Chee proud of his record and crazy history: PM Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and PAP candidate Murali Pillai meeting residents during a walkabout in Bukit Batok. (Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Newsroom)
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong implied that there has been no change in Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan’s character and urged Bukit Batok voters to consider the commitment, characteristics and track record of the candidates when going to the polls in the by-election.
Lee, who is also secretary-general of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), said this during a doorstop interview after touring the ward with the party’s candidate, Murali Pillai, on Saturday morning (30 April).
Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and other PAP Members of Parliament (MPs), including Rahayu Mahzam, Low Yen Ling and Alex Yam, they spent the morning mingling with residents of the ward.
Highlights of the walkbout in Bukit Batok. (Video by Nurul Amirah)
Lee said that he had read in a media report that Chee, the SDP’s by-election candidate, was not sorry for his past actions.
He said Chee was “proud of his past record and crazy history” but has also tried to say that he has changed - and has even pointed out that good people make mistakes and deserve a second chance.
“But before that (he) needs to recognise that something went wrong and (he has to) put it right… In his case, if nothing has gone wrong, there’s nothing to put right. Then how could he have changed?” said Lee.
He also reiterated the point made by Grace Fu, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, at a PAP rally on Friday (29 April), where she urged residents to consider the character and experience of the potential MP when casting their vote.
Accoring to Lee, Murali has the right values, a proven track record as a grassroots leader and his commitment to serving the area’s residents is “beyond doubt”.
PM Lee greeting a resident as Murali looks on. (Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Newsroom)
Lee raised his concerns over Chee’s ability to manage the needs of Bukit Batok residents, pointing to the fact that the SDP leader has not worked full time in a long while.
“Now he says he is going to work full time for the residents. Easy to say but what is he going to bring to convince voters?
"Partly his record, partly his ability and partly his character, ” said the prime minister.
Lee, who watched the SDP rally on Friday via a live stream, said he noticed that all of the speakers lambasted former Bukit Batok MP David Ong, whose resignation from office in March - over a “personal indiscretion” - triggered the by-election.
“And then Chee comes along and says (in his speech) that you must not hit somebody who is down and that it is very bad to do so.
"This is hypocritical. You get your guys to say all the bad things then you come along and look majestically and say that we must not hit someone who is already down. Unfortunately, that is in his (Chee’s) character,” said Lee.
When asked about his sentiments after touring Bukit Batok, Lee said that he is happy with what he is seeing and hearing about Murali.
He added that Murali has been working at the ward from 16 years ago and that residents remember him for all the hard work he has done in the past.
“He stands a good chance, otherwise, I wouldn’t have fielded him in Bukit Batok,” said Lee.
