Hougang not for sale: Workers’ Party

Hougang will not be “taken back” by the People’s Action Party (PAP), neither can it be bought over by offers of upgrading, says the Workers’ Party (WP)’s Png Eng Huat.

In a rousing speech at the tail end of a WP rally at an open field in Hougang on Saturday night, Png referred to voters in the three single member constituencies (SMCs) in the past that voted in opposition MPs — Anson, Potong Pasir and Hougang.

[IN PICTURES: See the highlights from the WP's first Hougang by-election rally here.]

He said, “This government has made Anson disappear, and has retaken Potong Pasir, (but it) will never retake Hougang!”

“I’ve met many of you during my house visits, and you have made known your stance which I can summarise in just five words — Hougang is not for sale!” he cried, to roaring cheers of “Workers’ Party!” from the crowd of about 15,000 which had turned up for the opening rally of the by-election campaign.

Png went on to laud the resilience of Hougang residents, who he said had sacrificed much to advance democratic progress in Singapore ever since voting WP chief Low Thia Khiang into parliament in 1991.

During his speech, Png recounted the experience of the Hougang residents, who have repeatedly refused offers of multi-million-dollar upgrading in exchange for voting the ruling party back in.

“Your patience (despite being relegated to the back of the upgrading queue) is unmatched by any constituency in Singapore,” Png said, noting that voters in the constituency have “withstood scolding, threats and intimidation” from PAP bigwigs in the past.

“You have proven time and again to the PAP government that there is more to life than money; that having your voice heard in Parliament is many times better than having free Teochew porridge,” he continued, taking a dig at his opponent Desmond Choo’s previous initiative to help elderly and needy residents in the ward.

During the three-hour rally in which 11 WP speakers took the stage, 50-year old Png, a businessman, also took issue with the most commonly-used buzzphrase of late — that the government is striving to build an “inclusive society”.

“An inclusive society means each housing estate will be upgraded because of its age and not because of which party the residents voted,” he said. “Where is the justice… where is the equality for Hougang residents when you have dutifully paid over 20 years of taxes and received almost zero state-funded estate renewal to date?”

In the run-up to the May elections last year, PM Lee Hsien Loong openly admitted that it would be “an injustice” to put opposition wards ahead of PAP-held ones for upgrading.

Back then, the PAP secretary-general had said, “Between the people who voted and supported the (upgrading) programme and the government, and the people who didn’t, I think if we went and put (Hougang) before the PAP constituencies, it would be an injustice.”

Also touching on upgrading was WP secretary-general Low Thia Kiang, who took to the stage twice. During his second speech in Mandarin, the former Hougang MP pulled out a copy of PAP candidate Choo’s manifesto, which listed the various improvements Choo will make if elected as MP in Hougang.

“What he says he will do is what the government will do — no matter how much PAP candidates say they can do for residents, where will the money for all this come from?” he asked.

“I’ve told the PAP it’s not their money — it is the country’s money, and Lee Kuan Yew admitted before that the government’s money is the people’s money,” he continued, reminding residents not to be fooled by the party’s promises.

He also noted that any plans for upgrading must be approved by the government before they can happen.

“Will the government be willing to help you, the residents?” he asked. “Even though this is a by-election, it isn’t just about Hougang, but also about how the government treats Singaporeans.”

Other WP speakers at the rally touched on national issues including public transport (raised by NCMP Gerald Giam), education and foreign scholarship allocation (raised by NCMP Yee Jenn Jong), as well as the widening income gap (raised by Aljunied MP Chen Show Mao).

Aljunied MP Pritam Singh on past instances of corruption committed by PAP members vis-à-vis the Yaw Shin Leong saga:

“Singaporeans cannot rely on the PAP to set the standard of politics in Singapore. The PAP took the low road, and in doing so they forgot that age-old saying: If you stay in a glass house, better don’t throw stones… the ruling party seems to have forgotten its own history.”

WP chairman Sylvia Lim on the Hougang constituency shaped like a flash of lightning:

“That tells you a very important story — that for the last 20 years, Hougang voters have been constantly zapped by lightning. You are just one small constituency, but your voice has been heard loud and clear at the national level.”

Aljunied MP Chen Show Mao on Hougang residents:

“They understand that we need to use the democratic process to ensure that the government will be responsive to Singaporeans’ needs to ensure that the government will put people at the centre of government policies. Singapore took a step forward in the last general elections. In Hougang, the first step was taken over 20 years ago. Let us keep our eyes on the way forward for Hougang and Singapore.”