive sign - the coverage of opposition parties by the Singapore media.
For the breakfast crowd at the market and food centres, it is obvious their ward is likely to be contested in the General Election when they see the opposition parties in the neighbourhood.
On Sunday, the Workers' Party team was at Chong Pang Market, which is part of the new Nee Soon GRC.
Two new faces were spotted - Yee Jenn Jong, a 46-year-old entrepreneur; and Angela Oon, a 32-year-old researcher.
However, there was no sign of the party's potential star candidate, Chen Show Mao, who has degrees from Oxford, Harvard and Stanford universities.
Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang noted that there has been increased coverage of the opposition so far, compared with elections in the past.
He said this is the right approach and hopes it will stay this way throughout the General Election.
But Mr Low stressed that the final assessment can only be made when the polls are over.
Mr Low, who is MP for Hougang, said: "We have made good progress in terms of the behaviour of the media. In terms of media reporting, we have better coverage...and I would expect we should be able to get across the message more effectively this time through the help of the media."
Mr Low also noted Mr Tharman's comments in a Channel NewsAsia forum for political parties on Saturday night - the first televised debate in two decades on hot button issues such as the cost of living and influx of foreign workers.
Mr Tharman had said: "I think a strong opposition is good for the PAP, and for Singapore as well...."
Mr Low said this is a good sign for Singapore. He said: "Someone like the Minister for Finance in the PAP has realised that a strong opposition is good for Singapore. I think that shows quite a shift in the PAP's mindset, that they now see that a strong opposition is positive and good for the future of Singapore. I welcome that."
Mr Low said his party is working to strengthen its leadership core to give Singaporeans a strong opposition.
He said: "We want to deepen the leadership role and the leadership core so that Singaporeans will have more confidence in the Workers' Party as a party. The Workers' Party is not just a one-man party, neither is it Low Thia Khiang's and Sylvia Lim's party. The Workers' Party is a party with a certain leadership depth which can offer to safeguard the future of Singapore."
Opposition parties are ramping up their outreach efforts across the island in the run-up to the election.
The National Solidarity Party made its rounds in the newly-carved Mountbatten SMC, while Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong and his wife Lina led the Singapore People's Party in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, which the opposition has never contested in.
The Reform Party continued to work the ground in the western part of the island, covering the markets and food centres in Chua Chu Kang and Hong Kah. Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam said his team was out in force and that the party has gained more members from its latest recruitment drive.
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By Ken Teh | Posted: 03 April 2011 2018 hrs <LINK rel=image_src href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpcQaaiV.jpg">
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=260 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD width=20 align=right> </TD><TD width=240 align=right>
Low Thia Khiang (middle, in blue) meeting residents during his walkabout</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=240><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc vAlign=top>
SINGAPORE : Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang has welcomed comments by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam that a strong opposition is good for the People's Action Party (PAP) and Singapore.
He also noted another positive sign - the coverage of opposition parties by the Singapore media.
For the breakfast crowd at the market and food centres, it is obvious their ward is likely to be contested in the General Election when they see the opposition parties in the neighbourhood.
On Sunday, the Workers' Party team was at Chong Pang Market, which is part of the new Nee Soon GRC.
Two new faces were spotted - Yee Jenn Jong, a 46-year-old entrepreneur; and Angela Oon, a 32-year-old researcher.
However, there was no sign of the party's potential star candidate, Chen Show Mao, who has degrees from Oxford, Harvard and Stanford universities.
Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang noted that there has been increased coverage of the opposition so far, compared with elections in the past.
He said this is the right approach and hopes it will stay this way throughout the General Election.
But Mr Low stressed that the final assessment can only be made when the polls are over.
Mr Low, who is MP for Hougang, said: "We have made good progress in terms of the behaviour of the media. In terms of media reporting, we have better coverage...and I would expect we should be able to get across the message more effectively this time through the help of the media."
Mr Low also noted Mr Tharman's comments in a Channel NewsAsia forum for political parties on Saturday night - the first televised debate in two decades on hot button issues such as the cost of living and influx of foreign workers.
Mr Tharman had said: "I think a strong opposition is good for the PAP, and for Singapore as well...."
Mr Low said this is a good sign for Singapore. He said: "Someone like the Minister for Finance in the PAP has realised that a strong opposition is good for Singapore. I think that shows quite a shift in the PAP's mindset, that they now see that a strong opposition is positive and good for the future of Singapore. I welcome that."
Mr Low said his party is working to strengthen its leadership core to give Singaporeans a strong opposition.
He said: "We want to deepen the leadership role and the leadership core so that Singaporeans will have more confidence in the Workers' Party as a party. The Workers' Party is not just a one-man party, neither is it Low Thia Khiang's and Sylvia Lim's party. The Workers' Party is a party with a certain leadership depth which can offer to safeguard the future of Singapore."
Opposition parties are ramping up their outreach efforts across the island in the run-up to the election.
The National Solidarity Party made its rounds in the newly-carved Mountbatten SMC, while Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong and his wife Lina led the Singapore People's Party in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, which the opposition has never contested in.
The Reform Party continued to work the ground in the western part of the island, covering the markets and food centres in Chua Chu Kang and Hong Kah. Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam said his team was out in force and that the party has gained more members from its latest recruitment drive.
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