SINGAPORE : Education Minister Ng Eng Hen on Sunday said it is healthy that there is political contest in Singapore.
He was responding to reporters who asked him about the recent activity by opposition parties in various constituencies.
Dr Ng joined 300 residents in Toa Payoh for some Sunday morning exercise.
Elaborating on his point that political contest is healthy, Dr Ng said he would encourage would-be candidates and opposition parties to meet residents so that residents could ask them questions about what they stood for.
He said: "I think it is healthier for Singapore, rather than just appearing before the elections and then not continuing. I have noticed that opposition parties are doing this more regularly, and I think all-in-all, it is good for politics in Singapore."
Dr Ng said PAP MPs assume that there would be a contest each time, and so the MPs have been working the ground to improve the lives of residents.
This point was also emphasised by Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong at a separate community event.
Mr Gan also told reporters that there has not been a shortage of ideas within the ruling party.
He was asked to respond to Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam's comments in a TODAY interview that a one-party system will lead to a society closed to new ideas.
Mr Gan said that PAP MPs have been proactive in implementing their ideas.
He said: "During the last recession, you also see that we have rolled out many initiatives, including the Jobs Credit, SPUR and so on.
"They were very effective in helping our companies and workers cope with the recession and allowing our economy to recover very strongly, very quickly since the second half of last year."
Mr Gan added that the PAP MPs have also been focused on serving the residents and improving their estates. - CNA/ms
He was responding to reporters who asked him about the recent activity by opposition parties in various constituencies.
Dr Ng joined 300 residents in Toa Payoh for some Sunday morning exercise.
Elaborating on his point that political contest is healthy, Dr Ng said he would encourage would-be candidates and opposition parties to meet residents so that residents could ask them questions about what they stood for.
He said: "I think it is healthier for Singapore, rather than just appearing before the elections and then not continuing. I have noticed that opposition parties are doing this more regularly, and I think all-in-all, it is good for politics in Singapore."
Dr Ng said PAP MPs assume that there would be a contest each time, and so the MPs have been working the ground to improve the lives of residents.
This point was also emphasised by Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong at a separate community event.
Mr Gan also told reporters that there has not been a shortage of ideas within the ruling party.
He was asked to respond to Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam's comments in a TODAY interview that a one-party system will lead to a society closed to new ideas.
Mr Gan said that PAP MPs have been proactive in implementing their ideas.
He said: "During the last recession, you also see that we have rolled out many initiatives, including the Jobs Credit, SPUR and so on.
"They were very effective in helping our companies and workers cope with the recession and allowing our economy to recover very strongly, very quickly since the second half of last year."
Mr Gan added that the PAP MPs have also been focused on serving the residents and improving their estates. - CNA/ms
hand.
