PM Lee to Hougang voters: Make a fresh start

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged voters in Hougang to make a fresh start by voting for Desmond Choo, the People’s Action Party candidate for Hougang.

In his email to the media on Thursday afternoon, a day before Cooling Off day, PM Lee said that Choo will work closely with the government to improve [Hougang residents’] lives.

PM Lee also acknowledged the desire of Singaporeans to have alternate voices in the Parliament, stating that while that was important, “the quality of the voices counts, and not just the quantity”.

“Whether one more MP, PAP or opposition, makes a difference depends not on the percentage increase that he represents to his side, but on his integrity, commitment and ability,” PM Lee said.

In a separate statement to the media, PAP’s Choo also urged voters to “not lose focus” and emphasised that the election was about the residents and the two candidates.

He said: “I know that there have been many comments regarding NCMP and other issues surrounding this, I thought that enough has been said. It is important to focus on the real issue at hand, which is about the two candidates and selecting one that will serve them for the next four years.”

This is in response to Workers’ Party candidate, Png Eng Huat’s explanation as to why he was not selected as a Non-Constituency MP (NCMP), which has called into question Png’s integrity and suitability as MP.

On Saturday, slightly over 23,000 voters will head to the polls to vote between Choo or Workers’ Party candidate Png Eng Huat as their new representative in Parliament.

The Hougang seat has been vacant since February when its previous MP Yaw Shin Leong was expelled from WP for failing to address allegations of extra-marital affairs. Hougang has been in WP hands since 1991 when Low Thia Khiang was voted into Parliament. Low is now MP for Aljunied GRC.