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Jan 24, 2010
Elections not so soon yet
<!-- by line --> By Zakir Hussain
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Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong told reporters at a Marine Parade constituency event on Sunday, that Singaporeans should also not start getting excited about a general election as the Government was still focused on the economy. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
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SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong welcomes the entry of young Singaporeans into the ranks of the opposition but says the People's Action Party is out to attract even better young people. Singaporeans should also not start getting excited about a general election as the Government was still focused on the economy, he told reporters at a Marine Parade constituency event on Sunday. The Straits Times reported last week that two ex-government scholarship holders had joined the Reform Party. Several young, tertiary-educated individuals have also joined other opposition parties. The Workers' Party said it recruited 50 young people this past year, many of them graduates and professionals.
Said Mr Goh of these developments: 'It's not a bad sign because politics in the future should be contested by able people, especially those with good character. And young, able people do not have to agree with the PAP. 'Of course, we hope they would join us, even though they disagree with us, so that we can have disagreements sorted out within the PAP, and then we have a policy manifesto for the public.' But he added: 'If they choose to contest against us, but they are decent people with good views, I think it is to be welcomed. Of course, I'd be happy if they were to join us, but let it be. Then, if you move into the future, there will be a better contest of ideas in the political domain.'
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Jan 24, 2010
Elections not so soon yet
<!-- by line --> By Zakir Hussain
<!-- end left side bar -->
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong told reporters at a Marine Parade constituency event on Sunday, that Singaporeans should also not start getting excited about a general election as the Government was still focused on the economy. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
<!-- story content : start -->
SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong welcomes the entry of young Singaporeans into the ranks of the opposition but says the People's Action Party is out to attract even better young people. Singaporeans should also not start getting excited about a general election as the Government was still focused on the economy, he told reporters at a Marine Parade constituency event on Sunday. The Straits Times reported last week that two ex-government scholarship holders had joined the Reform Party. Several young, tertiary-educated individuals have also joined other opposition parties. The Workers' Party said it recruited 50 young people this past year, many of them graduates and professionals.
Said Mr Goh of these developments: 'It's not a bad sign because politics in the future should be contested by able people, especially those with good character. And young, able people do not have to agree with the PAP. 'Of course, we hope they would join us, even though they disagree with us, so that we can have disagreements sorted out within the PAP, and then we have a policy manifesto for the public.' But he added: 'If they choose to contest against us, but they are decent people with good views, I think it is to be welcomed. Of course, I'd be happy if they were to join us, but let it be. Then, if you move into the future, there will be a better contest of ideas in the political domain.'
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
