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Hougang battle an 'uphill fight': PM Lee

PM Lee Hsien Loong and PAP secretary-general has acknowledged the battle for Hougang will be an “uphill fight”.

Joining PAP candidate Desmond Choo on his walkabout in Hougang on Saturday, PM Lee said, “It is not going to be easy for the PAP to win Hougang. After all, it is the WP’s stronghold.”

However, he said the edge that Choo had was that he’s had one more year to get to know Hougang residents better after contesting the single-member constituency last May.

“We hope to get more votes this way, and of course, we hope to win. We will give it our best shot,” said PM Lee, as quoted in The Sunday Times.

He added that the purpose of calling a by-election is to choose a best candidate, not to introduce more alternative voices in Hougang. Five current opposition MPs for Aljunied are already in Parliament, along with three non-constituency MPs from opposition parties.

"Whether you have one extra in Hougang or one less in Hougang it doesn't change the basic picture in Parliament," said PM Lee. "That was not the reason why Hougang's by-election was called. Hougang's by-election is being called because there was a malfunction inside the Workers' Party and therefore they had no choice but to do this."

“I think that is the way democracy is meant to work... Democracy means thinking carefully, and choosing each time for the party and the candidate who can serve you the best.”

"The voters in Hougang should consider carefully, not blindly, but carefully who is the best candidate, who can best represent them well, who will work best for them and has the strongest backing and look after them and that is the way democracy is meant to work," Lee said.

PM Lee also reaffirmed that Choo had the PAP’s full support and that Hougang was important to the ruling party. In recent weeks, Choo had insisted that he was ready to run his campaign as “his own man”.

“It is my responsibility to come and give him the backing and support and encouragement, and to show residents in Hougang, and more generally Singaporeans, that he has our full support,” said PM Lee, as reported in The Sunday Times.

Meanwhile, Choo said he would continue to focus on working the ground and reach out individually to Hougang residents.

"A rally is for me to reach out to a wider group, outline my vision," he said. "But nothing beats being able to share with individuals, (find out) what are your plans and get the feedback directly."

PAP’s rally will be held Sunday night at 7p.m. at Hougang stadium.