Four more Workers’ Party candidates unveiled
The Workers' Party (WP) has unveiled its second batch of four candidates for the May 7 General Election (GE), bringing the total number of candidates unveiled so far to eight.
Introduced by WP chief Low Thia Khiang and chairman Sylvia Lim, the new candidates are researcher Angela Oon, 32, businessman Yaw Shing Leong, 34, polytechnic lecturer L. Somasundaram, 48, and business consultant John Yam, 48.
Similar to the WP's first batch of candidates, three of the four candidates will be contesting for the first time.
Oon, who is likely to be fielded in Nee Soon GRC, said she wants to speak for those "hard hit by the rising cost of living".
"I want to be a voice for these people, because these people are the ones, I feel, who have been left behind in Singapore's push toward economic growth," she said.
Dr Yam, who may be joining Oon in Nee Soon GRC, cited education as an issue close to his heart. He wants to promote more "moral education" and bilingualism.
Somasundaram, who is likely to contest in Moulmein-Kallang GRC, raised concerns over Singapore's liberal immigration policy, and voiced the difficulties faced by professionals, mangers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in getting a job because of the "easy reliance" on foreign talent.
Yaw led the WP youth team against Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Ang Mo Kio GRC team in GE 2006. The WP team garnered 33.86 per cent of votes.
"I sincerely believe GE 2011 must be the time for Singaporeans to politically develop ourselves ... to strive toward a First World Parliament," said Yaw, who is likely to be fielded in Aljunied GRC.
However, Singaporeans will remember Yaw as the opposition member who admitted voting for the PAP in GE2006.
Now living in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC , he revealed that this time round, the Singapore Democratic Party, who has expressed interest in the GRC, "has my vote".
Also at the press conference, both Low and Lim responded to the People's Action Party's criticisms of their campaign slogan and housing proposals.
More on the candidates
1) Angela Oon, 32, WP deputy chairman, Northern Area Committee
Education: Bachelor Degree in Philosophy and Literature, National University of Singapore
Occupation: Researcher
Marital status: Married to a businessman, with no children
Background: Oon is interested in Singapore's history and heritage issues. She was inspired to join politics by her grandfather, a community leader and philanthropist in Malaysia.
She joined the WP in 2009 to help build a robust opposition that can hold the government accountable to the people.
2) L Somasundaram, 47, WP Member
Education: Masters in E-commerce, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
Occupation: Polytechnic lecturer
Marital status: Married to a housewife, with three daughters
Languages/dialects spoken: English, Tamil, Malay
Background: Somasundaram was an engineer at Seagate for three-and-a-half years before he joined Temasek Polytechnic as a lecturer in 1996.
He has been helping the WP in ground activities, such as house visits, since he joined the party in 2006 after the GE.
3) Dr John Yam, 49, WP CEC member, Northern Area committee chairman
Education: PhD in Philosophy, University of South Australia
Occupation: Director of a telecommunication consulting firm
Marital Status: Married to a tax consultant, with two children.
Languages/dialects spoken: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien
Background: Dr Yam has held various management positions in multinational companies including Intel and ECI Telcom. He is currently the founder and managing director of consultancy NGeNetic Telecom.
He joined WP in 2009.
4) Yaw Shin Leong, 34, WP organising secretary, chairman for Central Area Committee
Education: Masters of Business Administration, University of Western Sydney
Occupation: Managing partner of Easto Global LLP, business lecturer in a private college
Marital Status: Married to a housewife, with no children.
Languages/dialects spoken: English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Teochew
Background: Yaw has been involved in politics for more than 10 years.
He joined the WP in 2001 and led a WP youth team to contest in Ang Mo Kio GRC in GE 2006.
He blogs regularly and published a Chinese book "Towards Political Vibrancy & Development" in December 2010.
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