Dec 20, 2010
PAP's Sitoh wants third crack at Potong Pasir
By Teo Wan Gek
Potong Pasir PAP grassroots adviser Sitoh Yih Pin speaking with (from left) Edusave Scholarship recipient Rohit Kumar Singh, 15, his father Rama Shankar, 46, mother Mona, 39, and elder brother Koshan Kumar, 19, yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
MR SITOH Yih Pin, the People's Action Party's grassroots adviser in Potong Pasir, has a New Year wish for 2011: He wants to be fielded again as the ward's PAP candidate in the coming general election.
The 47-year-old chairman of an accounting firm told The Straits Times yesterday on the sidelines of a constituency event: 'Historically, no PAP person has stood in Potong Pasir three times consecutively. Given a choice, I would like to come back here.'
'But it's not up to me to decide,' he added.
Mr Sitoh contested in the 2001 and 2006 elections, losing to the Singapore Democratic Alliance's Mr Chiam See Tong with 47.6 per cent and 44.2 per cent of the votes respectively.
If he contests again in Potong Pasir, he is likely to face Mr Chiam's wife Lina, 61. Mr Chiam himself has indicated that he will form a team to contest a group representation constituency (GRC).
Mr Sitoh's predecessor in Potong Pasir, Mr Andy Gan, stood and lost twice in 1991 and 1997 before being moved to the PAP's Marine Parade GRC team. Mr Gan retired from politics in 2006.
Mr Sitoh told The Straits Times that the question of his candidacy in the next election came up during a dialogue he had yesterday with residents of three HUDC blocks in Potong Pasir Avenue 1.
The three blocks are slated for privatisation if at least 75 per cent of residents agree to it.
At the dialogue, Mr Sitoh also revealed plans to redevelop the Kallang River Promenade by adding pavilions, jogging tracks and exercise and senior citizens' corners. He has held meetings with the PUB.
The plans were part of his manifesto in the 2006 election.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Sitoh hand-delivered Edusave Merit Bursaries and Edusave Scholarships to 12 of his residents. Over the next one month, he will hand-deliver the rest of the 244 awards to other recipients in Potong Pasir.
'This way, I can spend more quality time with each and every one of the recipients,' he said.
In previous years, he handed out the certificates to recipients in a ceremony at the community club.
Third-time scholarship recipient Rohit Kumar Singh, 15, a Secondary 3 student at St Andrew's Secondary School, scored seven As and one B in his final examinations this year. He hopes to enter Raffles Institution (Junior College) and study medicine in university.
'Two weeks before the examinations, I studied for six hours straight every day. My favourite subject is Biology,' he said. He intends to deposit his $400 award into his savings account.
When asked by The Straits Times if his going door-to-door had anything to do with the upcoming general election, Mr Sitoh said: 'In life, it is very rare to be given the opportunity to feverishly pursue something we are passionate about.
'I am very passionate about Potong Pasir.'
THREE FOR ME
'Historically, no PAP person has stood in Potong Pasir three times consecutively. Given a choice, I would like to come back here.'
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, PAP grassroots adviser in Potong Pasir
PAP's Sitoh wants third crack at Potong Pasir
By Teo Wan Gek
Potong Pasir PAP grassroots adviser Sitoh Yih Pin speaking with (from left) Edusave Scholarship recipient Rohit Kumar Singh, 15, his father Rama Shankar, 46, mother Mona, 39, and elder brother Koshan Kumar, 19, yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
MR SITOH Yih Pin, the People's Action Party's grassroots adviser in Potong Pasir, has a New Year wish for 2011: He wants to be fielded again as the ward's PAP candidate in the coming general election.
The 47-year-old chairman of an accounting firm told The Straits Times yesterday on the sidelines of a constituency event: 'Historically, no PAP person has stood in Potong Pasir three times consecutively. Given a choice, I would like to come back here.'
'But it's not up to me to decide,' he added.
Mr Sitoh contested in the 2001 and 2006 elections, losing to the Singapore Democratic Alliance's Mr Chiam See Tong with 47.6 per cent and 44.2 per cent of the votes respectively.
If he contests again in Potong Pasir, he is likely to face Mr Chiam's wife Lina, 61. Mr Chiam himself has indicated that he will form a team to contest a group representation constituency (GRC).
Mr Sitoh's predecessor in Potong Pasir, Mr Andy Gan, stood and lost twice in 1991 and 1997 before being moved to the PAP's Marine Parade GRC team. Mr Gan retired from politics in 2006.
Mr Sitoh told The Straits Times that the question of his candidacy in the next election came up during a dialogue he had yesterday with residents of three HUDC blocks in Potong Pasir Avenue 1.
The three blocks are slated for privatisation if at least 75 per cent of residents agree to it.
At the dialogue, Mr Sitoh also revealed plans to redevelop the Kallang River Promenade by adding pavilions, jogging tracks and exercise and senior citizens' corners. He has held meetings with the PUB.
The plans were part of his manifesto in the 2006 election.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Sitoh hand-delivered Edusave Merit Bursaries and Edusave Scholarships to 12 of his residents. Over the next one month, he will hand-deliver the rest of the 244 awards to other recipients in Potong Pasir.
'This way, I can spend more quality time with each and every one of the recipients,' he said.
In previous years, he handed out the certificates to recipients in a ceremony at the community club.
Third-time scholarship recipient Rohit Kumar Singh, 15, a Secondary 3 student at St Andrew's Secondary School, scored seven As and one B in his final examinations this year. He hopes to enter Raffles Institution (Junior College) and study medicine in university.
'Two weeks before the examinations, I studied for six hours straight every day. My favourite subject is Biology,' he said. He intends to deposit his $400 award into his savings account.
When asked by The Straits Times if his going door-to-door had anything to do with the upcoming general election, Mr Sitoh said: 'In life, it is very rare to be given the opportunity to feverishly pursue something we are passionate about.
'I am very passionate about Potong Pasir.'
THREE FOR ME
'Historically, no PAP person has stood in Potong Pasir three times consecutively. Given a choice, I would like to come back here.'
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, PAP grassroots adviser in Potong Pasir
