SDP confirms GE line-up for two GRCs

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has announced its line-up of candidates to contest in Sembawang and Holland-Bukit Timah group representation constituencies (GRCs) on Sunday.

Representing its Sembawang GRC team are academics James Gomez, 46 and John Tan, 49; entrepreneur Jarrod Luo, 27; businessman Sadasivan Veriyah, 58, and Mohd Isa Abdul Aziz, 53, a business development manager.

"Each of us bring to these places our strengths, our expertise and we have one thing in common, that is our intention and passion to serve the people as one," said John Tan.

The announcement of former Workers' Party (WP) member Gomez to contest in Sembawang GRC, however, came as a surprise on Sunday.

He had been actively campaigning in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and shared in an earlier interview with Yahoo! Singapore his intention to contest in the area.

However, Gomez said that he chose to make the switch to be part of the team to contest in Sembawang due to the different profiles and demographics of residents in the area.

Calling themselves the "people's team", Gomez said he played a strong hand in its formation.

"I think the whole strategy is the SDP running a single slate of eleven and we want to calibrate our candidates in the manner they fit well. The composition of the team is very different."

Turning his attention to the People's Action Party's (PAP) renewal plans in Sembawang, he urged voters to scrutinise "these so-called plans", adding that they did not publicly disclose the source of funds.

"In the case of Sembawang GRC, where does this S$500 million come from? How did they come up with this number? Who is paying for this package, that's the question you want to ask Khaw and his Sembawang team."

On Saturday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan launched a S$500 million renewal plan for Sembawang GRC, to build around 5,500 new housing units, and introduce various upgrading programmes for selected areas comprising more cycling paths, childcare centres and nursing homes.

In the 2006 election, the PAP team led by Minister Khaw won with 76.70 per cent of the votes, while the SDP garnered 23.30 per cent.

SDP's 'A' team at Holland-Bukit Timah GRC team

In a separate press conference held near the Ghim Moh food market, the SDP introduced its Holland-Bukit Timah GRC candidates for the elections.

They are team leader Vincent Wijeyasingha, 40, an executive director of a social welfare organisation; Michelle Lee Juen, 35, an educator; Dr Ang Yong Guan, 56, a psychiatrist; and Tan Jee Say, 57, an investment adviser and former principal private secretary to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Dr Wijeyasingha described the candidates in his team as a "a very, very credible team".

"We don't have enough for two A-teams. These are the people we respectfully hope will represent you in the GRC."

They will be contesting against the incumbent PAP team led by Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

The team's only female candidate, Michelle Lee, also took issue with the country's education system, reiterating the need for smaller class sizes and calling for an overhaul in the mentality of the system.

"It's very important that our children have a good future, it starts with their education. They cannot survive in these classes of forty children where the teacher is unable to meet their needs and to teach them properly," she said.

"And in the first place, our MOE system is such that we teach our children what to think and how to think. These are things that we must change."

"Overall the whole system needs to change, we must not be so afraid of failure, we must not be so competitive, and it is not all about exams.

"Learning should be fun, learning should be something that we love to do, that's how we become life-long learners, not by being forced to take exams," she added.

Referring to the party's ten-point plan or "The SDP Promise" which details issues such as reducing health care costs that the party will champion, Dr Wijeyasingha said, "This is what we will fight for to achieve on your behalf because it is a straight fight.

"This is not about the PAP, this is about the community of Holland-Bukit Timah. This is about whether we want rising costs, whether we can afford repayment of housing loans, or whether we can afford to go to hospitals to be treated."

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.