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GE2015: 'Auntie' asks WP candidate: 'How long at Oxford U?'

WP's Bernard Chen being grilled by an 'auntie'

At a Workers’ Party walkabout for MacPherson Single-Member Constituency on Saturday morning (5 Sep), the party’s Bernard Chen met an “auntie” who was taking her voting right seriously and grilling the young candidate about his educational qualifications.

Chen and party chief Low Thia Khiang sat beside her at the hawker centre at Pipit Road and answered her questions in Mandarin about the 29-year-old’s time in Oxford University and National University of Singapore, and whether he has completed his national service (click image below).

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the walkabout earlier, Chen spoke about the controversy created by National Solidarity Party's (NSP) Cheo Chai Chen. Commenting on the People’s Action Party’s Tin Pei Ling, Cheo drew flak for saying that her status as a new mother was a “weakness” in the 2015 general election. The three candidates are contesting in MacPherson SMC.

Chen disagreed with Cheo’s comment, and said that there was no place for such language in Singapore politics.

On another comment by Cheo questioning Chen’s inexperience, the WP candidate said that since the boundary report was out, he has been going on house visits in the ward to reach out to as many people as possible.

Meanwhile, Low said that voters should be aware of the PAP’s tendency to revise policies that would affect Singaporeans after a general election.

“We have to make sure that there’s enough representation in Parliament so that after (an) election, they have to think twice if they want to do anything, including GST hike,” Low said.

The Goods and Services Tax was introduced in 1994 at three per cent, and had increased thrice from 2003 to 2007, when it was adjusted to its current seven per cent.

WP's Low Thia Khiang and Bernard Chen at an Aljunied food centre
WP's Low Thia Khiang and Bernard Chen at an Aljunied food centre

Low also called for a strengthening of the Pioneer Generation package - offered to senior citizens aged 65 and above - as it had “not completely solved the problems” for seniors in areas such as medical needs. Speaking in Mandarin, Low pointed out some of the package’s shortcomings including the costs of some types of treatment that were not covered and the waiting time to see specialists.

Separately, the WP candidates contesting in the East Coast GRC - Gerald Giam, Leon Perera, Daniel Goh and Fairoz Shariff – along with Hougang SMC candidate Png Eng Huat, made their rounds at Changi Village Food Centre. 

WP candidates at Changi Village Food Centre
WP candidates at Changi Village Food Centre

During a doorstop with reporters, Giam said the party was keeping tabs of residents' concerns. 

"Right now we have quite a good understanding of the issues on the ground. Moving forward, if we have the privilege of being elected, we will try and address all these issues."