MPs, Ministers in NTUC must resign: RP’s Mansor Rahman

Reform Party's (RP) Mansor Rahman says all Members of Parliament and the People's Action Party's (PAP) Ministers should be removed from the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC).

In his rally speech to 8,000 people at Yio Chu Kang stadium, the crowd applauded Mansor when he said, "Trade unions must be free from political affiliations."

Mansor, who revealed he was once expelled from the trade unions after he acted strongly against the presence of PAP Ministers in the unions, called for the trade unions to be led by workers and not ministers because they do not understand the workers well enough to represent them.

The Ang Mo Kio GRC candidate argued that a trade union is there to speak up for workers, help them improve their working conditions and negotiate wages. He stressed that they (workers) should be the ones to lead the trade unions.

Mansor also singled out Labour chief Lim Swee Say in his speech, questioning his role in the union. He said, "Now the biggest employer in Singapore is the government. How could the representation of the government be in the union?"

"That means there's no difference between the PAP and NTUC. The PAP calls it the National Trade Union Congress, but to me NTUC means 'Never Trust Union Chief'."

His comments also extended to the other unions in Singapore and the People's Association, which is chaired by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and has Minister in Prime Minister's Office Lim Boon Heng as its deputy chairman.

Facebook user Ting Hoe Keong posted on RP's wall and said: "Not only NTUC, HDB etc... All those meant to look after Singapore organisation (should) not be controlled only by one party."

Turning his attention to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's comments on Malays in his book Hard Truths, Mansor called for him to apologise to Singapore Malays.

"You did harm the feelings of the Malays when you ask them to be less religious," said Mansor, referring to MM Lee's suggestions to integrate Malays and asking them to be less strict on Islamic observances.

"So I urge all Malays in Ang Mo Kio GRC to vote for RP and not vote for the PAP. There is no point in voting for them."

Criminal lawyer and human rights activist M. Ravi was also present at the RP rally as a guest speaker.

When invited to speak two days ago by RP chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Ravi revealed why he agreed without hesitation.

"I thought of throwing my support to the Reform Party... I support all opposition," he said, before adding that he is not a RP member.

He said, "Just before the elections... Dr Vivian Balakrishnan chose to use a YouTube video which I spoke in a forum and tried to hit Dr Vincent Wijeysingha. Is this the kind of minister you want?"

When asked by Yahoo! Singapore if he has considered joining the opposition in the future, he said: "If I'm forced to, yes. Well, if I'm denied an entry in the court then I would come and kacau (disturb in Malay) them in the parliament."

In his speech, Ravi paid tribute to RP founder Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam and led the crowd on a number of occasions to chant, "JBJ! JBJ! JBJ!".

Apart from the various speeches at the rally, Singaporeans also came answered RP's call for help in raising funds.

At the RP merchandise store, they purchase items such as umbrellas, badges, polo t-shirts, pens and flags, with some Singaporeans in charitable mood, telling its retail crew to "keep the change".

Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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