http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/nsp-will-unveil-its-ge/2051810.html?cid=twtcna
[h=1]NSP will unveil its GE candidates only after PAP does so[/h][h=2]"It's always advantageous to know who you'll be running against first before we decide on the final lineup," says National Solidarity Party Acting Secretary-General Hazel Poa.[/h]
The National Solidarity Party doing a walkabout in Tampines. (Photo: Evelyn Choo)
SINGAPORE: The National Solidarity Party said it will wait for the People's Action Party (PAP) to unveil their candidates in the areas the NSP is eyeing before following suit.
"I think we'd prefer for the PAP to reveal their candidates for the constituencies we're interested in first, before we announce our candidates. It's always advantageous to know who you'll be running against before we decide on the final lineup," Acting Secretary-General Hazel Poa said on Saturday (Aug 15) during a walkabout in Tampines, when asked for reactions on PAP's unveiling of its Sembawang GRC candidates.
The Opposition party had previously stated it will be contesting in the Sembawang and Tampines GRCs and Pioneer Single Member Constituency.
She added that the party has been receiving "rather positive response" in Tampines. "So, I think for us, Tampines will be an area we'll be focusing our resources on."
"NONE OF US SAW THE KEVRYN LIM-NICOLE SEAH CONNECTION"
In a separate interview with Channel NewsAsia on Friday, Ms Poa played down comparisons between potential candidate Kevryn Lim and 2011 candidate Nicole Seah.
"To us, she’s just a very different individual with her own hopes and aspirations," said Ms Poa. She refused to confirm if Ms Lim would be fielded as part of the NSP slate.
Ms Seah was part of the NSP team that garnered 43.36 per cent of the vote in Marine Parade four years ago. Then aged 24, Ms Seah was the youngest female candidate running for elections, though she recently indicated she will not contest the upcoming polls.
Ms Lim, 26, has said that she was inspired by Ms Seah – who resigned from the NSP last year – to enter politics.
"I think we were not expecting the level of interest that was actually generated. We knew she would definitely excite interest because she’s young and attractive. But a lot of it actually came from the comparison with Nicole Seah which really wasn’t one of our own doing, more of the media’s," said Ms Poa.
"None of us saw this connection until the media started comparing the two."
It has not been all bouquets for Ms Lim, who returned to Singapore to start an events and digital marketing company after earning a Master's degree in Australia. She has also received brickbats, in the form of denigratory comments on her part-time modelling career.
Ms Poa said that the party was wary about putting the 26-year-old through a "baptism of fire".
"We feel that some of the negative publicity may not be very fair to her in that it is very difficult to see the full picture unless you really know the person," the NSP's Acting Secretary-General told Channel NewsAsia.
"Of course additional publicity helps but we would also want to be careful. On the one hand we want to expose our younger members. Going through a GE is a very valuable learning experience you only get once in five years.
"But we need to be careful about whether or not they are ready for that baptism of fire. We do not want it to backfire. To put a person in a position they’re not ready for is actually detrimental to the longer-term development.
"That is something we need to consider and balance when deciding whether to put out younger candidates."
The party saw this first-hand after witnessing what Ms Seah went through at her maiden GE - when she was two years younger than Ms Lim is now.
"Nicole is very mature for her age. But the amount of interest she generated caught us by surprise too. And I personally feel that it was too much too soon, even for somebody as media-savvy and mature as she was. It would probably have been better had it come at a later stage."
That backlash could be part of the reason Ms Seah will not running in the coming polls, Ms Poa said: "I believe she needs time to think about her future direction. The last GE happened too fast."
- CNA/kk
[h=1]NSP will unveil its GE candidates only after PAP does so[/h][h=2]"It's always advantageous to know who you'll be running against first before we decide on the final lineup," says National Solidarity Party Acting Secretary-General Hazel Poa.[/h]
- By Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia
- POSTED: 15 Aug 2015 11:00
- UPDATED: 15 Aug 2015 20:00
SINGAPORE: The National Solidarity Party said it will wait for the People's Action Party (PAP) to unveil their candidates in the areas the NSP is eyeing before following suit.
"I think we'd prefer for the PAP to reveal their candidates for the constituencies we're interested in first, before we announce our candidates. It's always advantageous to know who you'll be running against before we decide on the final lineup," Acting Secretary-General Hazel Poa said on Saturday (Aug 15) during a walkabout in Tampines, when asked for reactions on PAP's unveiling of its Sembawang GRC candidates.
The Opposition party had previously stated it will be contesting in the Sembawang and Tampines GRCs and Pioneer Single Member Constituency.
She added that the party has been receiving "rather positive response" in Tampines. "So, I think for us, Tampines will be an area we'll be focusing our resources on."
"NONE OF US SAW THE KEVRYN LIM-NICOLE SEAH CONNECTION"
In a separate interview with Channel NewsAsia on Friday, Ms Poa played down comparisons between potential candidate Kevryn Lim and 2011 candidate Nicole Seah.
"To us, she’s just a very different individual with her own hopes and aspirations," said Ms Poa. She refused to confirm if Ms Lim would be fielded as part of the NSP slate.
Ms Seah was part of the NSP team that garnered 43.36 per cent of the vote in Marine Parade four years ago. Then aged 24, Ms Seah was the youngest female candidate running for elections, though she recently indicated she will not contest the upcoming polls.
Ms Lim, 26, has said that she was inspired by Ms Seah – who resigned from the NSP last year – to enter politics.
"I think we were not expecting the level of interest that was actually generated. We knew she would definitely excite interest because she’s young and attractive. But a lot of it actually came from the comparison with Nicole Seah which really wasn’t one of our own doing, more of the media’s," said Ms Poa.
"None of us saw this connection until the media started comparing the two."
It has not been all bouquets for Ms Lim, who returned to Singapore to start an events and digital marketing company after earning a Master's degree in Australia. She has also received brickbats, in the form of denigratory comments on her part-time modelling career.
Ms Poa said that the party was wary about putting the 26-year-old through a "baptism of fire".
"We feel that some of the negative publicity may not be very fair to her in that it is very difficult to see the full picture unless you really know the person," the NSP's Acting Secretary-General told Channel NewsAsia.
"Of course additional publicity helps but we would also want to be careful. On the one hand we want to expose our younger members. Going through a GE is a very valuable learning experience you only get once in five years.
"But we need to be careful about whether or not they are ready for that baptism of fire. We do not want it to backfire. To put a person in a position they’re not ready for is actually detrimental to the longer-term development.
"That is something we need to consider and balance when deciding whether to put out younger candidates."
The party saw this first-hand after witnessing what Ms Seah went through at her maiden GE - when she was two years younger than Ms Lim is now.
"Nicole is very mature for her age. But the amount of interest she generated caught us by surprise too. And I personally feel that it was too much too soon, even for somebody as media-savvy and mature as she was. It would probably have been better had it come at a later stage."
That backlash could be part of the reason Ms Seah will not running in the coming polls, Ms Poa said: "I believe she needs time to think about her future direction. The last GE happened too fast."
- CNA/kk
