S’pore not just made up of elites: RP’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam
Reform Party (RP) chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam says people in Singapore should be represented by people of every strata.
Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore at the unveiling of candidates who will be contesting in West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC), he said that the criteria for choosing candidates was not solely based on academic qualifications.
"Singapore is not just made up of elites. We should have people from all strata of society to best represent everyone. The candidates have to be motivated by the idea of public service," said Jeyaretnam, who has a double first class honours in economics.
Choosing to hold the party's press conference in an unorthodox fashion -- at a coffee shop in Clementi on Wednesday night -- the party secretary-general introduced the team he will be leading in West Coast GRC in the General Elections (GE).
They are current party chairman Andy Zhu, a senior district manager in a real estate firm, marketing manager Ho Soak Harn, both 29, and businessmen Frankie Low, 51, who is on loan to RP from the Singapore People's Party (SPP) and Kumar Appavoo, 43. His father, Pakire Appavoo, stood under the banner of the Singapore Alliance 1963 on the invitation of then Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
West Coast GRC is currently the only ward RP is contesting, which is a surprise as Jeyaretnam was expected to contest in either Pioneer or Radin Mas.
The late opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam's eldest son explained his decision. "We are not sending our candidates to constituencies unless there's a place for them to go," he said.
"It would not be in the interest of the party to send candidates to enter in three-cornered fights. But we will review the situation and should there be any change in the current situation we will still like to contest Pioneer and Radin Mas," he added.
Jeyaretnam also dismissed claims that his party lacked candidates to contest the other wards.
"We have enough candidates to field another GRC team, but at the moment there is no place for them to go."
When asked if former party chairman Ng Teck Siong will rejoin RP, Jeyaretnam admitted that he did extend a hand to invite Ng back. "I told him the door is always open for him."
However, he refused to comment if former vice-chairman Alec Tok will rejoin the party.
"We have many more candidates which could be fielded if slots become available," he added.
Despite the uncertainty of Ng and Tok's return to the party, Jeyaretnam remained optimistic about RP's chances in the GE.
"Even though we may be seen as David battling Goliath, we all know how that story ended. We believe the people of Singapore and West Coast will support us."
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This article is published by Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd., 60 Anson Road #13-01 Mapletree Anson, Singapore, 079914.
