RP rally turnout trumps S-League attendance

The turnout for the Reform Party's (RP) first election rally at the Clementi Stadium on Thursday evening will put any S-League match to shame.

Over 2,000 people filled the home ground of Tanjong Pagar United Football Club, surpassing the average 1,417 S-League match attendance in 2010.

However, it was a different ball game when people started streaming in at 7 pm as the rally commenced, with RP candidates addressing issues they wished to improve if successfully elected.

Less than half an hour into the rally, a large number of people were seen leaving the comfort of their seats at the stands and headed closer to the stage for a better view of the candidates.

Bread and butter issues like housing prices, transport costs, immigration policies and ministerial salaries drew the loudest applause and cheers from the crowd, who braved the warm and humid evening weather to attend the rally.

Addressing the rising costs of HDB flats and long waiting time for Build-To-Order (BTO) projects, the crowd responded with a resounding 'no' when asked by RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam if the HDB has done a good job over the last ten years.

Jeyaretnam's fellow West Coast GRC candidate Kumar Appavoo also questioned Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's idea in 1984 -- that Singapore should attain the Swiss standard of living by 1999 -- in his speech.

But the crowd saved their loudest support for the RP candidates who are contesting in Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Candidate Osman Sulaiman focused on issues such as the influx of foreigners while Lim Zirui spoke on making health care affordable.

They will take on the People's Action Party team led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's, which they referred to as "the dragon's den", and calling themselves "the dragon slayers".

Technician Chan Ah Heng, 52, told Yahoo! Singapore that he was there to see J.B. Jeyaretnam's son in action.

"I used to enjoy Jeyaretnam senior's speeches, so I'm here to listen to his son. I heard that he is quite capable and has good intentions," he said.

Full-time National Serviceman Nicholas Guan, 22, who received his Singapore citizenship earlier this month and lives in Yuhua SMC, said, "I came out of curiosity as I've never attended a rally before. It is also interesting to just listen to what they have to say."

Housewife Madam Leong, 46, added, "I am interested in what the Reform Party can do to lower housing costs."

In his closing remarks, Jeyaretnam encouraged the crowd to join the party to help out, and said, "It will be my honour to represent you."

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This article is published by Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd., 60 Anson Road #13-01 Mapletree Anson, Singapore, 079914.