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[h=1]WP spoke, but PAP didn’t listen: Low[/h]<!-- /.block --><ARTICLE class="node-32901 article node node-article node-promoted view-mode-highlight_article clearfix newstream-active" about="/singapore/wp-spoke-pap-didnt-listen-low" typeof="sioc:Item foaf
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</HEADER> Workers' Party's Low Thia Khiang at the final Punggol East by-election rally on Jan 23, 2013. Photo: Don Wong
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<!-- /.block --><!-- /.region --><ARTICLE class="node-32901 node node-article node-promoted view-mode-full inline clearfix newstream-active" about="/singapore/wp-spoke-pap-didnt-listen-low" typeof="sioc:Item foafocument">Workers’ Party chief urges voters to start building effective check against Govt with strong Opposition in Parliament
By [h=2]Teo Xuanwei[/h]-
7 hours 40 min ago
SINGAPORE — It is not true that the Workers’ Party (WP) has not taken a position on major issues; rather, it is the People’s Action Party Government that has turned a deaf ear to its views and suggestions, said party chief Low Thia Khiang as he hit out at Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s charge that the WP “has avoided taking a stand” on national concerns.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Mr Teo, the PAP’s First Assistant Secretary-General, said the WP had stayed silent on important issues such as “population or foreign workers where tough trade-offs are needed”.
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At the WP’s final rally yesterday, Mr Low pointed out that he had spoken on the foreign manpower issue during the Manpower Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate last year. He had called for the tightening of the Dependency Ratio Ceilings for foreign workers to be industry-specific so as to minimise the fallout for small-and-medium enterprises in sectors that fewer Singaporeans want to work in.
The WP had also devoted a chapter in its 2011 party manifesto to population and immigration, Mr Low said, reiterating his party’s stand that immigration policies should be aimed at improving the lot of Singaporeans.
He countered that it was the Government that was snubbing the WP’s position on issues, referring to his suggestion on the foreign manpower numbers, and his call for hawker centres and wet markets to be run publicly, and not by private enterprises.
Pointing out that the resignation of former Punggol East Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Palmer over an extramarital affair and the abrupt pull-out by PAP candidate Steve Tan shortly before Nomination Day in the 2011 General Election were firsts for the PAP, Mr Low argued that the ruling party today is vastly different to what it was under former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership.
Mr Low asked whether the political will to fight for Singapore’s future would be as strong when a new set of leaders take over, and whether the PAP’s reliability and commitment to serve would remain at the same standards.
Urging voters to start building an effective check against the Government now, Mr Low said a strong Opposition presence in Parliament would serve as a safeguard.
He added that WP candidate Lee Li Lian’s election will strengthen the party’s renewal process — which appeared to be set in motion for the next GE as two fresh faces boasting impressive credentials took to the stage at the WP rallies over the past two days: Lawyer Dennis Tan Lip Fong and National University of Singapore sociologist Daniel Goh.
Mr Low also questioned the Government’s hand in public transportation and utilities, for instance. Having public services like those owned by Temasek Holdings and run like private enterprises focused on profit-making has caused a strain on Singaporeans who struggle to keep up with rising costs, he said.
The issue of the PAP town councils’ sale of computer software to Action Information Management (AIM), a PAP-owned company, was also brought up again. Aljunied GR C MP Pritam Singh said key questions of public interest from the saga remained unanswered, such as the number of companies owned by the PAP here and overseas, as well as the names of these companies and their directors.
WP Chairman Sylvia Lim also asked whether it was AIM or the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) that had terminated the contract.
Coordinating Chairman of PAP Town Councils Dr Teo Ho Pin had said on Tuesday that it was AHTC, but Ms Lim said this contradicted Dr Teo’s statement on Dec 24, where he had said “AIM decided to end the contract with AHTC”.
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ocument">Workers’ Party chief urges voters to start building effective check against Govt with strong Opposition in Parliament- View all <fb:comments-count class=" fb_comments_count_zero" href="http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/wp-spoke-pap-didnt-listen-low" fb-xfbml-state="rendered">0</fb:comments-count> comments
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By [h=2]Teo Xuanwei[/h]-
7 hours 40 min ago
SINGAPORE — It is not true that the Workers’ Party (WP) has not taken a position on major issues; rather, it is the People’s Action Party Government that has turned a deaf ear to its views and suggestions, said party chief Low Thia Khiang as he hit out at Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s charge that the WP “has avoided taking a stand” on national concerns.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Mr Teo, the PAP’s First Assistant Secretary-General, said the WP had stayed silent on important issues such as “population or foreign workers where tough trade-offs are needed”.
<!-- inline -->
At the WP’s final rally yesterday, Mr Low pointed out that he had spoken on the foreign manpower issue during the Manpower Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate last year. He had called for the tightening of the Dependency Ratio Ceilings for foreign workers to be industry-specific so as to minimise the fallout for small-and-medium enterprises in sectors that fewer Singaporeans want to work in.
The WP had also devoted a chapter in its 2011 party manifesto to population and immigration, Mr Low said, reiterating his party’s stand that immigration policies should be aimed at improving the lot of Singaporeans.
He countered that it was the Government that was snubbing the WP’s position on issues, referring to his suggestion on the foreign manpower numbers, and his call for hawker centres and wet markets to be run publicly, and not by private enterprises.
Pointing out that the resignation of former Punggol East Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Palmer over an extramarital affair and the abrupt pull-out by PAP candidate Steve Tan shortly before Nomination Day in the 2011 General Election were firsts for the PAP, Mr Low argued that the ruling party today is vastly different to what it was under former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership.
Mr Low asked whether the political will to fight for Singapore’s future would be as strong when a new set of leaders take over, and whether the PAP’s reliability and commitment to serve would remain at the same standards.
Urging voters to start building an effective check against the Government now, Mr Low said a strong Opposition presence in Parliament would serve as a safeguard.
He added that WP candidate Lee Li Lian’s election will strengthen the party’s renewal process — which appeared to be set in motion for the next GE as two fresh faces boasting impressive credentials took to the stage at the WP rallies over the past two days: Lawyer Dennis Tan Lip Fong and National University of Singapore sociologist Daniel Goh.
Mr Low also questioned the Government’s hand in public transportation and utilities, for instance. Having public services like those owned by Temasek Holdings and run like private enterprises focused on profit-making has caused a strain on Singaporeans who struggle to keep up with rising costs, he said.
The issue of the PAP town councils’ sale of computer software to Action Information Management (AIM), a PAP-owned company, was also brought up again. Aljunied GR C MP Pritam Singh said key questions of public interest from the saga remained unanswered, such as the number of companies owned by the PAP here and overseas, as well as the names of these companies and their directors.
WP Chairman Sylvia Lim also asked whether it was AIM or the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) that had terminated the contract.
Coordinating Chairman of PAP Town Councils Dr Teo Ho Pin had said on Tuesday that it was AHTC, but Ms Lim said this contradicted Dr Teo’s statement on Dec 24, where he had said “AIM decided to end the contract with AHTC”.
